Fort Collins – Don’t call Kory Sperry a Joel Dreessen clone. Instead of a prototype tight end/H-back in the Dreessen mold, with blocking and pass-catching skills to match, the 6-foot-6 Colorado State sophomore sees himself as a very tall wide receiver – who can be used in multiple roles.
Comparisons to Dreessen, the former Rams H-back, were inevitable from the time Sperry signed as a 6-6, 195-pound basketball/football standout from Pueblo County High School. Dreessen arrived at CSU from Fort Morgan at 6-4, 200 pounds.
The four-year starter bulked up to 260 pounds by the time he left last spring as a sixth-round draft pick of the New York Jets. While coaches used Dreessen as an H-back or tight end, Sperry is being used more as an H-back or wideout. He’s up to 235 but has no plans to add another 30 pounds as Dreessen did.
“Everyone keeps asking how it feels without Joel here,” Sperry said. “I’m tired of everyone comparing. He’s gone; it’s time for someone else to step up. I just want to make my own name.”
First is coming up with a name for Sperry’s position.
Coaches say he will go out in motion as an H-back, much as Dreessen did, but might also stay in the backfield to block, if he continues to improve on that. At other times he might line up as a wide receiver. He won’t, however, be used to block from the tight end slot.
“That tight end has to hit somebody; Sperry is not going to do that,” offensive coordinator Dan Hammerschmidt said. “He can catch more balls than Dreessen, and he can become a good enough blocker to be really good all around. He won’t match Joel in physicalness.”
A year ago, Sperry was thrilled to be learning under Dreessen’s guidance, then was surprised when his redshirt season was cut short after tight end Matt Bartz had a season-ending injury. Sperry admits he was unprepared; he had 15 catches for 225 yards and two touchdowns.
Now he’s in a different role in a redesigned offense.
“I like it. I’m not the best blocker like Joel was,” Sperry said. “I try to block. They’ll put me where they think they can play me.”
Wide receivers David Anderson, Dustin Osborn and Johnny Walker are his new role models.
“I wish I was as fast as them,” Sperry said. “I can mismatch (height) with some of the defensive backs. The other wide receivers have the speed. I have the height and weight. It’s different advantages.”
Sperry, who played primarily quarterback in high school, said he is in awe of what CSU’s quarterbacks must know to play the position.
Quarterback Justin Holland returned the compliment: “The changes were harder on Kory than me. He had to learn a lot of stuff.”
Stratton’s plans
Ben Stratton talked publicly for the first time since learning Monday he will miss the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
“This goes against my plans, but I’ll just reconfigure my plans,” he said.
The fourth-year senior safety had planned to graduate in sports medicine next spring. Now he expects to take graduate courses in his final year of eligibility next season.
Naturally, he expected the hardest part will be not playing with his fellow seniors this year.
“Right now I feel great. I have a great outlook,” Stratton said. “But once I have surgery, it’s going to be tough (to watch and not play).”
Footnote
Offensive guard Brandon Alconcel and reserve defensive tackle/end Matt Rupp returned to full practice Tuesday.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
