FORT COLLINS — Guy Miller couldn’t celebrate very long Monday after being named the Mountain West Conference defensive player of the week.
He did a few interviews and received congratulations from the Colorado State coaches. Then it was off to the Larimer County Detention Center.
The fifth-year senior, a sociology major, has an internship at the correctional facility.
“Nobody wants to be there on the other side,” Miller said.
There also was one more reality check Monday: thinking about Saturday’s opponent.
“We have a tough game this week (at No. 9-ranked Utah),” Miller said. “Everyone is done with their celebrations.”
Miller’s MWC- and school- record 4 1/2 sacks in the Rams’ 43-10 rout of Nevada-Las Vegas made him the first CSU player to win the weekly defensive award since cornerback Robert Herbert in 2005.
Besides breaking the four-sack school record shared by ex-NFL players Mike Bell and Brady Smith, both set during CSU’s Western Athletic Conference membership, Miller broke the MWC record of four. It was shared by six players — including a 2010 first-round draft pick, Jerry Hughes of Texas Christian.
Miller is tied with Ball State’s Robert Eddins for the nation’s best single-game output this season. Miller leads the MWC and is tied for 13th nationally with 6 1/2 sacks.
His 4 1/2 sacks and eight tackles were quite an outing for an interior defensive lineman.
“It was outstanding. We’ve talked all along that I think he’s been our most consistent player. He’s really played well of late,” CSU defensive coordinator Larry Kerr said. “It’s tough to get that many sacks as a defensive tackle. You’re coming up the middle, you’re often double-teamed. It was fun to watch.”
While Miller contributed to UNLV quarterback Omar Clayton’s misery, Utah presents a new set of challenges.
“UNLV didn’t stretch the field on us (the Rebels’ top receiver, Phillip Payne, was left home). They didn’t attack deep. I guarantee you Utah will. I’m not under any illusions we’ve arrived,” Kerr said.
Likewise, CSU coach Steve Fairchild had to temper some of the jubilation over the Rams’ second victory of the season.
“Obviously, we’ll have a much bigger challenge against Utah on the road,” he said.
But Fairchild noted it was the first time all three phases of the game came together for the Rams, who are 2-5.
Good looks great.
CSU junior Derek Good, originally a walk-on, leads the nation with an average of 37.4 yards on kickoff returns. Utah senior Shaky Smithson ranks third nationally in punt returns, averaging 24.1 yards. Utah leads the nation in kickoff returns (29.2 average) and CSU ranks fifth in that category (27.8).
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
