FORT COLLINS — If Pete Kontodiakos had walked on at Colorado State as a punter, he would have earned a scholarship by now. Had he not been offered a scholarship in January by the Rams’ staff, the true freshman from Tarpon Springs Fla., wouldn’t be in Fort Collins now.
Kontodiakos (pronounced KON-toady-ack-us), or Pete the Punter, was named Mountain West Conference special- teams player of the week Monday. He averaged 47.2 yards on six punts Saturday, with two landing inside Nevada’s 20, in addition to kicks of 76 and 67 yards.
The news he ranks 13th nationally with a 44.3-yard average came as a shock to him. “I just go out and kick the ball. Whatever happens, happens,” the freshman said.
A USA Today All-American, Kontodiakos said he had invitations from Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference schools to walk-on. CSU coach Steve Fairchild offered the scholarship.
While understanding how teams can load up at scrimmage positions, Fairchild said: “We’re always going to try to carry three special-teams players on scholarship. If you don’t, that’s a big part of the game not to address with a scholarship.”
Said CSU special-teams coach Larry Lewis: “He has by far reached expectations to this point. As I watch him every day, I see what he can possibly become. That can only happen with consistency.”
CSU injury update.
Fairchild said backup wide receiver T.J. Borcky (ankle) is “very, very questionable” this week but hoped offensive guard Shelley Smith (ankle) could return to practice.
Rams moving to late night.
Apparently, CSU’s fast start is getting noticed. ESPNU has picked up the Rams’ game Oct. 3 at Idaho, moving the kickoff from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The game was initially set to televised locally by Altitude2.
Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
Falcon earns award
AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Junior linebacker Andre Morris was named the MWC’s defensive player of the week.
The 6-foot-3, 235-pound outside defender collected seven tackles and a sack as the Falcons limited New Mexico to 10 first downs in a 37-13 win Saturday in Albuquerque.
“He played a good ballgame,” coach Troy Calhoun said. “We want to see him play like that as we go later into the season too.”
Quarterback status.
Calhoun didn’t define the playing status of sophomore quarterback Tim Jefferson, who left Saturday’s game in the first quarter with a right ankle injury.
After Monday’s practice, Calhoun said Jefferson was “involved.”
“It’s handling pain and that’s part of football,” Calhoun said of Jefferson’s status. Earlier, Calhoun said Jefferson’s recovery time could be three days or three weeks.
Sophomore Connor Dietz replaced Jefferson and finished out most of the game. Dietz accounted for 63 yards of total offense and passed for a TD.
Irv Moss, The Denver Post
