In a crushing one-two combination, the Hawai'i football team learned it will be without two key defensive players — leftside linebacker Blaze Soares and defensive tackle Rocky Savaiigaea — for the start of the season.

Soares, who is considered to be the Warriors' hardest hitter, has been diagnosed with a torn gastrocnemius, a calf muscle in his left leg. He underwent an MRI yesterday morning and was evaluated by a specialist in the afternoon.

Soares, who is wearing a cast, has been told his recovery period is between six and eight weeks. But the injury will not require surgery.

Savaiigaea has been diagnosed with a tear in his left triceps. He also is wearing a cast. His recovery period is between four and six weeks.

"It sucks," said Savaiigaea, whose left arm will be re-examined next week.

Savaiigaea said surgery cannot heal the injury.

"Can't sew muscle to a ligament," he said. "They want to see if it can heal itself with scar tissues."

Savaiigaea had worked his way into the rotation at defensive tackle. With Fale Laeli still experiencing discomfort in his surgically repaired right knee, Savaiigaea received a lot of reps in training-camp drills.

He had missed the latter part of spring training with a leg injury.

"Now this," Savaiigaea said. "It's a humbling process. You can't take anything for granted — not that I ever did — but you really appreciate (good health). We'll see what happens."

If Soares did not have bad luck, he would not have any luck at all. He has suffered injuries in the past two training camps. He played all of last season with a painful stinger and shoulder injury. Still, of his 27 tackles, 20 were unassisted.

"The positive is we have good depth at (the linebacker) position," UH coach Greg McMackin said. "The negative is we don't have one of our more talented players. I feel bad for Blaze. Hopefully, things will work out."

Soares is a 2005 Castle High School graduate, He did not play football in 2005 while he was enrolled at a private school.

He played two seasons for the Warriors. He has not used a redshirt year.

Because he was a partial-qualifier out of high school, he is considered to be a senior. He can earn a fourth season — and second senior year — if he shows significant progress in his college major.

Soares helped the Warriors rally from a 14-point deficit to defeat San Jose State in overtime last year. He played a role in forcing the first lost fumble by a Spartan running back last season.

McMackin echoed safety Viliami Nauahi's comment that "Blaze's middle name is 'Impact.' "

"He's a very good player," McMackin said.

Even before Soares suffered the injury during a linebacker drill Monday, McMackin had made plans to shuffle the lineup. McMackin's plan was to rotate Soares, Solomon Elimimian, Adam Leonard and Brashton Satele in the three No. 1 linebacker positions.

With Soares and Leonard (groin injury) sidelined, Elimimian, who was the Warriors' starting middle linebacker the past three seasons, moved to Leonard's spot at rightside linebacker. Satele was promoted to No. 1 middle linebacker. R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane stepped in for his cousin, Soares, at leftside linebacker.

When Leonard is healthy again, he and Elimimian will play on the perimeter, and Satele will remain in the middle. Kiesel-Kauhane, Tyson Kafentzis, Mana Lolotai and Paipai Falemalu will join the rotation.

Linebacker is "a strong position for us," McMackin said.

Falemalu, a 2008 Kahuku High School graduate, has ascended the depth chart quickly. Yesterday, Falemalu was the second-team leftside linebacker.

Falemalu, who is 6 feet 2 and 240 pounds, has the strength to line up in the tackle box and quickness to drop into pass coverage.

Falemalu showed his commitment this summer. A week after his commencement ceremony, he was living in the UH dorms while taking two summer-session classes.

He also worked out in the morning, and competed in 7-on-7 drills in the afternoon.

It became more difficult when he moved back to his family home in Hau'ula after the first summer session ended.

He woke up at 4:30 every morning, and was on Kamehameha Highway at 4:45. "I got here at 6," Falemalu said.

For Falemalu, Manoa was a favored destination, even through the uncertainty after June Jones resigned as UH coach in January.

"I wasn't sure if I wanted to come here because they didn't have a head coach," Falemalu said.

That all changed when McMackin was named as Jones' successor.

"He cares about the island boys," Falemalu said. "I decided to stay home, which is what I always wanted to do."

He turned down an offer from Oregon State.

"Once (the Warriors) got a coach, I knew where I was going," Falemalu said. "There's no place like home, playing in front of the family. If you go away, you go home to a lonely dorm. Here, you've got family cheering for you every home game."