Fort Collins – Colorado State star running back Kyle Bell, who rushed for 1,288 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, will not play this season after an MRI on Wednesday revealed a torn ACL in his right knee.
Downcast players and coaches left a tearful team meeting, resolved not to let the injury end CSU’s season before it begins, Saturday against Weber State. Bell will need surgery, but it has not been scheduled yet.
Bell, the top returning rusher in the Mountain West Conference, was hit by cornerback Darryl Williams during drills late in Tuesday’s practice but was able to walk off and told everyone it was just a bruise.
Dave Bell said late Wednesday night that his son had the MRI as “a precautionary thing” and the result was “a terrible shock to him.” Kyle Bell was at his parents’ home in Keenesburg but too emotional to talk on the phone.
Bell, a fan favorite who often resembled an out-of-control freight train, will have two years of eligibility remaining because he played as a true freshman in 2004 out of Weld Central High School.
As he was about to leave campus Wednesday with his father, Bell told backup-turned-starter Gartrell Johnson it was his show and to make him proud. Until that moment, the Rams had been eagerly anticipating Saturday’s opener at Hughes Stadium.
“I was so sad for him. I was in shock,” Johnson said. “You never want anything like that to happen to a hardworking guy.”
Quarterback Caleb Hanie thought he witnessed a routine play Tuesday during the red- zone drills.
“That’s how Kyle is,” Hanie said. “He was probably hurting a little more than he was showing.”
CSU coach Sonny Lubick said he saw Bell around 7 a.m. and learned Bell was going for the MRI because of slight soreness. Lubick didn’t get the verdict until 1 p.m.
“It’s sad and the team is very upset,” Lubick said. “Some guys have to look at it as an opportunity for them. We have to step up and I think our team will do that. They came out and practiced hard. I think it will make us stronger, but there certainly will be no substitute for Kyle Bell at running back.”
Before practice, players hurried to the athletic facility to learn if the rumor was true.
“Coach Lubick was tearing up a little bit, we were kind of tearing up for Kyle,” Hanie said. “We had a team meeting afterwards and said we love Kyle and we’re going to miss him but we can’t let it ruin our season and we can’t have any animosity towards any player. It was an accident.”
No one was more distraught than Williams, who has emerged as the top cornerback.
“He stayed on the ground a couple of seconds and walked it off. I didn’t think it was anything,” Williams said. “It was a big shock when we heard. I don’t think it’s sunk in yet.”
It’s the fourth time in four years that Lubick has lost a key starter to a severe injury. Linebacker Eric Pauly’s career was ended in the middle of 2003 by an ACL tear. Quarterback Justin Holland broke his ankle in 2004, and safety Ben Stratton tore his knee just before last season.
Johnson, a 6-0, 225-pound sophomore, played in five games last year, carrying 11 times for 29 yards. A few early- season fumbles benched him, but he worked hard in the spring and fall to halt the problem.
Michael Myers, a 6-1, 205-pound sophomore converted cornerback, was the surprise of camp and moves up to second on the depth chart.
CSU running backs coach Mick Delaney said blocking back Tristan Walker will get more plays at the running back position. Still-injured Nnamdi Ohaeri, a running back last year who was just getting the hang of playing safety, will move back to offense.
“I’m very, very confident Gartrell could do everything that Kyle could have done,” said Delaney. “He doesn’t have the same speed that Kyle has, but he’s a real physical player.”
Staff writer Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
