Boulder – The 2006 season has hurt in more ways than just mounting losses for two prominent Colorado seniors whose draft appeal may have taken a hit as well, but for very different reasons.
Kicker Mason Crosby and center Mark Fenton were preseason stars. Crosby was everybody’s All-American as he was recognized with the nation’s best leg, with the ability to hit with accuracy from ranges that most other kickers wouldn’t be allowed to attempt. Fenton garnered some preseason All-America mention as well, and was a candidate for the Lombardi, Outland and Rimington awards.
Now, the duo is fighting for their reputations as it relates to draftability – Fenton because of an injury and Crosby because of performance.
Crosby recently was named a Lou Groza Award (nation’s best kicker) semifinalist, but hasn’t had the season expected of him. He is 15-of-21 (71.4 percent) on field goals this season, which is good. The problem is Crosby was expected to be great, particularly from distance. That is where he has struggled most, going 2-of-6 from at least 50 yards.
“I think early on I was trying to just crush it, just trying to prove too much,” said Crosby, who was 21-of-28 last season, including 5-of-7 from 50-plus. “Now, it’s like I know what I can do and I just want to be able to kick it easy, and be confident and be focused and see the uprights.”
Crosby had a chance to leave early for the NFL after his junior season. He said he does not regret his decision to return for his senior year.
“Definitely not,” Crosby said. “I think I’ve done some things this year that have helped myself. In my mind, I feel like I’ve been kicking well. I’ve had one bad kick all year. If I have a good last three games, it’s in my hands. I just have to keep kicking well.”
CU coach Dan Hawkins said Crosby is “still the best.”
“Certainly with a kicker, his stock is never going to go down,” Hawkins said. “When you have a position player, there’s a chance those guys can get injured. So there’s a little bit of a risk factor. But with a kicker, you’re not going to go down.”
A cracked bone in his lower leg has gutted Fenton’s season. Initially, he was hoping to be back in two weeks, but five weeks later he has just begun major participation in practice. Fenton admitted Wednesday the injury was actually at best a four- to six-week recovery process, but more commonly 6-8 weeks.
If it takes eight weeks, Fenton’s season will be over. But he said there is no doubt he’ll play at some point in the next three games, likely beginning Saturday against Kansas State.
“I have to,” he said. “I’m getting live reps this week, next week hopefully do a little bit more. I’m in the game plan, so I can possibly play this week.”
Regarded in the preseason as one of the nation’s top offensive linemen, Fenton was injured Sept. 23 at Georgia and replaced by Bryce MacMartin. Since then, coaches have hedged on whether Fenton would get his starting job back even if he was healthy, but his lengthy rehab hasn’t forced a decision.
“It’s a lot longer than what I intended, but there’s nothing I can do really,” Fenton said.
He recognizes that he’s going to have to prove his health for scouts to improve his draft status.
“They know what kind of player I am,” Fenton said. “If I can just come in to the combines and show them that I’m healthy, hopefully this won’t affect me. … If I can do that, that’ll be great.”
Staff writer Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
GAME BREAKDOWN
Players to watch
Colorado (1-8, 1-4 Big 12): Back in the saddle as Colorado’s full-time starter, QB Bernard Jackson looks to improve off a subpar performances the past two weeks. Injuries and inexperienced depth might keep Jackson on the field permanently until the end of the season.
Kansas State (5-4, 2-3): Junior RB James Johnson has flourished as a Wildcats’ featured back over the past two weeks, with back-to-back 100-yard efforts. Johnson and teammate Leon Patton give KSU a solid 1-2 punch at tailback.
Key stat
Colorado has won three of the past four games against K-State and hasn’t lost to the Wildcats in Boulder since 2000.
Key for Kansas State
Continued balance. For much of the season, K-State has had either its rushing game or passing game working, but rarely both at the same time. Last week, K-State had that balance with 161 yards passing and 156 yards rushing. A repeat performance there gives the Wildcats a great shot at a victory.
Key for Colorado
Finishing. Coach Dan Hawkins put his team through a grueling conditioning workout Sunday, punctuated by running the Folsom Field stairs. His point? He wants better focus and a willingness to finish on the field Saturday. CU has lost second-half leads three times this season and has been outscored 67-23 in the fourth quarter.
CHRIS DEMPSEY
