Colorado State Football: Rams face total rebuild in 2018
By Zach Bigalke
Offense
It is a major rebuilding effort in Fort Collins for incoming offensive coordinator Dave Johnson. There is little veteran presence for Johnson to lean on this season, making his learning curve that much steeper. Johnson has at least worked with Bobo before, as the two spent seven years together on Mark Richt‘s staff at Georgia.
Leading rusher Dalyn Dawkins is gone after graduating and signing an undrafted free agent contract with the Tennessee Titans. At least Izzy Matthews, his understudy, is back after rushing for more than 1900 yards and 26 touchdowns in three years of limited action.
Gone as well is Jake Bennett, a three-year starter at center who is still looking for a professional opportunity. The offensive line also has to replace left tackle Zack Golditch, an all-conference player in 2017. Those two departures will make rough for a new-look backfield.
Colorado State also lost Michael Gallup, last year’s most productive receiver. Gallup was a third-round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys after compiling nearly 2700 receiving yards in two seasons with the Rams. His loss will put more pressure on Olasibi Johnson and sophomore Warren Jackson.
Focusing on who will replace Nick Stevens
If one of the aforementioned departures is the biggest loss, though, all should be fine in Fort Collins. That is because the Rams also have to replace starting quarterback Nick Stevens. A three-year starter at Colorado State, Stevens remained nearby after signing with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent.
That proximity will be little solace for the offensive coaching staff, though. Quarterbacks coach Ronnie Letson will likely turn to Washington transfer K.J. Carta-Samuels to replace Stevens. Carta-Samuels, stuck behind Jake Browning, now gets a chance to win a starting role for a year as a graduate transfer.
He will try to beat out Collin Hill, who tore his ACL in the offseason and hopes to heal by the start of the season. Little-used junior J.C. Robles and redshirt freshmen Judd Erickson and Justice McCoy round out the depth chart at the position, and that trio earned all the reps this spring.