FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- The Gophers defense will be without starting safety Damarius Travis and backup safety Ace Rogers for Saturday afternoon's game against Colorado State.
Travis has a hamstring injury, and Rogers has a knee injury. Sophomore safety Adekunle Ayinde will get his first career start. This depleted defensive backfield got a break with Rams All-American wide receiver Rashard Higgins out with a foot sprain. Higgins led the nation in receiving yards and touchdowns in 2014.
Ayinde played in seven games as a freshman last year, but didn't record any stats. He had one tackle against Texas Christian in the Sept.