Fort Collins – Colorado State special-teams coach Dave Arnold needs no reminder that the biggest disparity in Saturday’s rivalry exists in the kicking game.
No one in the country can boast a better kicker-punter tandem than Colorado. Junior Mason Crosby is a preseason All-American who connected on 5-of-7 attempts longer than 50 yards last season, including a 60-yarder against Iowa State, and senior John Torp, was second in the NCAA last season in punting, averaging 46.3 yards.
“Both of those (CU) guys are going to play on Sundays,” Arnold said. “That being said … they can have a difference in the game, but we have to concentrate on what we’re doing.”
Arnold saw the duo last season, first in the opener and then while he was leading cheers for UTEP in the Houston Bowl. Arnold’s son, E.J., is a UTEP graduate assistant.
Introductions are needed, however, for CSU’s replacements for kicker-punter Jeff Babcock. Sophomore punter Jimmie Kaylor has knocked the ball high and far in practice but punted only four times last season for a 43-yard average.
Fifth-year senior place-kicker Kevin Mark has been the mainstay on kickoffs, with 30 touchbacks on 56 kicks last season. But he attempted and made just one extra point a year ago.
Kaylor, a third-year sophomore from Northglenn, will be noticeable for the gold shoe on his right (punting) foot.
“I was hoping they could put a green ‘swoosh’ on it,” said the would-be Nike design consultant.
“I’m just going out there to punt the ball,” Kaylor said. “Folsom (Field) will be one-sided, and I could hear it from the fans for wearing a gold shoe. I just have to show what I could do.”
One of his appearances last season came at the Los Angeles Coliseum when the Rams were blown out by eventual national champion Southern California. Kaylor punted to USC Heisman finalist Reggie Bush, so he knows pressure.
“Torp’s done a lot. I have a lot of respect for him,” Kaylor said. “Going into the season, they probably have the best punter-kicker combo out there. But we’ll never see the field at the same time.”
As a two-year kickoff specialist, Mark said: “It definitely helps ease the nerves. Being here as a fifth-year guy, you feel like you have enough experience in practice to make it ‘muscle memory’ and do the same thing in a game. Just because there’s a bunch of people in the stadium, obviously your adrenaline goes a little differently.”
The return game received extra attention in preseason camp. David Anderson will hand over punt-return duties to sophomore Johnny Walker and junior Dustin Osborn.
“Everyone tells me if you look at his recruiting tape, Walker was one of the best returners in California,” Arnold said.
Cornerback Robert Herbert came on as a kickoff returner late last season, and running back Nnamdi Ohaeri, who saw most of his playing time at UCLA on special teams, is another candidate for returning kickoffs.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
