FORT COLLINS — Steve Juedes is the last safety still standing on the Colorado State practice field.
Of course, it’s hard not to notice that he is standing with a cast on his broken right wrist and two taped broken fingers on his left hand.
While a variety of leg injuries have sent three others in and out of the lineup and original starter Klint Kubiak is out on a medical redshirt year with a non-football ailment, Juedes will make his third start this season Saturday against Georgia Southern.
One more item: In a secondary filled with walk-ons at safety (except Kubiak), Juedes will be the last to get on scholarship. It won’t happen until January, after he completes his eligibility, but in time to finish his degree.
“I’m so happy to play. I’m so happy with what’s happened this year,” he said, momentarily forgetting the Rams’ 1-9 record. “It’s all right. I played football. (The lack of a scholarship) is not what I think about.”
He came from Boulder’s Fairview High School via a quick stop at Nebraska-Kearney.
Last week alone, he played every down on defense and another 27 on special teams.
“He gets the ironman award for that game,” CSU coach Sonny Lubick said. “He’s an inspiration to the football team and to me.”
This week Juedes will be joined at safety by Zac Bryson, another senior former walk-on. Bryson missed last week with a knee injury but returned to practice this week. Mike Pagnotta, yet another former walk-on, has been limited by a gimpy ankle much of the season but insisted he would try to give it a shot despite missing most of practice Wednesday.
CSU has a tradition of walk-ons in the secondary with Justin and Jason Gallimore and former NFL player John Howell. A fourth current former walk-on is Jake Galusha, out with an ankle injury.
“The walk-ons just happened,” CSU secondary coach James Ward said.
“It’s the qualities these kids have. They are mentally tough. A lot it shows all those guys are treated equally. They are given an equal shot, and they take the opportunity and run with it.”
Healthy safeties will be in demand with the best unheralded running quarterback in the nation coming in. Georgia Southern’s Jayson Foster claims 4.3 speed in the 40 and played wide receiver for part of his career. First-year coach Chris Hatcher delayed putting in a passing offense to take advantage of Foster’s option talents.
Four mobile quarterbacks have rushed for a combined 271 yards against the Rams this season, led by Omar Clayton’s 135 yards in his debut for UNLV. The Rams did much better last week against New Mexico’s Donovan Porterie (2 yards).
“That’s what we’re practicing this week, to read the play and get as many people around the ball as we can,” Juedes said.
The biggest change in practice was moving the scout team’s quickest running back, Alex Square, to quarterback.
Said Ward: “Foster is so athletic and quick. Alex and he are built a lot alike.”
Georgia Southern needs a win to qualify for the I-AA playoffs. At 1-9, CSU can’t take anything for granted.
“We can’t lose this one,” Juedes said. “We have to get another win, especially for every senior. All the young guys want to send us out with two more victories.”
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
