Injury to Elroy Masters means Jordon Vaden moves to “Z” receiver for Rams

Injuries are a sad, simple truth in football.

Receiver Elroy Masters has sustained a broken collarbone the Rocky Mountain Collegian learned Tuesday, and Colorado State Rams head coach Mike Bobo talked about the injury briefly after practice Tuesday.

#CSURams WR Elroy Masters Jr. broke his collarbone in five places Thursday at practice. Had surgery today. His season is likely done.

— Keegan Pope (@bykeeganpope) October 27, 2015

“Elroy is another reason we had to move Jordon Vaden over to the flanker,” Bobo explained. “Elroy, God bless him, every time he’s starting to practice good and make plays in practice, something has happened. A hamstring San Antonio week and then now this. He’ll be back; he might have a chance to be back at the end of the year for us.”

This is sad news for the redshirt sophomore, but, as Bobo said, he could return to the Rams before the season is through. In four games of participation, Masters had three catches for 35 yards this year. As a freshman, Masters caught 10 passes for 156 yards and one touchdown.

Master’s injury meant a move for Vaden from the “X” to the “Z” spot, as Bobo explained. Since Rashard Higgins is feeling good to go again – and with the injury to Masters – Vaden was moved to spread CSU’s talent around the field.

Vaden has been explosive, but not necessarily always smart, when he’s played. Against Savannah State, Vaden had a 100-yard touchdown on a kickoff return, but he celebrated early and fumbled the ball at the one yard line. In five games this year, the speedy and tall wideout has three catches for 39 yards, two of them came in the team’s most recent game against Air Force.

Speaking of receivers, Bobo gave a bit of an injury update on Higgins, which was positive.

“Looked good today, he looked good,” Bobo said of Higgins Tuesday, who’s battled a hamstring and last week an “upper extremity” injury, as the head coach put it. “He was moving around. He took most of the reps with the ones.

“Then, Sammy Long has done a great job too. We moved Jordon Vaden to the flanker position, to the Z, because Rashard is back full time and we feel good about Sammy so Jordan will be over there at the flanker,” Bobo explained. “I feel good about Rashard having him out there and I think he’ll be close to full speed. Nobody is 100 percent during the season, there is always little things. He’s in a good mind set right now and worked hard…four days in a row.”

Having “Hollywood” Higgins back to close to full strength is a definite positive for the Rams offense, which was struggling early in the season to finish drives and score points. Two weeks ago, CSU put up their biggest point total of the season (38) save the Week 1 blowout of Savannah State (65) and hopes are high the team has finally started clicking on all cylinders offensively.

So, Higgins at “X,” Vaden at “Z” and in the slot, is of course, Joe Hansley. Hansley’s been stellar all season long, including his 44-yard touchdown in that 38-23 win over Air Force two weeks ago. Read more and “Get to know Joe” here.

Beyond the offensive side of the ball, one big man up front on the defensive side is Terry Jackson, who’s disrupted the opposing offensive attack by getting into the backfield with power.

“Terry’s been good,” Bobo said of the senior lineman. “It’s tough when you miss that much time defensively or really as a lineman your technics and your hand placement and your steps.” Jackson missed the first two games of the season, but against Colorado, he had one tackle with one quarterback hurry. He’s come on since then, with 11 total tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss.

“He’s a guy who has a quick twitch and athletic ability for us inside and has been able to make plays; he has done a nice job,” Bobo continued on Jackson. “He’s a senior and he fought hard to get back and did his rehab and really wants to go out on a good note. Like I told the guys today, seniors need to find more opportunities. You got two more at home. Let’s make sure we have a good day of practice and Terry was one of those guys who had a good day of practice today.”

Bobo, who’s earned the trust and admiration of his players already, makes a great point. Only two more home games this season; this Saturday versus San Diego State (1:30 p.m. MDT kickoff) and Nov. 14 vs. UNLV (5 p.m. MDT kickoff). Though it’s only his first year of coaching, Bobo always seems to find ways to give his players – especially the seniors – a little extra motivation. We’ll see if it pays off this week when the talented, 5-3 Aztecs come to Fort Collins.