University of Hawai'i senior cornerback Turmarian Moreland might miss the remaining two games of the season — and his NCAA career — because of a partially torn ligament in his right knee.

"He's out," coach June Jones said. "He won't play. He'll be out for the rest of the year."

Moreland said he suffered the injury when he was "chop-blocked" while trying to defend an option run against Utah State on Saturday night.

The preliminary diagnosis is Moreland suffered a sprain. All sprains involve some degree of tearing.

Yesterday, he underwent a magnetic resonance imaging, a procedure in which magnetic fields are used to create an image of the body's interior. The team physicians will review the MRI tomorrow.

But Jones and defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said they were told Moreland was believed to have suffered the same type of injury safety Leonard Peters incurred in the season opener. Peters still has not fully healed.

"Leonard took, what, seven or eight weeks?" Glanville said. "I think we'll be done in seven or eight weeks."

After this week's bye, the Warriors close the season with non-conference games against Wisconsin and San Diego State.

Moreland had been slowed by a variety of injuries since training camp. He has started the past four games, amassing a team-high four interceptions. "He's one of our two best defensive backs," Jones said. "He's played well in the last couple of games."

Glanville said Ryan Keomaka will replace Moreland.

"No. 9 (Keomaka) can play, too, if he sets his mind to it," Glanville said.

Jones said the bye week might allow defensive end Melila Purcell (hyper-extended left elbow) and center Derek Fa'avi (sore right rotator cuff) to heal. Purcell was wearing a sling after Saturday's 50-23 victory over Utah State. Jones said Fa'avi "needs the extra time. Hopefully, they'll both be able to go" against Wisconsin on Nov. 25.

QB TO JOIN WARRIORS

Quarterback Will Brogan, a 2005 graduate of Canyon High School in California, said he will join the Warriors in January.

Brogan was set to play for Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh this season. But at the invitation of his friend, wideout Rick Taylor, and Taylor's father, Nease High school assistant coach Ken Taylor, Brogan visited UH in June.

"They encouraged me to go out there and see if I could compete there," Brogan said. "I saw that I could, and figured I'd take a shot there. ... I just loved everything about Hawai'i and the program. I love the 'ohana feeling."

As freshmen, Brogan and Rick Taylor, who will join UH as a wideout in January, were teammates at Nease High in Florida. At the time, Brogan's father was a project manager for the PGA Tour.

"When I was a freshman, my sister was diagnosed with diabetes, and my father wanted to be closer to her," Brogan said. "He took a job out in California, which is why I played my high school football out there."

After Brogan's graduation, the family returned to Florida. After turning down the Robert Morris offer, Brogan decided to remain in Florida for the fall semester to train.

Brogan also coached Nease's freshman football team. Nease's teams run the same four-wide passing offense as UH.

"I hope that will help me," Brogan said.

Brogan said he is 6 feet 1 and 200 pounds. He said he was timed running 40 yards on a grass surface in 4.62 seconds.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.