Hawai'i running back Kealoha Pilares and defensive rush end Francis Maka said they will not play in Saturday's football game against Fresno State, leading to several lineup changes.

Pilares is suffering from a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Maka has a small fracture in the fibula in his left leg.

Pilares said he was injured against San Jose State three weeks ago. He practiced during two bye weeks and played in the Oct. 27 game against New Mexico State. But the injury worsened, and he has not participated in the two practices this week.

Asked if he would play, Pilares, whose right leg was in a long brace yesterday, said: "Not this week. I'm not practicing. I'm not just going to jump in."

Head coach June Jones acknowledged as much, conceding, "I don't think he'll be ready to play, but we'll see how he is on game day."

Jones said Daniel Libre has been added to the three-player rotation at the lone running back position. Leon Wright-Jackson and David Farmer complete the rotation.

"(Libre) is doing good," Jones said. "Leon's doing good. Farm Dog is Farm Dog. We're OK back there."

Libre, a junior from the Big Island, transferred from Menlo College last year. He opened the season as a slotback before becoming the running back for the scout-team offense.

Libre's work against the first-team defense caught Jones' attention.

"Work hard, do what you're told and hopefully it pays off," Libre said. "The coaches are always watching"

Jones likens Libre to former UH running back Michael Brewster.

"That's a pretty big compliment," Libre said. "(Brewster) did a lot of good things over here. I used to watch him (on television) when I lived on the Big Island. It's an honor."

Maka said he suffered his injury on the next-to-last play of Monday's team drills.

"Somebody got thrown into my leg, took me out," Maka said.

An X-ray showed the fracture. Maka said he was told he would miss a "maximum of four weeks."

"Hopefully, it's sooner than that," Maka said. "It depends on my pain level. It's not a complete break. It's a little fracture."

Maka was a rush end in the nickel (4-2-5) and Oky (3-3-5) defensive schemes.

"He's a guy who each week has made bigger and bigger contributions," defensive line coach Jeff Reinebold said. "It's a step back."

Michael Lafaele, the starting defensive right tackle and co-captain, said Maka's absence is noticeable.

"You can tell our defensive ends are not the same as far as rotation and resting time," Lafaele said. "Especially the way (Maka) plays. He makes plays. To not have him out there is heartbreaking."

John Fonoti, who also rotates as a rush end, said Maka served as a mentor.

"Whenever I didn't know something, he told me what to do," Fonoti said. "I'm sad to see him out."

Reinebold said Victor Clore, a third-year sophomore from Castle High School, will replace Maka in the rotation.

"Victor Clore is in a position where he sees the light at the end of the tunnel," Reinebold said.

Of Maka's injury, Reinebold said: "That's life in the food chain. These are the kinds of things that happen. It's unfortunate, but it's part of the game, so you can't cry about it. Guys have to rise up. We'll be OK."

Clore, who has gained 20 pounds since last year and now weighs 250, said: "All of the senior guys helped me get ready. I'm good to go. We're going to miss (Maka). He was fast off the edge, a good pass rusher. I'll do what I can."

Maka is the third key special teams player to suffer a serious injury. Safety Keao Monteilh has a fractured left scapula and linebacker Rustin Saole has a partially torn MCL in his left knee.

Jones said safety Kenny Estes will replace Saole on the kickoff team. Estes, a freshman who enrolled at UH in January, had not played in a game this season in anticipation of redshirting. But Jones said Estes has played well enough in practices the past month to join the active roster. Jones said Estes will play on all of the special teams.

Asked about Estes forfeiting a chance to redshirt, Jones said: "It doesn't concern me. What concerns me is getting the best guys out there to win."

Estes also was unconcerned.

"I figure if there's any year to play, this is the year," Estes said.

Dennis McKnight, who helps coach the kickoff team, said: "I like him. He's fast. He's competitive. He's like a junkyard dog."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.