FORT COLLINS — Colorado State is on track to get defensive tackle Nuku Latu back this week for Saturday’s game against No. 5 Boise State.
Latu has said he would return after missing two games with a knee injury. CSU coach Steve Fairchild played it more cautious, saying Monday, “We’re hoping to get Nuku back.”
Nevertheless, Latu returned to limited practice last week and is expected to get back to normal this week.
“Bringing Nuku back would give a little bit more size inside, No. 1,” CSU defensive coordinator Larry Kerr said. “It gives us another guy to rotate in. We like to try to keep those guys fresh, and it would be nice to have four guys to rotate in that situation, instead of going into the game with three. And Nuku is a veteran player; he’s got talent, that we’d like to have on the field.”
In other injury news, redshirt freshman defensive lineman John Froland (ankle) is not expected to play Saturday, Fairchild said.
Outside of that, “We did not sustain any further injuries during the bye week,” Fairchild said.
Footnotes.
When Colorado State faces Boise State, the Broncos will tie for the highest-ranked team ever to play at Hughes Stadium. TCU was ranked fifth when the Rams faced the Horned Frogs at home last season, and CU was No. 5 when CSU squared off against the Buffs at Hughes in 1996. … As of the close of business Monday, Colorado State had fewer than 3,000 tickets left. … CSU held a Monday practice for the first time this season because of the bye week.
