The University of Hawai'i football coaches have expressed concern about the health of free safety Leonard Peters, who has not competed in contact drills for nearly two weeks.

Peters is suffering from a sprained right ankle.

"I'm OK," insisted Peters, who promised to resume practicing today.

But defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said Peters "hasn't had a well day yet. He hasn't had a day where the ankle has not bothered him."

Head coach June Jones said Peters' injury is "a problem."

Dane Porlas, who is recovering from a variety of injuries, practiced as the first-team free safety yesterday. Spencer Smith is next in line.

"It's frustrating," Jones said. "Hopefully, (Peters) will make it for the game (against Alabama in the Sept. 2 season opener). But we're preparing to get a bunch of guys ready to play in case he can't go the whole game. Every day, we have to prepare (a contingency plan) because he's not out there."

Jones said Peters, as one of the team's toughest players, is allowed to self-monitor his progress.

"He knows what he can do and what he can't do," Jones said. "We let him make the call. We're not questioning his toughness or anything. We know he'll play if he can play. Obviously, it's bothering him."

Peters said the coaches withheld him from practicing yesterday. He is scheduled to visit the doctor today.

"He's not showing what he does on two (healthy) ankles," Glanville said. "What he has done on two good ankles, he's as quick as a hiccup. You can't stop him. On one good ankle, he's just quick. Against Alabama, we need the hiccup."

PURCELL MAKING STRIDES

Amani Purcell, who transferred from Penn State last year, was cleared to practice with the Warriors last Friday.

During team drills Saturday and yesterday, Purcell was the right outside linebacker on the first team.

But he also practiced at left outside linebacker, and has been assigned to play on four special teams — punt (right guard), kickoff return (wedge), punt return (wedge) and kickoff.

"They're giving me the whole deal," Purcell said. "They're trying to kill me out there on special teams. I guess I have to do what I have to do."

Glanville praised Purcell's aggressiveness and grasp of the 3-4 defense.

"I can't rate him until we go with live bullets," Glanville said. "You do not grade them in practice."

But asked to rate Purcell's performance on the practice range, Glanville said: "He can run. He is not stiff at all. He has COD — change of direction."

Purcell was assigned No. 54, his jersey number at Penn State. At UH, three of four members of the first family of defense — Niko Noga, Al Noga and George Noga — wore No. 54.

Al Noga, who attended yesterday's practice, said: "It's not my number. It's the school's number. The number doesn't belong to the Nogas. I wore the number because other good players wore it, and I wanted it to rub off of me."

Noga said he conducted several camps in American Samoa, where he met Purcell's father. "He took us around," Noga said.

Purcell recalled one of Noga's demonstrative speeches at a clinic. "He was pretty wild for a coach," Purcell said. "I heard he did great things for the school. That's a lot to live up to."

Jones said there was no special significance in awarding No. 54 to Purcell.

"I don't care what number he wears as long as he plays on Saturday nights," Jones said.

Jones then joked about his old UH number.

"I was 11," he said. "I was a Bully Fergerstrom. That's kind of a special number."

PLAYERS RETURN TO TEAM

The countdown to cutdown begins, and — no coincidence — many of the players who had missed practices because of nagging injuries competed in workouts yesterday.

"That was sweet," Glanville said. "I thought it was because they wanted to be sure they all made class."

A Western Athletic Conference rule limits travel rosters to 60 players for league games. But Jeff Hurd, the WAC's senior executive commissioner, said there are no travel limits for non-conference games.

Still, UH athletic department officials have told Jones he can bring only 60 players to Alabama. Jones and his coaches have crafted several drafts of travel rosters.

"Everyone we take is going to have to contribute," Jones said. "Maybe we'll take a guy who's hurt thinking he'll be all right by game day. It depends on who it is. There's no fat (on the travel roster)."

Brashton Satele, who had been restricted to light practicing because of a bruised right quadriceps, practiced as the left outside linebacker on the first team.

"I'm feeling better," Satele said.

Left cornerback A.J. Martinez, who has been in and out of the lineup because of a groin injury, also practiced.

"We had a day off (on Sunday), so everybody had an extra day to get their legs back," Martinez said. "We're playing Alabama. If you want to play, you'd better get your (rear) in there."

Left slotback Davone Bess, who has been slowed by a sore right hamstring, added: "All of the nicks are gone. We're on it, baby. We have less than two weeks before game time."

UH also expanded the roster, adding eight players. Running back Jazen Anderson, who quit the team during training camp only to reconsider four days later, participated in drills, but will not be allowed to wear shoulder pads until tomorrow because of the NCAA orientation period.

Cornerbacks Keao Monteilh and Ryan Keomaka, both of whom were part-time starters last season, also practiced.

"It's great," Keomaka said. "I love the smell of football. It's good to be back. It's good to be running. It's good to have side pain for the first time in a long time."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.