Hawai'i quarterback Colt Brennan last night said he will not practice the next few days to allow his sprained right ankle to heal.

But Brennan remained optimistic he will start in Saturday's game against Charleston Southern at Aloha Stadium.

"It's really sore, pretty beaten up," said Brennan, who suffered the injury last Friday but played the following night in a 49-14 rout of Nevada-Las Vegas. "The black-and-blue is going down. I think I have to rest it up the next couple of days. I think I should be out there moving around on it pretty good by the end of the week."

Brennan said he probably will undergo an MRI this afternoon "to make sure it's good."

He said he likely will be on crutches "just to stay off of it."

"It's just a real solid sprain," said Brennan, who received a cortisone shot before the UNLV game. "I pushed it. I shot it up and pushed it, and it's obviously very swollen today, and very sore. I think if I rest it up the next couple of days I'll be good to go by Saturday."

Brennan added: "If I'm held out, it shouldn't be a problem. It will be a great time for Tyler Graunke to come in and get some experience. I think I'm going to play but I wouldn't be surprised if I get pulled early."

Head coach June Jones said: "I'm going to make him right. I don't want this to linger. I figure by Thursday he'll practice. But he'll play."

The Warriors have conditioning drills this morning. Tomorrow they will practice for a little more than an hour, then practice for two hours Wednesday and Thursday.

Dan Morrison, who coaches the quarterbacks, said the time off will not hinder Brennan's preparation.

"It'll probably do his arm and legs good," Morrison said.

Brennan suffered the injury while playing catch with wideout C.J. Hawthorne during Friday's walk-through practice at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. Brennan said he heard a "pop," and that his right ankle soon began to swell.

The "pop" was likely from a blood vessel, Brennan said, which is why "it swelled up on the field."

Brennan was treated at the stadium's training room, and later at the make-shift medical area at the hotel.

Playing with heavy wrapping on his right ankle, Brennan threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for three scores.

After the game, Brennan showed off his black-and-purple ankle.

"He's a pretty tough hombre," Morrison said.

"It's what football is all about," Brennan said. "I've always prided myself as a tough kid. That's why I was excited for that game. I thought it would be a great moment to step up and show how tough I was."

Brennan played most of last year with a lumbar strain, eventually finishing with the greatest statistical season by a quarterback in NCAA history.

"He can play through these things," Morrison said. "He's a tough kid, wiry strong. He gets whacked around, and gets right back up."

Yesterday afternoon, Brennan and Jones posed for what will be a cover story for ESPN The Magazine.

TIME WELL SPENT

In the future, Jones said, the Warriors will remain on the Mainland between consecutive road games.

The Warriors were 2-0 in the recently completed 12-day road trip, defeating Louisiana Tech and UNLV. The Warriors stayed in Houston for six days between those two games.

"The thing I noticed the most when we got to Vegas (Friday afternoon) we were ready to play," Jones said. "We weren't jet-lagged or all of that kind of stuff. We were on their time. We gave ourselves the best chance to win two games."

Jones said he chose Houston instead of a West Coast city because Houston is a stopover en route to Louisiana. He also worked out an arrangement with Rice University to practice at its stadium. Rice's equipment staff did the Warriors' laundry.

"It was a great bonding experience," Jones said. "We did a lot of good things together. These two games were going to define who we are, and I think it has. We've got some excitement now, not just in our locker room but in the town. It could be a fun year."

BRENNAN NO. 2

Brennan is No. 2 in passing yardage, while the Warriors continued to lead the nation in passing offense in statistics compiled by the NCAA.

Brennan has 1,262 yards (420.67 average) in three games behind Graham Harrell of Texas Tech, who has 1,317 (439.00) in three games. Harrell has thrown for 14 touchdowns, while Brennan has 12.

Hawai'i leads the nation in passing offense with 494.7 yards per game, followed by Texas Tech with 479.3. UH is fifth in total offense with 554 yards per game. Louisville leads with 617 yards per game.

Brennan is No. 1 in points responsible for with 32 per game. He is No. 3 in completions per game with 34.33. Harrell is No. 1 with 40.

Brennan is seventh in passing efficiency with a 185.4 rating. Mike Teel of Rutgers is No. 1 with 236.7. He is No. 2 in total offense with 432.0 yards per game behind Harrell's 432.7.

UH is No. 5 in points per game with 52.33. Oklahoma leads with 61.33. The Warriors, who have punted just five times this season, are No. 1 in net punting with a 44.0 average.

UH's Ryan Grice-Mullins is 13th in receiving yards per game with 111.00. Casey Fitzgerald of North Texas is No. 1 with 226.50.

Kaua'i's Jordon Dizon of Colorado continues to lead the nation in tackles per game (16.33). UH's Solomon Elimimian is tied for 17th with 11 per game.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.