BOULDER — Following Colorado’s Monday morning practice, Buffs coach Mike MacIntyre gave a verbal thumbs up regarding the performance of redshirt-freshman offensive tackle Sam Kronshage in last week’s loss to Washington.
Kronshage, 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds, entered the game when starting left tackle Jeromy Irwin when out with an ankle sprain with 6:18 remaining in the first quarter. Irwin did not return to the field.
Kronshage (pronounced kronn-sage) is from The Woodlands, Texas, a suburb of Houston. The Irwins, Jeromy and tight end Sean, are from nearby Cypress, Texas.
“I thought Sam did well against one of the leading sackers (Washington senior Hau’oli Kikaha),” MacIntyre said. “I thought Sam battled him well.
“For his first time out there, against a guy that seasoned, I thought Sam did a good job.”
Kikaha recorded one sack against Kronshage. But MacIntyre said quarterback Sefo Liufau had moved up into the pocket and into the path of Kikaha.
Kronshage redshirted in 2013. His only game action prior to last weekend had been eight snaps in a blowout loss at Southern California on Oct. 18.
MacIntyre said he likely couldn’t determine the availability of Irwin for Saturday’s night’s game at Arizona until practices Wednesday or Thursday. Irwin wore a protective boot Monday.
The good news is it’s a low ankle sprain instead of the more severe high ankle sprain.
“Hopefully he’ll be back (for Saturday),” MacIntyre said.
Tom Kensler: tkensler@denverpost.com or
