Fort Collins – Johnny Walker’s 75-yard fourth-quarter punt return for the winning touchdown in the season-ender at UNLV last year was a thrilling way to seal a bowl bid for Colorado State.
That’s especially true because there had been a void in the return game since the departure of two-time all-conference return specialist Dexter Wynn.
As the Rams begin league play Saturday at home against UNLV, Walker’s TD looms as the cornerstone in the return of CSU’s special-teams play.
Damon Morton, who shares punt-return duties with Walker, returned a punt 58 yards for a touchdown at Fresno State on Saturday. In the previous game, Sedric Patterson returned a blocked punt for CSU’s only touchdown against Nevada.
Morton was named MWC special-teams player of the week for the score and two kickoff returns for 41 yards.
When Morton was recruited, CSU coach Sonny Lubick’s oldest son, Matt, then on the CSU staff and now at Mississippi, promised his dad a guy who would be returning kicks and punts for touchdowns every week.
“I called Matt two weeks ago and told him he recruited the wrong guy. We hadn’t seen any of that,” Sonny Lubick said.
Given his first real chance as a returner, Morton proved as good as advertised.
He also came through at wide receiver with four catches for a career-high 103 yards and a touchdown.
“You could see a complete change in attitude in Damon last spring when he made up his mind ‘I’m going to be one of the best receivers, if not the best on this team,”‘ Lubick said. “That’s the blocking and everything. I’ve been looking for him to break out.”
CSU leads the MWC in punt returns with a 13.4 yard average, 24th nationally.
“From the return standpoint, they are going north and south,” CSU special-teams coach Dave Arnold said.
“They finally bought into being a running back. I told them ‘you’re going to get three (yards), you’re going to get three and then all of a sudden you’re going to get 33 yards.”
Arnold and Lubick said much of the credit also goes to the special teams’ “jammers” on the outside who protect the returner. Chase Weber, Joey Rucks and Liddon Levine have received much of the credit while Arnold said Zac Bryson blocked the Fresno State snapper and another player on Morton’s TD.
Footnotes
Offensive guard Marvin Arnold underwent surgery for a broken leg just above the ankle and will miss the rest of the season. Scott Benedict, a redshirt freshman, takes over. … Quarterback Caleb Hanie played most of the game on a sprained ankle. Lubick expects Hanie will be available Saturday.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
