Colorado State University Athletics
Ram Football to Start Spring Drills Saturday
3/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 19, 2007
FORT COLLINS - Colorado State University's football team opens spring drills with a pair of practices this weekend. Veteran coach Sonny Lubick will put his team through the first workout of the spring Saturday Mar. 24 at 10 a.m. The Rams return to the field Sunday at 11 a.m. for the team's second workout of the spring.
Lubick is entering his 15th year at the helm and has guided the Rams' program to six conference titles and nine bowl games. In 2007, the Rams will have 20 returning starters on the roster, and welcome the return of runningback Kyle Bell, who missed all of last season due to a knee injury suffered days before the season-opener. Bell underwent surgery, and will see only limited action in the spring and no contact. He rushed for 1,288 yards and 10 touchdowns and was second in the league in rushing as a sophomore. Bell returns as a junior in 2007, having used last season as a redshirt. Quarterback Caleb Hanie and a host of talented receivers including tight end/h-back Kory Sperry also return.
Defensively, the Rams have nine starters on hand including honors candidate Jesse Nading. A defensive end, Nading figures to anchor the team's defensive line along with returning starters Wade Landers, Blake Smith and Erik Sandie. Landers lines up at end opposite Nading while Smith and Sandie play inside. Safety Klint Kubiak led the team in tackles last season and is joined in the secondary by two other returning starters, safety Mike Pagnotta and cornerback Darryl Williams. Linebacker Jeff Horinek was among the team's tackle leaders last season and plays in the middle.
CSU also returns punter Jimmie Kaylor, a first-team all-league pick in 2005, and kicker Jason Smith.
Spring drills conclude with an intrasquad game April 21 at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium.
