In pursuit of more depth for the defensive secondary, the University of Hawai'i football team looked across the line of scrimmage.

Wide receivers Andre Taylor and Desmond Thomas have decided to move to defense. Yesterday, Taylor was at cornerback and Thomas worked out at safety.

"That hurts," said receivers coach Ron Lee, clutching the left side of his chest.

Taylor is practicing with the second-team defense. Defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said Taylor has a chance to play there in Saturday's game against Utah State.

"He's got athletic ability, and he has a desire to do things properly," Glanville said.

Taylor had played cornerback at Santa Rosa (Calif.) Junior College as a freshman in 2003 before moving to wideout. He transferred to UH in June.

Taylor agreed to the move after being approached by Glanville.

"He said, 'I need some corners,' and I said, 'Whatever I can do to get on the field the fastest,'" Taylor recalled.

Taylor doubled as a returner through the Warriors' first five games. He struggled to learn the read-and-react offensive plays mostly because he practiced with the scout team, which simulated the upcoming opponent's offense during practices.

"It's easier for me to learn the plays on defense," Taylor said.

At 6 feet 2 and 180 pounds, Thomas, a second-year freshman, was expected to serve as a tall target. By the end of the training camp, "I guess I just fell off," he said.

Thomas said he asked to try out at safety, a position he played in high school.

"I want to try something new," he said. "I want to see where it takes me."

He said he probably will not play on defense in the final three games. "I want to feel it out, and work it over the whole spring and summer, and see what happens," Thomas said.

Meanwhile, cornerback Ryan Keomaka will have an expanded role against Utah State.

Keomaka entered training camp as one of the top cornerbacks. But during a preseason scrimmage, he suffered a torn ligament in his right thumb while trying to punch away the football from wideout Ian Sample. "I hit Ian's back," Keomaka said.

Keomaka opted not to undergo surgery immediately, a procedure that comes with at least three weeks of rehabilitation. Instead, his right thumb is heavily wrapped for games and practices.

The painful injury prevents Keomaka from opening a bottle of water. It also makes it difficult for him to jam a wideout.

At first, Glanville said, Keomaka acted as if "they had amputated his hand. It's still there."

As Keomaka learned to adjust, his confidence improved. Glanville said Keomaka will be used as the swing cornerback — a position responsible for defending the inside receivers and curl routes to the flats — in the Warriors' 4-0 scheme involving at least five defensive backs.

PETERS PICKS OFF TWO

The promising news is safety Leonard Peters, who is recovering from a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee, made two interceptions during a passing drill yesterday.

The lukewarm news is Peters is not healthy enough to compete in contact drills. Peters, a fifth-year senior who has not played since the season opener, will not play in a game the rest of the season.

UH coach June Jones asked Peters to participate in non-contact drills yesterday to measure his rehabilitation. "I wanted him to know whether it was 100 percent or not, and I don't think it is," Jones said.

Peters said: "It feels good, but it's not 100 percent."

Peters said he was grateful for the opportunity to "hang out and cheer for the guys."

SLYE AND SMART

Left wideout Jordan Slye said he is hopeful his sore back will allow him to join in the playing rotation this week.

Slye and Chad Mock were supposed to alternate at left wideout in last week's game against Nevada. Despite suffering a back injury, Slye played more downs. Jones said both players will split time this week.

"He's very smart," Jones said of Slye, a 6-foot-4 junior from Seattle. "He has a little subtleness about him. He can get away from people."

Slye, who can run 40 yards in 4.5 seconds, said his quick recognition of defenses allows him to appear faster.

"In the offenses like this, the receivers try to go out (on pass routes) and read, so they're not running at full speed," Slye said. "It looks like they're slower. I try to run hard all of the time. I want to read (the defensive coverage) early."

Slye was placed on the inactive list for three games while his transcripts were reviewed. He played at Washington as a freshman and at Compton College last season. His eligibility has been restored. UH quarterback Colt Brennan said the missed time has not affected Slye.

"He's done really well, especially in game situations, in how little mistakes, if any, he's made," Brennan said.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.