The University of Hawai'i football team's version of the movie The Replacements held auditions this week.

First up in the casting call are slotback Ryan Grice-Mullen and safety Lamar Broadway.

Grice-Mullen will likely start in place of Jason Ferguson, and Broadway in place of Leonard Peters when the Warriors play their first road game of the season at Michigan State on Saturday.

Ferguson and Peters sustained knee injuries in the season-opening 63-17 loss to Southern California last Saturday. Ferguson is definitely out for the season, and Peters is not expected to be ready until December, if at all.

"As far as filling shoes, it's definitely big shoes," Broadway said. "But I don't look at it as my time to shine. I look at it as my chance to help the team, and that's all I'm trying to do."

Grice-Mullen, a 5-foot-10, 174-pound redshirt freshman, had significant playing time against USC because Ferguson was injured early in the game. Grice-Mullen finished with five receptions for 51 yards.

"I don't feel any pressure replacing (Ferguson)," Grice-Mullen said. "You miss his fire and his spunk and his talent, but I'm just going to keep doing what I've been doing in practice and hopefully, that will be enough."

Hawai'i quarterback Colt Brennan said: "Ryan Grice-Mullen is an unbelievable talent. I think he can step in right away and do a lot of things."

Grice-Mullen and Davone Bess are expected to be the starting slotbacks Saturday, giving the Warriors two freshmen at the positions. Bess is also expected to take Ferguson's spot as the primary punt returner.

"You'd like to have more experience out there," receivers coach Ron Lee said. "But these two have picked up the offense really well. Getting that first game under their belt really helped. I'm confident now in both of them. I think everybody can see the talent they have."

Ferguson's injury could also open playing time for senior Nate Ilaoa.

He reported to training camp overweight and sustained a hamstring injury. He suited up against USC, but did not get to play.

"I was ready to go, but the coaches had their game plan," Ilaoa said. "Everybody wanted to play, so it would be childish for me to get upset about it. That's football. You just have to be ready for your next opportunity and I'm ready as I'll ever be this week."

Ilaoa rotated at slotback with Grice-Mullen and Bess during yesterday's practice, and also got some repetitions at fullback.

"It doesn't matter where I play, as long as I get in and get the ball," he said.

Head coach June Jones expressed his disappointment over Ilaoa's conditioning during training camp, but yesterday he said: "Nate will play. He's running a little better than he was last week, so hopefully he'll get some action in the game."

On defense, Broadway will take on the task of replacing Peters' speed and leadership.

"Leonard is our captain because, as a team, we picked him to be the captain," Broadway said. "But as seniors, we all feel like captains in a way. I can be loud and crazy, and I'll try to be a leader like Leonard."

The Hawai'i defense will be up against a Michigan State offense that racked up 49 points and 685 yards in total offense against Kent State last week.

"We'll just have to play disciplined," Broadway said. "We can't go in there and worry about what they did last week. As far as we're concerned, we're going there and the score is 0 to 0."

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.