Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Warren Jackson, Trey McBride, Dante Wright. These three names will give Mountain West defensive coordinators nightmares all year. Each one will make you pay if you focus on the others. And then there’s is more talent behind them.
Jackson is the leading name in the group. He was named MW Preseason Offensive Player of the Year by both MWWire and the Mountain West media, becoming just the second receiver to ever earn the honor (Rashard Higgins, CSU, 2015). He was also named to the preseason watch lists for the Maxwell and Biletnikoff awards.
Trey McBride is a beast at the tight end position. The 6’4″, 260 lb tight end finished with 45 receptions for 560 yards and four touchdowns. And he always made sure you game planned around him. McBride was named to the Mackey Award watch list this preseason.
Dante Wright was the Rams freshman sensation last season. He had 57 receptions for 805 yards and four touchdowns, 17 rushing attempts for 214 yards and two scores, and he was also the Rams punt returner. He was named to the Hornung Award watch list and to the fourth team of Phil Steele’s Preseason All-American Team.
The Rams have more talent at the receiver and tight end positions waiting in the wings. Cameron Butler and Brian Polendey will be among the tight end rotation with Nate Craig-Myers, E.J. Scott, Ty McCullouch, and more waiting in the wings for the receivers.
What a way to start Saturday's game at Fresno State on a 69-yard touchdown to @mcbtrey
It's #TopShotTuesday presented by @canvasfamily! pic.twitter.com/fhigiCA5Pc
— Colorado State Football (@CSUFootball) October 29, 2019
Offensive Line
This position group usually dictates how an offense goes through a season, but this is even more important for the Rams. Talented skill position players can only take a team so far, as the Rams showed last season. The Rams allowed 27 sacks last year and finished 103rd in the nation in rushing offense with 132.2 yards per game.
The key for the Rams will be gaining chemistry quickly as they only have three holdovers from last year. Nouredin Nouili and T.J. Storment transferred out; while Jeff Taylor graduated.
Barry Wesley is a do it all type along the offensive line as he has played every position, except center, for the Rams. The former walk-on was a Burlsworth trophy candidate last season and was named to the Wuerffel Award watch list.
Because of the lack of experience for the Rams, three former Boston College players followed Steve Addazio to Colorado State. Cam Reddy, Adam Korutz, and Elijah Johnson all bring experience to the Rams and will be a big part of establishing chemistry for the Rams.
Scott Brooks, Keith Williams, and Ches Jackson have experience for the Rams as well. The Rams have a number of freshman who could contribute in the future as well including Alex Azusenis, Brian Crespo, and Tautai Marks.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1369]
[protected-iframe id=”f7652191f99ba13728097498e8a79cd8-137729785-123448869″ info=”https://open.spotify.com/embed-podcast/show/48681pqFq0kB9dhrtPPoNd” width=”100%” height=”232″ frameborder=”0″]