Key CSU spring football position battles part one: Is there a QB controversy brewing?

Out of the blizzard of 2016, a beast rose rose through the cracks in the ice, emerging stronger and ready for the long road to the Mountain West Championship. The abominable snow-Rams!

That journey to reign victorious over the conference begins today with the first official spring practice of 2016.

As the Colorado State Rams prepare for the 2016 football season, the coaching staff is looking for an increase in leadership and they are using competition as a motivator for success. At Tuesday’s spring press conference, Mike Bobo, Will Friend and Marty English all emphasized a desire to create competition as well as see an increase in leadership and accountability from the players themselves in the second year of the Bobo-era.

“I’m not a screamer and a yeller, I’m a teacher,” defensive coordinator English told the media Tuesday.

“Some of that enthusiasm, all that kind of stuff, the players have to create that,” English continued. “We can go out there and be excited for them, and get excited about good plays. But just the want-to, the desire, the caring enough to go out and make this fun. They’ve got to create that. It’s really hard for a coach to have to go out and try and create that for players.”

Multiple positions are wide open for the taking over the next 15 spring practices, which includes the annual Green and Gold Spring Game, as they will give players a chance to work their way up the depth chart heading into summer.

“They’ve shown that they’re taking those steps,” English, who’s looking to fill nine spots on his defense due to graduating seniors, said. “They’ve come up to do the extra things. When I say come up, they come to the offices, and grab the coaches.

“They have to create their own enthusiasm, I think that’s what he (Bobo) is talking about,” English continued. “Any time things are new and wide open, that’s gonna start to happen. Through competition, and everybody fighting for their spots. It’s not like it wasn’t there before, we just had a lot of guys that started for three or four years. (Now) it’s wide open.”

While Bobo and offensive coordinator Friend came to Colorado State last year, English is entering his fifth with the team, meaning he knows a more extensive recent history of the team, the school and is likely better able to judge the character of the Rams players.

Now, part one of a three-part series on position battles for Ram fans to keep an eye on this spring.

Quarterback:

Nick Stevens enjoyed highs and worked through lows as the starting quarterback for CSU in 2015. After splitting time with Coleman Key — who transferred to Oklahoma State in the offseason — for the first month of the 2015 season, he won the job outright and at times was really impressive.

Stevens led the Mountain West in touchdowns (21), and his 2,679 passing yards broke a 31-year-old record for passing yards by a sophomore Colorado State QB, previously held by Kelly Stouffer. Before losing to Nevada in the Arizona Bowl, Stevens led the Rams to victory in five of the last six games, including four-straight to end the regular season.

As impressive as Stevens was, the offense was stagnant under him at times, and in multiple games he struggled to hit open receivers. Colorado State’s offense converted only 14-46 3rd down attempts last season; an area where Bobo and the staff would surely like to see an increase in production.

Without Rashard Higgins and Joe Hansley, Stevens will really need to elevate his game if he wants to keep the starting job. He is athletic, and uses that athleticism to be solid on the rollout, which should help him in the heavy run-based Ram offense. Stevens’ arm strength is above average, and he will be playing with a very experienced offensive line.

Entering the spring as QB-one on the depth chart, the starting job is Stevens’ to lose. But, University of Georgia graduate student transfer Faton Bauta is expected to compete heavily for the position. In four seasons with the Bulldogs (2012-2015), Bauta appeared in 18 games and started one.

Bauta was a three-sport star in high school, also excelling in basketball and baseball, and even though he did not receive a lot playing time in his days in Athens, he could legitimately be the starter this year.

Praised for his work ethic and leadership with the Rams younger quarterbacks (namely, Collin Hill), Bobo has known Bauta for a long time, and that kind of trust should not be overlooked.

“Every Saturday I come up here and there would be Collin and Faton in the offensive staff room, books spread out, watching film, writing, drawing plays,” Bobo said Tuesday. “That’s what Aaron Murray was to Faton. Faton saw how Aaron Murray worked.

“I think it’s also raised the work ethic of Nick and J.C. (Robles),” Bobo explained. “I’m excited about that room. I think we’ve got competition at that position.”

Running back:

The Rams return the talented duo of redshirt junior Dalyn Dawkins and true sophomore Izzy Matthews this spring. After seeing significant playing time last season, both of these backs should see an increased role without Jasen Oden Jr. in the mix.

Currently listed as No. 1 in the backfield, Dawkins led the Rams in rushing yards with 867 in 2015, and his quickness and tough running made him a versatile option in the CSU rushing attack. After transferring to Colorado State from Purdue, Dawkins took a lot of people by surprise last season, emerging early as one of the leading backs in the offense.

Listed at 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, Dawkins runs much bigger than his size, often lowering his shoulder and creating contact with the defender. However, his ball security must improve in 2016. Dawkins put the ball on the ground way too often last year, and with the emergence of Mathews, as well as three other running backs joining the team this fall, Dawkins will need to once again earn playing time.

No. 2 back Matthews did not receive a lot of playing time in the first half of the season, but after some injury problems in the Ram backfield, he really emerged as a power back. Matthews earned his nickname “The Closer” as a fourth quarter enforcer for Bobo’s offense.

Often used to run out the clock out late in games, Matthews averaged an astounding 6.1 yards per carry. On just 97 rushing attempts for the season, Mathews rushed for 590 yards and five touchdowns as a true freshman; Ram Nation can’t wait to see what he can do this year.

His physicality and ability to run over defenders made him an absolute menace to stop, and Ram fans should expect a heavy dose of Matthews in the Ram offense moving forward. As a freshman, Izzy showed excellent vision in the backfield, which should only continue to improve with experience. I expect Matthews to be the Rams primary running back in 2016, but he will have to earn the job leading up to the season.

Along with Matthews and Dawkins, junior running back Bryce Peters is currently on the roster, but he practiced as a fullback in 2015. Recruits Marvin Kinsey, Darius May and Rashaad Boddie will be joining the team in the fall as well, all of which are expected to compete for playing time.

Of course, with Bobo’s run-first offense, how the crowded backfield breaks down will be key in the team’s offensive success. Battles will be won in spring camp, but even Bobo warned Tuesday that players should not be satisfied if they are No. 1 at the end of spring ball with so many newcomers entering the program in the fall.

With the 2016 season just around the corner, these positions, among others, will be interesting to monitor as the spring goes on. Bobo has expressed a deep desire for players to prove that they can compete at a high level and to earn their way onto the field. With increased depth comes increased competition, and the coaches have shown they will play whoever they believe gives Colorado State the best chance to win.

With spring ball back, players will have a chance to rise above and be the next generation of Ram football. They say it is always calmest before the storm. Time to see if the Rams can emerge from the snow storm and make a run at a Mountain West Championship.

Also: Big news in Fort Collins today as an anonymous donor gave $20 million to name the on-campus stadium “Sonny Lubick Field.”