Fort Collins – Through all the injuries that hit the secondary and defensive line, Colorado State’s linebacking corps stayed intact through the first nine games.
That changes Saturday at Utah when redshirt freshman Jake Pottorff, a Greeley West product, steps in for senior Jon Radford. Although Radford’s future won’t be confirmed until the results of a MRI exam become available, he won’t play this weekend. It is suspected Radford tore his ACL against BYU.
As one of several surprises on the defense, Radford was third in tackles for the Rams with 50.
“I don’t think we’ll fall off 100 percent with Jake other than experience,” CSU coach Sonny Lubick said Monday at his weekly news conference. “Jon had a very good year for us. He’s been solid, good and reliable. We’ll miss him. Jake is going to be fine.
“But there’s no substitute for experience.”
Pottorff has 12 tackles as a reserve and was pressing Radford for the starting job before the season until he injured his shoulder. He subsequently broke his hand but kept playing.
Backup duties now fall to Sedric Patterson, redshirt freshman Cameron Rust, a walk-on from Smoky Hill, and John Nichols, also coming off shoulder surgery.
The only other redshirt freshman to start on defense for the Rams this season was defensive tackle James Morehead in one game.
Feeling JoePa’s pain
Lubick said he felt for his friend, Penn State coach Joe Paterno, who had surgery Monday for a broken bone and two torn ligaments in his leg.
“Coaches don’t have a chance on the sideline when plays come out of bounds,” Lubick said. He had a similar injury when he coached Montana State.
Streak continues
For the third time in four weeks, CSU helped an opponent earn a Mountain West Conference player of the week award. BYU linebacker Cameron Jensen won the defensive honor for his nine tackles and two sacks.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
