Boulder — Colorado senior linebacker Jordon Dizon isn’t shy about giving Colorado State running back Kyle Bell some props before Saturday’s season opener for both teams in Invesco Field at Mile High.
Bell’s return, Dizon said, adds a different dimension to the CSU offense.
“You hardly ever see someone 6-2, 230, coming at you through a hole,” Dizon said. “He’s a big back, and he’s a blue-collar guy who likes to bring his hard hat.
“We didn’t play him last year, but the year before I remember him knocking me a couple of times. It’s good for their program to finally have him back. He’s going to be a whole heap to tackle, but we’re up to the challenge.”
Bell missed all of the 2006 season after suffering a knee injury in practice just days before the season opener. “You know when a team has somebody special back there, they’re going to run the ball,” Dizon said. “It’s like Southern Cal when they had Reggie Bush, now CSU has Kyle Bell back and they’re going to try to run it down our throats.
“We respect them for that. We’ve got to take our Tylenols and strap up. We have to expect their best.”
Footnotes
Dan Hawkins said senior Bernard Jackson will not play Saturday against Colorado State. But Hawkins did say Jackson’s academic eligibility for the season still has not been determined and he has not been ruled out for the season. “We’re waiting on a class,” Hawkins said. Jackson was the starting quarterback in 2006 but was converted in the spring to a hybrid role that would primarily include receiving, rushing and kick returning. Jackson has missed most practices since fall camp began and did not practice Wednesday.
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