Colorado QB Nick Hirschman breaks foot while walking

So much for that quarterback competition at Colorado this spring.

Sophomore quarterback Nick Hirschman, who coach Jon Embree said would be in a two-man quarterback race this spring against Texas transfer Connor Wood, will miss all of spring practices after suffering a broken foot — while walking.

Talk about dumb luck.

Hirschman was strolling about this weekend when stepped on his right foot wrong and broke the fifth metatarsal bone. It's the same bone Hirschman broke in his left foot last August that required two surgeries to repair. Hirschman will now undergo surgery to repair his right foot.

Last week, Hirschman told the Boulder Daily Camera that he was close to feeling 100 percent and hadn't felt completely healthy since prior to breaking his foot.

Now, the Buffs' starting job is Wood's to lose, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Wood, a sophomore, is a former star recruit and many thought the job would be handed to him after Tyler Hansen graduated. But Embree dispelled those rumors saying both quarterbacks would be on equal footing and that Hirschman would have a slight advantage because he had playing experience. Hirschman appeared in five games and completed 18 of 35 passes for 192 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

"If I was Nick Hirschman, I'd be ecstatic because all the pressure is on Connor Wood and not me," Embree said. "... I don't have any preconceived notions and I know none of the coaches do either, which is the beauty of being able to be in this situation."

Hirschman's injury actually opens a door for redshirt freshmen John Schrock and Stevie Joe Dorman, who had previously taken a backseat to the Hirschman-Wood battle. And Embree said he had no plans to name a starter until August, which will give Hirschman and incoming freshman Shane Dillon an opportunity as well.

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