BOULDER - The top newcomer at one of the University of Colorado football team's neediest positions is out indefinitely.

Freshman receiver Josh Smith - "J-Fly" to his teammates - suffered a bruised kidney Saturday during a scrimmage and is listed as "very unlikely" to play in the Sept. 1 opener against Colorado State (10 a.m., Invesco Field at Mile High).

Smith was hospitalized Saturday night for observation and remained there Sunday.

Coach Dan Hawkins said he could not offer a guess on a prognosis, but he added his "gut feeling" was Smith would be able to return at some point and avoid a redshirt season.

Offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich said the 6-foot, 180- pound Smith was "one of our top two receivers in camp."

Smith undoubtedly had worked himself into a starting role with his speed and acrobatic receptions during August drills.

Smith, of Moorpark, Calif., was among three highly touted freshman receivers signed in February. Kendrick Celestine is behind Scotty McKnight at the "z" position; Markques Simas is listed No. 4 at that spot.

In other personnel matters:

• Inside linebacker Marcus Burton is academically ineligible and will miss the season but will continue to practice. With projected sophomore starter Michael Sipili suspended indefinitely, two inexperienced sophomores and a true freshman are in backup roles at linebacker.

• Redshirt freshman Wes Palazzi, who missed almost the entire first week of camp because of academic obligations, emerged as the No. 1 left guard. True freshman Ryan Miller, CU's highest- profile 2006 recruit, is listed as the backup right guard on a second unit made up entirely of first-year players.

• No first-game backup is listed for defensive tackle George Hypolite.

The two players behind him, Chris Perri (three games) and Taj Kaynor (one), are suspended for the opener.

• Return specialists on Hawkins' first "contributor's chart" of camp are seniors Hugh Charles and Byron Ellis (kickoffs) and seniors Stephone Robinson and Chase McBride (punts).

• How young are the Buffaloes?

Of the 44 players listed as starters/backups on offense and defense, 22 are sophomores, redshirt freshmen or true freshmen.

CU depth chart

• OFFENSE

Pos Starter Ht. Wt. Yr. Backup Ht. Wt. Yr.

WR Patrick Williams 6-2 200 Jr. Cody Crawford 5-11 180 Jr.

WR Scotty McKnight 5-10 190 Fr. Kendrick Celestine 5-11 180 Fr.

LT Tyler Polumbus 6-8 300 Sr. Matthew Bahr 6-4 285 Fr.

LG Wes Palazzi 6-1 295 Fr. Mike Iltis 6-2 290 Fr.

C Daniel Sanders 6-3 310 Jr. Kai Maiava 6-0 295 Fr.

RG Devin Head 6-4 295 So. Ryan Miller 6-7 310 Fr.

RT Edwin Harrison 6-4 300 Sr. Sione Tau 6-5 330 Fr.

TE Riar Geer 6-3 255 So. Joe Sanders 6-3 235 Sr.

QB Cody Hawkins 5-11 195 Fr. Nick Nelson 6-1 230 Jr.

TB Hugh Charles 5-8 190 Sr. Byron Ellis 6-0 215 Sr.

FB Maurice Cantrell 6-0 240 Jr. and Samson Jagoras 5-10 220 Sr.

PK Kevin Eberhart 5-11 195 Sr. Tyler Cope 6-1 180 Fr.

• DEFENSE

Pos Starter Ht. Wt. Yr. Backup Ht. Wt. Yr.

LE Maurice Lucas 6-4 260 Jr. and Marquez Herrod 6-2 255 Fr.

DT George Hypolite 6-1 285 Jr. Taj Kaynor* 6-4 275 So.

NT Brandon Nicolas 6-3 290 Jr. Jason Brace 6-4 265 So.

RE Alonzo Barrett 6-3 235 Sr. Eric Lawson 6-3 275 Fr.

MLB R.J. Brown 6-1 230 Jr. Jake Duren 5-11 230 So.

WLB Jordon Dizon 6-0 220 Sr. Jeff Smart 5-11 210 So.

SLB Brad Jones 6-3 225 Jr. Bryan Stengel 6-2 215 So.

LCB Terrence Wheatley 5-10 185 Sr. Jalil Brown 6-1 205 Fr.

FS Ryan Walters 5-11 200 Jr. Anthony Wright 6-0 185 Fr.

SS Daniel Dykes 6-2 210 Jr. and Lionel Harris 6-0 195 Sr.

RCB Benjamin Burney 5-11 190 Jr. Cha'pelle Brown 5-7 175 So.

P Matt DiLallo 6-1 200 So. Tom Suazo 6-1 190 Jr.*Suspended

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