FORT COLLINS — Someday, current Colorado State freshmen will pass down their frigid tale of woe to teammates.
A group of young defensive starters, who have become a foundation for the new coaching staff to build upon in the coming years, will tell future teammates of outdoor practices in single-digit temperatures in preparation for the New Mexico Bowl, just as they heard the horror stories from their elders about a locker room with no big-screen TV.
Linebacker Mychal Sisson is one of the freshmen who start on defense who are being banked on for the future, as well as Saturday’s bowl matchup against Fresno State. While Sisson was in the lineup from the beginning, an injury-depleted secondary allowed cornerback Gerard Thomas, a true freshman, and redshirt freshman cornerback-turned-safety Elijah-Blu Smith to get into the starting lineup by November.
“Those guys, when they line up in the future, have ‘been there, done that,’ ” defensive coordinator Larry Kerr said. “They have that great confidence. As coaches, we have a great knowledge of what they can do in game situations. We’ve developed a lot of confidence in those guys.”
Earning a bowl berth was the goal from the start of the season. And now that they have experienced the extra drills in December and gained the confidence after a 6-6 season, the freshmen want more.
“I want a tradition of just going to bowl games, period,” said Sisson, the team’s leading tackler with 99 stops, which ranks second nationally among freshmen. “Each year we want to go to a bigger bowl game, and maybe a couple of years down the road be like Utah going to a BCS game.”
Sisson is off to a good start.
After redshirting last season, he won the strongside linebacker job in early fall drills. This week, he was named to The Sporting News’ freshman All-America team after being the runner-up as the Mountain West Conference’s freshman of the year.
Perhaps Sisson’s best game came in a three-point loss to BYU when he returned a fumble 20 yards for a touchdown, then recovered a fumble that set up a Gartrell Johnson TD.
At 5-feet-11 and 214 pounds, he was recruited out of Duncanville (Texas) High as a safety by some schools.
Pointing to the future, Sisson said, “We’re going to have a lot of leadership with all the freshmen getting a lot of playing time this year.”
When the freshmen first assembled in August, Thomas, who took over as a starter in the fourth game, said from Day One “the coaches told us we’re going to a bowl this year.”
A Florida native who wasn’t used to practicing in the cold, Thomas played in every game, starting nine.
The upside of playing so many inexperienced players, said Kerr, is “we’re going to have them for a while. We expect them to get better and better.”
CSU had anticipated an early contribution from true freshman wide receivers Byron Steele and Marquise Law, but a combination of injuries and development by veterans preserved their redshirts. Linebacker Michael Kawulok and safety Adam Wilson, two “grayshirts” who enrolled last January and had the advantage of spring ball, contributed on special teams.
There’s no telling where the Rams would be if freshman kicker Ben DeLine hadn’t booted the 20-yard game-winning field goal as time expired in the home opener against Sacramento State. He relinquished the role when senior Jason Smith returned from a preseason injury but has the experience going into the future.
They also plan to set an example for recruits. The Rams haven’t won a bowl game since beating North Texas in the 2001 New Orleans Bowl.
Elijah-Blu Smith, a Los Angeles product who learned to go sleeveless in 30-degree weather, has overcame a series of foot injuries to play in nine games, starting three.
“We want to show freshmen our mind-set was to go to a bowl game,” Smith said. “You have to work for it, you don’t just show up.”
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
New Mexico Bowl scouting report
Colorado State vs. Fresno State, 12:30 p.m. Saturday in Albuquerque, ESPN
Five things to watch
1. Which Fresno State team shows up?
The early-season Bulldogs won at Rutgers and UCLA and scared Wisconsin before falling 13-10.
The injury-plagued late-season version of the Bulldogs lost 61-10 at Boise State.
2. Tight end talent display
In a season deep in tight end talent across the country, this bowl features two who likely will be playing in the NFL next year. CSU’s Kory Sperry (6-feet-6, 250 pounds) caught 37 passes for 470 yards and five TDs; he has 1,741 career yards.
Fresno State’s Bear Pascoe is the offensive player who most impressed the CSU staff on film. The senior (6-5, 260) has 10 career TDs and also made a name for himself by blocking six kicks in his career.
3. The Gartrell watch
In Gartrell Johnson’s final game in a Rams uniform, the all-conference running back needs 89 yards to surpass Calvin Branch (1996) for the fourth-best rushing season by a Ram and 98 yards to eclipse teammate Kyle Bell’s 2005 season for third place.
4. The layoff factor
Rams haven’t played since Nov. 22. The weather was bitterly cold for the two biggest practices, on Sunday and Tuesday, and many players had final exams Monday and Tuesday.
Fresno State’s finale was Nov. 28, but is that enough time to forget the Boise State loss? The final exam schedule was the same, and the Bulldogs didn’t practice Monday or Tuesday.
5. Alone time for Brandstater
Tom Brandstater has had plenty of time behind a big offensive line, and the Bulldogs’ senior quarterback shouldn’t be challenged much Saturday. The Rams’ defense is last in Division I-A with just nine sacks and second-to-last in tackles for losses (46).
Brandstater has been sacked just 17 times this season, and 10 times in the past nine games.
When CSU runs the ball: Gartrell Johnson has carried the load all season. CSU’s offensive line is finally healthy after nagging nicks and injuries most of the season. The Bulldogs have a physical defense, but it might be the most banged-up defensive line CSU has faced since the San Diego State game. Fresno State gave up 197.3 yards per game on the ground.
When CSU passes the ball: CSU coach Steve Fairchild is quick to point out that the Rams have been most successful when they’ve been able to balance the offense. He got more than anyone ever expected from first-time starting senior Billy Farris. Rashaun Greer and Dion Morton alternate as go-to receivers, but tight end Kory Sperry was often underutilized. Fresno State’s secondary has the athletes to play tight man coverage, but they have only four interceptions for the year.
When Fresno State runs the ball: Leading rusher Anthony Harding averaged only 58.5 yards a game, although the Bulldogs averaged 176 yards on the ground. There’s plenty of depth, and Fresno State makes extensive use of the fullback. CSU’s linebacking corps emerged as its strength through the season. It will help the Rams to get Mike Pagnotta back at safety.
When Fresno State passes the ball: Tom Brandstater is a third-year starter who completed 59.8 percent of his passes for 2,478 yards. Top receiver Seyi Ajirotutu has had some injury problems. Tight end Bear Pascoe is an NFL prospect. CSU’s young secondary has had its moments, but the Rams’ biggest defensive issue was a shortfall in the pass rush, except for end Tommie Hill.
Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
