BOULDER — Considering Colorado yielded six sacks Saturday in the 52-7 loss at California, it came as no surprise Tuesday when CU coach Dan Hawkins announced that changes have been made this week along the offensive line.
Junior Mike Iltis, who was in on every offensive snap at left guard in the blowout at Berkeley, has been moved to starting center for Saturday’s home game against Hawaii. Iltis replaces senior Keenan Stevens.
Junior Ethan Adkins is back as the starter at left guard. Adkins was the starter at that spot for the season opener against Colorado State but lost the job to Iltis last week and drew only special teams work at Cal.
“We’re moving a couple of guys in there and working on our (pass) protection,” Hawkins said today during his weekly media luncheon. “I thought we did a better job when guys got used to the speed of things.”
Another nickleback out. Junior safety Travis Sandersfeld suffered a slight fibula fracture in his lower leg Saturday at California and will be out at least a couple of weeks. “Then it’s just a matter of how much (pain) he can tolerate,” Hawkins said.
Sandersfeld had replaced redshirt-freshman Parker Orms as the regular nickelback after Orms tore an ACL in the first quarter of the season opener. Orms is done for the season.
Paul Vigo will move into the lineup as Sandersfeld’s replacement, Hawkins said. Vigo, a 6-1, 190-pound redshirt-freshman from New Jersey, “is a very physical player and he can run. I thought he did a real nice job (against Cal) coming in there and making some plays. And he’s only going to get better.”
Hawkins also announced that junior Shawn Daniels, a reserve interior offensive lineman, will require season-ending foot surgery to repair a torn ligament.
Early scouting report. Hawkins on Hawaii: “They are a very talented squad and have some experience back, particularly on offense, with a group of receivers and a quarterback (junior Bryant Moniz) that have been together for a while and are very potent and know what they are doing. Their quarterback can really go. He can take off 40, 50 yards in a heartbeat.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
