FORT COLLINS — Austin Gillmore now knows both sides of the situation. The difference between offensive and defensive playbooks is a Grand Canyon-sized chasm.
Offensive playbooks “look like Bibles,” the Bushland, Texas, native joked.
The Colorado State junior has had his head buried in one for most of the past week after being asked to switch from linebacker to fullback. Now the stakes are even higher.
When CSU’s new depth chart is released this weekend, Gillmore will find his name atop the fullback position. It’s quite a leap for any player who is still learning his new gig.
“I figured there was a reason why they were moving me over,” he said after Friday’s practice. “I figured I wouldn’t go from second string to second string. I was hoping they would put me in the front spot.”
It means he will be reunited on the offensive side with his younger brother, Crockett, a tight end on the team. Crockett would have it no other way. CSU was in early on him during recruiting, but Texas slipped in late. But Crockett’s bond with his brother is stronger than a scholarship offer from any school.
“I would have gone anywhere to play with him,” Crockett said. “That was my mind-set. I didn’t care. Scholarship, yeah. But I wanted to play with him. (Secondary coach Tim) Duffie and everybody worked it out so we could be here together. It’s been awesome.”
While Austin has played well enough to put himself in line to be the starting fullback when CSU opens the season Sept. 3 at New Mexico, he’s still wading through the massive offensive playbook, which has proved to be as difficult as learning a new language.
“The offense, it’s definitely complicated,” he said. “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 will get those days as the Rams prepare for the season opener. Asked to assess his preseason, he was upbeat.
“So far it’s gone good,” Gillmore said. “I started out playing linebacker. I was on the two-deep. I thought I was having a pretty solid fall camp, and then I think it was Saturday, they asked me, ‘What do you think about moving over?’ . . . It’s a little different locking on to your block rather than getting off the block at linebacker. But it’s awesome.”
He smiled.
“Hopefully, they’ll throw me the ball a few times,” he said. “Keep me interested.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
