BOULDER — Colorado freshman defensive end Nick Kasa might avoid surgery on a partially torn medial collateral ligament.
“Don’t know. We’ll kind of see how this whole thing responds. We’d like not to do it,” Buffs coach Dan Hawkins said Friday. “I think they (the medical staff) feel it’s progressing nicely.”
Kasa, the top in-state freshman recruit who was injured Monday, has been the biggest casualty of CU camp.
As soon as Kasa heals some, Hawkins hopes to see what progress is made in rehabilitation. When Kasa advances to the training room stage of rehabbing his knee, the former Legacy High School star can look to a teammate for support.
CU redshirt freshman linebacker Jon Major, who came to CU a year ago as 2008’s top-rated in-state prospect, blew out an ACL last year and required surgery. He’s counting the minutes until his delayed debut.
“I’m sure if I see him in the training room I’m going to make sure he’s doing OK and if there’s anything I can do to help,” Major said. “Experience helps.”
Major doesn’t get as many questions as last spring about the knee.
“Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s OK. I wouldn’t say I’m 100 percent but I’m definitely getting there,” he said.
Hawkins likes his progress.
“He’s doing a nice job, and … he’s very smart,” the Buffs coach said. “He gets in the right place. He’ll hit you a ton.”
Defensive coordinator Ron Collins cautions that Major is not there yet and couldn’t solidify the defense’s starting lineup after Thursday’s scrimmage.
“We hope to have a set starting lineup by the end of next week. We have a pretty good idea what our two-deep is,” he said.
Footnote.
Hawkins didn’t indicate any progress on getting junior college transfer receiver Andre Simmons eligible for camp.
Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
