One of the Hawai'i football team's fiercest players, leftside linebacker Blaze Soares, yesterday suffered what is termed as a muscle strain in his left calf.

Soares fell to the ground during a non-contact drill. He was taken by motorized cart to the training room for further examination.

Soares is scheduled to undergo an MRI this morning to determine the severity of the injury.

It was the latest setback for Soares, who endured a stinger and shoulder injury last year.

"I have to look at the plus, and not worry about it until then," UH coach Greg McMackin said. "That would be really disappointing if he were hurt (badly). But we would move on. We have the players to move on."

The Warriors were without two-thirds of what they are trumpeting as the best linebacker group in the Western Athletic Conference. Rightside linebacker Adam Leonard did not participate in his third consecutive practice because of tightness in his left hamstring.

That forced the Warriors to activate an experiment that was initiated three days ago. Middle linebacker Solomon Elimimian, who was voted as the WAC's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, moved to Leonard's spot on the right side.

R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane, who had been practicing on the right side, competed at Soares' position on the left side.

And backup Brashton Satele was promoted to No. 1 middle linebacker.

"We moved Solly (Elimimian) outside because Brashton has been playing middle so well," McMackin said. "We didn't want to stack Solly and Brashton (on the depth chart). We think Brashton is our fourth best (linebacker). Instead of moving Brashton outside, we were going to (rotate) four linebackers (into three spots). Instead of moving Brashton — who is younger and knows the middle — and make him learn more, it was easier to move Solly. Solly is sharp, and he can play middle and outside. It doubles his chances of going to the next level."

In UH's system, the middle linebacker makes the defensive calls.

"Solly's been our middle for years," Satele said. "We catch each other making the same calls."

They settled on an arrangement in which Elimimian will continue to make the calls.

Elimimian had no objections to the move outside.

"Whatever the team needs me to do, I'll do," Elimimian said. "I'm all about winning. If the team wants me to play D-tackle, I'll play D-tackle. If the team wants me to play free safety, I'm there."

Even before the switch, defensive coordinator Cal Lee made sure each linebacker knew all of the linebacker roles.

"I watched Adam and Blaze so much I kind of know what to do (on the outside)," Elimimian said. "There are still things I'm trying to get, but coach (Lee) is doing a good job of helping me."

Satele also is adjusting to an expanded role. He practiced yesterday despite a "tweaked" ankle.

"I'm filling in," Satele said. "I feel for Blaze right now."

Soares' position was passed to his cousin.

"Unfortunately, Blaze got hurt so some of the new guys had to step up," Kiesel-Kauhane said. "Things like this happen. You've got to be ready. Hopefully, from now on, we can stay injury-free."