Fort Collins – With only two openings on defense this spring, Colorado State linebacking newcomers John Clark and Ricky Brewer didn’t lack for attention.
Neither started the spring atop the depth chart. Both might finish with the first unit.
Veteran Jeff Horinek, the returning starter in the middle, helped out both players who flanked him.
Everyone returns on defense from last season except lone senior starters Luke Adkins at strongside linebacker and Jon Radford at weakside.
Clark was brought in as a midyear transfer from Fresno (Calif.) City College to compete with sophomore backup Jake Pottorff on the weak side. Brewer, a redshirt freshman and former Mullen standout, made the most of his spring competing with backup Sedric Patterson on the strong side.
“Ricky had been playing pretty well (until a hamstring pull last week) and he was moving into a starting position,” CSU coach Sonny Lubick said. “Clark, for a new kid who has only been here two or three months, he’s doing a good job. He’s not All-American right now but if we had to go into the season with him as the starter, we’re not that far away.”
Defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Steve Stanard said the staff couldn’t ask more of a junior college transfer. Both coaches like the depth possibilities when Pottorff returns from shoulder surgery. Nathan Pauly, a senior who missed most of last season with injuries, also is in the mix.
“It’s pretty tough,” Clark said. “It’s a big step up trying to learn everything real fast. That’s the biggest jump – getting all my defensive assignments down.”
The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder couldn’t imagine coming in during two-a-days and absorbing the defense in time for the season. He might have had second thoughts with all the snow that greeted him in January, having grown up just south of Fresno.
He took the junior college route out of high school only because his only offer was a walk-on opportunity at Fresno State.
Clark won’t claim a lock on the starting job, saying he still has more to learn. “When Jake comes back he’s going to be tough. I owe a lot to Jeff Horinek. He helps me out a lot. He helps everyone. He’s a big leader.”
Until Saturday, the spring had been typical with the offense dominating one scrimmage and the defense coming back in the next. The Rams showed some balance – with the first unit scoring on two of four drives.
“There was a lot more balance to it,” said Lubick.
Returning starter Caleb Hanie completed 10-of-12 passes for 102 yards, including a 6-yard score to Luke Roberts. Running back Michael Myers, who has had a consistently strong spring, scored the other TD on a 4-yard run. Redshirt freshman John Mosure led all rushers with 10 carries for 45 yards. Roberts had four catches for 56 yards.
The Rams wrap up the spring with two or three light workouts before Saturday’s spring game at noon and the annual high-school coaching clinic.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
