BOULDER — In a perfect world, assistant coach Romeo Bandison would redshirt all of the incoming freshman defensive linemen at the University of Colorado. But "perfect" might not be among the adjectives describing Bandison's world as CU prepares for its Sept. 1 opener against Colorado State.

With two of the linemen suspended for the opener or beyond (Taj Kaynor for one game, Chris Perri for three), Bandison has 10 scholarship players available at four positions.

Three of the 10 — Lagrone Shields, Eugene Goree and Conrad Obi — are true freshmen Bandison would like to see slip into redshirts.

But Bandison isn't sure that is possible. Goree, a 6-foot-2, 290-pound nose tackle, and Obi, a 6-3, 250-pound end, have shown well enough in camp to challenge for playing time.

Goree is positioned behind junior Brandon Nicolas and sophomore Jason Brace at nose guard, while Obi and redshirt freshman Eric Lawson are battling to back up senior Alonzo Barrett at end.

Bandison said Goree, because of his high school experience in a "two-gap" defensive front, is "a little more prepared for what I teach. He was a nose guard (in high school) and was used to getting his hands on the center, locking out and separating."

Still, Bandison hopes he doesn't have to use him.

"I have to have those (young) guys prepared, but I don't want to burn their redshirt years," he said, noting Goree turns 18 on Sept. 1.

Three of Bandison's four starters — Barrett, junior end Maurice Lucas and junior tackle George Hypolite — have a redshirt season available. Nicolas used his sitting out a transfer year after leaving Notre Dame.

As with the linebacking corps, there's scant experience behind Bandison's front-liners. Competing at ends with Lucas and Barrett are Obi and redshirt freshman Marquez Herrod, both of whom Bandison says "go 100 miles an hour all the time."

Bandison's biggest role to fill is that of an effective pass rusher. He said replacing departed end Abe Wright (team-best 11 1/2 sacks last season) is "impossible," but added, "Collectively, we'll have a better pass rush than we had last year, but we won't have that single guy who just gets after it."

ETC.: After missing Monday morning's work, offensive captain Bernard Jackson practiced Tuesday morning. . . . Coach Dan Hawkins said walk-ons being considered for scholarships include receivers Scotty McKnight and Cody Crawford, safety D.J. Dykes and place-kicker Tyler Cope. . . . Freshman receiver Josh Smith, who suffered a bruised kidney Saturday, is scheduled be released from Boulder Community Hospital today.

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