CSU WR Deionte Gaines currently not with the team

The Colorado State offense could be without one of it’s most dynamic pieces this fall. Mike Bobo told the media Tuesday that wide receiver and return specialist Deionte Gaines is not currently with the team.

Although Bobo did not comment or dive into detail on the situation, the second-year head coach is expected to release a statement on the situation this week.

“He is not with the football team right now,” Bobo said after practice Tuesday. “When I have a statement, I’ll make a statement on Deionte. I’ll let you all know know, but it’s an in-house matter right now. I’m not going to comment until I have a formal statement.”

Coming into spring ball, Gaines was listed as the starting slot wide receiver for the Ram offense, and the loss of the speedy wide out would be a big blow. Gaines missed the 2015 Arizona Bowl because an off-field issue that the coaching staff never released to the public, so it is not the first time the junior from Orlando, Florida has been in a weird situation with the program.

In 2015, Gaines started five games for CSU, registering 13 catches for 112 yards and one touchdown. Also a threat in the run game, the Florida native carried the ball 12 times for 138 yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns last season. Returning kicks last year, Gaines averaged 23.4 yards per-return, and had a long of 51-yard return to open the Rocky Mountain Showdown. He’s been fielding punts in practice, too, and could be in line for that job as well, depending on if he rejoins the team or not.

After losing leading receivers Rashard Higgins and Joe Hansley, Colorado State was already somewhat thin on the outside. The loss of Gaines would be both a blow to the offense and special teams.

Ram fans will wait anxiously to hear the future of Gaines in a green and gold uniform.