If the current pattern continues for the Colorado State offense, the Idaho defense faces an uphill battle Dec. 22 when the teams meet in the Potato Bowl. Unfortunately for the Rams, they’ll be without a budding star in Marvin Kinsey, whose season ended with a torn ACL.
Head coach Mike Bobo, who said Kinsey would undergo surgery Tuesday, explained the significance of not having the freshman available for the bowl game.
“It takes out an explosive playmaker for us,” Bobo said after the team practiced Saturday morning. “A guy that’s been able to produce big plays. He’s been able to give the other two backs a blow. But I feel confident that (Dalyn) Dawkins and (Izzy) Matthews can carry the load. I hate it for Marvin, but it is football. Injuries happen. He’ll have a long rehab ahead but we’ve got an excellent training staff that’ll do a good job and hopefully we’ll get him back full strength next year.”
With the way Bobo rotated running backs this season, Kinsey slotted in behind Dawkins and Matthews. But few backs in the nation listed third on a team’s depth chart put together the numbers that Kinsey did.
Kinsey played in all 12 games and carried the ball 93 times for 566 yards and seven touchdowns. Kinsey’s rushing average of 5.9 yards per carry led the three-headed monster of him, Dawkins and Matthews.
What really separates the 6-1, 190-pound Kinsey is his unique blend of size and speed.
Dawkins, who started the majority of 2016, is listed at 5-9, 175 pounds. Though Dawkins isn’t afraid to lower his shoulder and drive through tacklers, he’s definitely the speedster of the bunch.
Matthews, on the other hand, at 6-foot, 210 pounds, serves as Bobo’s battery ram. The sophomore from California led all CSU players with 12 touchdowns, the majority of which came inside the red zone.
Rams’ center Jake Bennett looks forward to hopefully getting Kinsey back at some point next season.
“You see it when he comes in late and runs untouched for 50 yards because he’s got that fifth gear he can get into,” said Bennett. “So we just need him to get healthy and get back for us next year.”
Despite the loss of Kinsey for now, the Rams return a number of key skill position players in 2017. Quarterback Nick Stevens and wide receivers Olabisi Johnson and Michael Gallup will join the Dawkins/Matthews duo.
Don’t forget the offense also receives a boost from several incoming freshmen, including another touted running back in Marcus McElroy.
One guy who expects Kinsey to make a major impact for the Rams in the future is Stevens. CSU’s quarterback believes that Kinsey can come back from the ACL injury and be a special player down the road.
“He’s definitely going to stay in it and be able to come back positively,” Stevens said. “Sometimes an injury can get a guy down, but I think he’s going to come back even better than he was before. He’s obviously already special and I have full confidence that he’s going to keep working and be able to come out and have success next year or whenever he’s back. He’s one of those guys that will come into work day in and day out.”
