FORT COLLINS — All spring, Colorado State coach Steve Fairchild warned not to read too much into one quarterback or another getting more work with the first unit.
Mostly, he gave blistering assessments of senior Grant Stucker and junior-college transfer Jon Eastman. At various times, Fairchild hinted the door was open for incoming freshman Nico Ranieri or sophomore Klay Kubiak, out for the spring with shoulder rehab.
On a wet, dreary day Saturday, however, Fairchild finally confirmed the obvious. Stucker, who was getting most of the work with the first unit, had indeed separated himself from Eastman.
Or, as Fairchild said, “Grant probably played better this spring than Jon Eastman has.” That was not, however, an endorsement, after Stucker completed 15-of-29 passes for 150 yards. Eastman threw seven times, completing two passes.
CSU held a combined scrimmage/practice at Hughes Stadium in steady rain. Only a handful of fans, nearly all parents of players, huddled under umbrellas. Spring game activities were canceled Friday.
Fairchild did take down the threat of returning converted wide receiver T.J. Borcky to quarterback. Borcky has had an excellent spring at receiver and in the backfield in the “wildcat” formation, taking the shotgun snap from center.
Ranieri said from Florida last week he plans on arriving in Fort Collins in July for summer school and to get a head start conditioning with his new teammates. “I definitely feel I can learn quickly,” Ranieri said. “We talked about (early playing time) in the recruiting process, and it was one factor that played a role in choosing CSU.”
For the second straight week, Fairchild was not happy with the running game production, despite some nice gains by Leonard Mason and John Mosure. He said incoming freshmen will get a chance to compete.
Defensive coordinator Larry Kerr was far more encouraged by progress on the other side of the ball this spring. Redshirt freshmen he cited were defensive end Zach Tiedgen, cornerback Marcus Shaw, linebacker James Skelton and sophomore linebacker Michael Kawulok.
Footnotes.
Fairchild said he has two-thirds of the lineup set in his mind, but it can change this fall. . . . The Rams will have their 15th and final practice of the spring Monday afternoon. . . . TE Norman Gee (ankle) and DL Sevaro Johnson (knee) were casualties of the scrimmage.
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
