Fort Collins – The rain might have dampened spirits up and down the Front Range, except on Colorado State’s practice field.
A handful of first-day mistakes was more than offset by an elevated level of intensity.
“The whole level – the younger guys growing up from last year, and they’re excited because they know they are going to be getting more reps this year,” fifth-year senior quarterback Justin Holland said. “Everyone knows what we’re doing. We were a lot more crisp than we ever have been on the first day.”
Holland said he has recovered from a broken leg that caused him to miss the second half of the 2004 season.
With center Albert Bimper escorting Holland through a media gantlet and announcing, “The leg is fine,” Holland said he never thought the first day of practice would arrive. The ankle isn’t taped, as it was this spring, and Holland had no trouble with mobility.
“I think the weather helped us, but we have a lot of guys who have played,” CSU coach Sonny Lubick said. “We have experience. We put a little more in for the first day of practice.”
All eyes were on the running game and the first look at UCLA transfer Nnamdi Ohaeri. Sophomore Kyle Bell, who took the first handoff, picked up where he left off in the spring with several good gains and more speed to the outside.
Lubick expects the depth to sort into three or four candidates who will get most of the work.
As for Ohaeri, Lubick said, “He showed some speed in there.”
Walker back on offense
After a spring ball trial at linebacker, junior Tristan Walker is back on offense in the new fullback position. Walker has been hampered by foot and knee injuries for three seasons.
“He can learn the offense easier than linebacker,” Lubick said. “It’s hard to pick that up in one spring.”
A summer boating injury to walk-on Kyle Van Horn , who had been projected at the fullback spot, also helped prompt the move. Lubick said Walker will see some carries on offense.
Footnotes
The school on Monday sold out its 1,000-seat student allotment for the Sept. 3 season opener at Colorado. … Lubick singled out backup cornerback Darryl Williams, a 5-foot-9 junior who had an outstanding spring. “He stood out and he’s two steps quicker,” Lubick said. … Offensive coordinator Dan Hammerschmidt is thrilled to see his former player Bradlee Van Pelt, move up to No. 2 on the Broncos’ quarterback depth chart, saying: “That’s Bradlee. He keeps getting better every year.” … Linebacker Luke Adkins was a spectator Thursday, still not completely healed from late-season ACL surgery. Lubick said he didn’t know a timetable for Adkins’ return, but more might be known after an MRI today. … Redshirt freshman linebacker Jeff Horinek worked with the first team, and Lubick said he is benefiting from the extra work.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303 820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
