FORT COLLINS — The day Austin Gillmore walked into the fullback room, which also had tight ends present, his younger brother Crockett, who is a tight end, smiled.
“I knew that they were about to move some guys around,” Crockett said. “And he was going to be one.”
Austin recalls being asked by coaches to move from linebacker to fullback last Saturday. Nearly one week later he has ascended to the top of the depth chart and is in line to be the starting fullback for the Rams when the season opens on Sept. 3 at New Mexico. The new depth chart is expected to be released at some point this weekend.
“I figured there was a reason why they were moving over,” he said after practice today. “I figured I wouldn’t go from second string to second string. I was hoping they would put me in the front spot.”
Coaches have, and now it’s his job to keep it. It’s been a whirlwind few days for the junior, who had really started to get the defensive sets down in his linebacker role.
Now he’s been handed an offensive playbook so thick they “look like bibles” he said, laughing.
“It’s been a little tough,” he acknowledged. “The offense, it’s definitely complicated. I knew from defense what I was supposed to do, every single play. And now offense, I know the defense and what they are running, so that helps. I still need a few more days to actually know what I’m supposed to be doing.”
He’ll get those days as the Rams prepare for the season opener against New Mexico, which doubles as the Mountain West Conference opener for both teams.
Gillmore competed for the starting spot along with senior T.J. Borcky and sophomore Jake Levin.
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
