FORT COLLINS — Jake Bennett faced a major challenge last season, stepping in as a redshirt freshman and succeeding Weston Richburg as Colorado State’s starting center.
Richburg had moved on to the New York Giants, who acquired him in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft, the same round the Broncos selected CSU offensive tackle Ty Sambrailo this year.
Bennett got high marks in the Rams’ 2-1 start.
“I think I was coming on there, almost getting a pretty firm grasp of the offense,” Bennett said. “Then stuff happened.”
The graduate of Lakewood’s Bear Creek High School suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice during the ensuing bye week.
“It was just a team run drill,” he said. “It was just the wrong place, wrong time. I was going up to a linebacker and a D-lineman fell into me.”
Bennett had to be a spectator as walk-on Kevin O’Brien handled the snapping duties in the final 10 games.
Now Bennett is back and going through preseason drills.
First-year CSU coach Mike Bobo and his staff are playing it cautiously with Bennett, who also had shoulder cleanup surgery while out, but he seems on track to be ready for the Sept. 5 season opener at Hughes Stadium against Savannah State.
O’Brien, Bennett’s backup again, also has been banged up in the first week of preseason drills.
“It was good to see Jake back in practice (Wednesday) and K.O. has been battling through,” Bobo said. “We have to get those two guys healthy.”
Said Bennett: “They’re watching out for me, slowly bringing me back. It’s a little irritating, but it’s what needs to happen, I guess. I’m itching to be out there after 10 months off.”
Bennett said not being able to play during the Rams’ eight-game winning streak “was a pretty humbling experience. It makes you appreciate the time you have playing this game.”
The CSU offense under Jim McElwain and offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin gave the center considerable responsibility.
Bobo’s offense takes it to another level, both with blocking assignments and blocking calls.
“It’s pretty demanding,” Bennett said. “There’s not as much help for the center as we’ve had in the past. We’re on an island on a lot of our plays. I’m up to the challenge. … I think this offense is a little bit more mentally taxing, but we’ve been working with the quarterbacks a lot and those guys definitely know what they’re doing.”
Terry Frei: tfrei@denverpost.com or
