FORT COLLINS — Spring practice is a good time for experimentation, using players at different positions, Colorado State football coach Jim McElwain said.
The experiments seem to be working.
“I like what some of the guys have been able to do at their new spot,” McElwain said.
Position moves include junior safety Jasen Oden (5-foot-11, 208 pounds) moving to running back, junior running back Davon Riddick (6-0, 204) switching to cornerback and sophomore linebacker Nolan Peralta (6-3, 230) becoming a tight end.
“I think Davon has found a spot,” McElwain said. “Based on the last scrimmage, I think Jasen — 69 yards on 15 carries last weekend at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park — is going to be a valuable part over there. And at tight end, Nolan Peralta will help us.”
This King wants to rule. One of the bright spots of spring drills has been the play of junior defensive tackle LaRyan King (6-1, 285).The former junior college transfer is making a big push to earn a starting job after being a backup in 2013.
“I’m taking on a bigger role, and things are going good,” said King, a native Californian who played one year at San Francisco City College.
King said it will be important for him to play well Saturday in the “Green and Gold” spring game (11 a.m. kickoff in Hughes Stadium).
“I want to show that I’ve stepped it up and worked on things to become a starter,” King said.
Another former junior college transfer, junior Terry Jackson (6-1, 275), also has had an impressive spring on the interior defensive line.
Sack master? Colorado State is looking for somebody to replace departed senior Shaquil Barrett, the 2013 Mountain West defensive player of the year. Martavius Foster, a 6-3, 260-pound junior, is turning heads.
“I see him as being a very effective pass rusher,” McElwain said of the former junior-college transfer from Mississippi. “Now, we have to get him to make sure he’s holding the point (of attack) in the run game.
“A lot of times, all those guys think about is sacks,” McElwain added. “But it’s also about your pass-rush lanes and being able to defend the run. That’s something he has to continue to work on. The guy can run, and he’s got the size. But I want him to be an everyday player.”
Footnotes. CSU women’s basketball coach Ryun Williams added three transfers. Two are guards: 5-10 Jamie Patrick from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College and 5-9 Hannah Tvrdy, who was a backup as a freshman at Nebraska. Also joining the program is 5-10 forward Keyora Wharry from Fresno (Calif.) City College. … Volleyball also added two transfers: setters Crystal Young from Blinn (Junior) College in Texas and Grace Gordon from Colorado-Colorado Springs.
