Game Notes: Colorado State set to visit No. 1 Alabama

Colorado State vs. #1 Alabama
Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017 | 6 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. MT
Bryant-Denny Stadium (101,821) | Tuscaloosa, Ala.

QUICK HITS - COLORADO STATE

Mike Bobo is in his third year as the head coach at Colorado State. He led the Rams to bowl appearances in each of his first two seasons.
CSU returns 16 starters from a year ago - 6 on offense, 8 on defense and a pair of specialists.
Statistically, the Rams return 93.9 percent of their rushing yardage, 95.5 percent of their passing yards and 88 percent of its total scoring.
Three returning Rams earned All-Mountain West recognition in 2016 - WR Michael Gallup (first team), OL Jake Bennett (second team) and QB Nick Stevens (honorable mention).
CSU is 8-1 in its last nine home games, including a 2-0 mark in its new on-campus stadium.
Over the final six games in 2016, CSU averaged 47.8 points and 533.8 yards per game, figures which ranked 2nd and 4th, respectively, in all of FBS from Oct. 16 forward. Overall, the Rams ranked 28th in FBS in scoring offense and 30th in total offense; on Oct. 16, they ranked 96th and 75th in those two categories.
Colorado State opened up its new stadium with a 58-27 win over Power 5 foe, Oregon State, in front of a record crowd of 37,583.
Stevens leads the country in passing yards (985), having thrown for over 300 yards in all three games this season.
The Rams defense has already forced nine turnovers through three games. The Rams had 14 total takeaways last year.
Gallup ranks fourth in the nation in receiving yards (309).
The Rams defense has not allowed a TD in the last 1:03:36 of game time.

QUICK HITS - #1 ALABAMA

Alabama is ranked No. 1 in the nation and is coming off a pair of wins to begin the year - a 24-7 win over then-No. 3 Florida State and then a 41-10 victory against MW foe Fresno State last weekend.
Nick Saban is in his 10th season as head coach of the Crimson Tide. Alabama is 114-13 (.898) in his nine-plus seasons at the helm.
Alabama advanced to the national title game a year ago, losing a thriller late to Clemson, 35-31. The Crimson Tide return 11 starters from that team.
Among those returning from last year is QB Jalen Hurts. Hurts has 224 yards passing and 2 TDs over his first two games, but also leads the team in rushing with 209 yards on the ground (career-high 154 vs. Fresno State last week).
Alabama opened the season ranked No. 1. The Crimson Tide were ranked No. 1 all last season leading into the national title game.
The Crimson Tide are 43-5 in 48 total games ranked No. 1 under Saban.
Alabama has won four national titles in the past seven years, and has won the SEC West in four of the last five years.
Alabama finished the season ranked No. 2 with a 14-1 record after defeating nine ranked teams and 11 teams that reached postseason play.
The Crimson Tide has only conceded nine first downs over their first two contests.

CSU-ALABAMA CONNECTIONS

CSU Head Coach Mike Bobo played in Tuscaloosa against Alabama once as a quarterback at Georgia, on Oct. 1, 1994. The Crimson Tide won 29-28, that day, with current CSU offensive coordinator Will Friend starting at guard.
Bobo went to Tuscaloosa twice as a coach at Georgia – 2002 and 2007. The Bulldogs won both of those contests.
Friend was a four-year starter on the offensive line at Alabama (1993-96), earning All-SEC recognition twice. He helped the Crimson Tide to three SEC Western Division titles, and was later named to Alabama's All-Decade team for the 1990s.
Ronnie Letson, CSU's quarterbacks coach, was an offensive analyst for the Crimson Tide in 2013.
CSU's head strength & conditioning coach, Ryan Davis, served at Alabama in two separate stints – 2009 (volunteer intern) and 2011 (assistant strength & conditioning coach).
George Helow, who works in a defensive quality control role for the Rams, got his first collegiate coaching opportunity at Alabama. Helow worked as an intern in the weight room and a defensive intern in 2012.
Two Rams listed on the 2017 roster played in the 2013 contest between the two programs – safety Jake Schlager and linebacker Deonte Clyburn. Current offensive GA Nolan Peralta also played in that game for the Rams on special teams.

RAMS AGAINST THE SEC

CSU is 2-12 all-time against current members of the Southeastern Conference.
The Rams' last win against a current SEC program was in the 1997 Holiday Bowl against Missouri.
CSU's only win against a school that was a member of the SEC at the time of the matchup – a 17-14 victory over LSU in Baton Rouge in 1992.

NO-FLY ZONE?
In 13 games last season, the Rams defense had eight interceptions. Through three games in 2017, they have seven. Three different players--Anthony Hawkins, Tre Thomas and Josh Watson--picked off passes in Week 0. Then, a pair of Rams had 2-INT outings - Kevin Nutt, Jr. (vs. Colorado) and Jamal Hicks (vs. Abilene Christian).

Nutt Jr.'s performance marked the first multi-interception game by a Ram since Tyree Simmons in 2014, and it's the first time since 2014 (A. Davis & M. Morgan) that multiple linebackers recorded interceptions in the same season.

RAMS' DOMINANCE AT HOME CONTINUES
CSU is now 2-0 in the new on-campus stadium. The Rams had a 5-1 record in home games in 2016, and have won eight of their last nine games in the friendly confines of Fort Collins dating back to a win over UNLV on Nov. 14, 2015.

Over that nine-game stretch, CSU has averaged 37.6 points, with an average scoring margin of 15.4 points.

RAMS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
• K Wyatt Bryan: T-1st in FG percentage (1.000), 12th in points scored (27)
• RB Dalyn Dawkins: 26th in total TDs (3), 40th in rushing yards (183)
• WR Michael Gallup: 4th in receiving yards (309), 11th in receptions per game (8.7), 31st in receiving yards per game (103.0)
• S Jamal Hicks & CB Kevin Nutt, Jr.: T-3rd in interceptions (2)
• QB Nick Stevens: 1st in passing yards (985), 14th in passing yards per game (328.3), 15th in total offense (339.7), 14th in completions per game (25.0)

RECORD WATCH
Several Rams are within reach of Colorado State records:

Wyatt Bryan:
   • Four made field goals away from 7th all-time in career field goals made.
Dalyn Dawkins:
   • 477 yards from 10th all-time in career rushing yards.
Michael Gallup:
   • 297 yards away from 10th all-time in career receiving yards.
   • 38 catches away from 10th all-time in career receptions.
Izzy Matthews:
   • 4 touchdowns away from 10th all-time in career rushing touchdowns.
Nick Stevens:
   • Eighth all-time in passing yards (5,736), 535 away from seventh (Bradlee Van Pelt, 6,271)
   • Seventh all-time in completions (430), 13 away from sixth (Matt Newton, 443)
   • Four touchdowns away from second all-time in career passing touchdowns.
   • 10th all-time in completions (699)

STEVENS PICKS UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF
Nick Stevens' passing efficiency rating (171.3) ranked fifth in FBS in 2016. His 9.63 yards-per-pass-attempt average ranked fourth, his 15.01 passing yards-per-completion mark ranked seventh and his 64.2 completion percentage ranked 17th.

In the first game of 2017, the redshirt senior picked up right where he left off, passing for 334 yards and three touchdowns in the Week 0 win over Oregon State. The game marked Stevens' eighth consecutive with multiple touchdown passes, and third in a row with three or more touchdowns. His three TDs versus Oregon State gave him 44 for his career and moved him into third all-time at CSU in passing touchdowns, leaping Matt Newton (42 TDs, 1998-2000). His career TD total is now up to 47.

Stevens' multi-TD streak came to an end in game No. 2 against Colorado, but the redshirt senior still passed for 309 yards against a team that ranked fifth in the country in passing-efficiency defense last season. It was his third consecutive game with more than 300 passing yards and the fifth such game of his career.

The Murrieta, Calif., native again eclipsed 300 yards passing in game No. 3 against Abilene Christian, tossing for 337 and three TDs. Stevens has thrown multiple TD passes in nine of his last 10 outings.

LIKE MIKE
In 2016, wide receiver Michael Gallup ranked ninth in FBS for receiving touchdowns, 13th for receiving yards (first in Mountain West), 15th for receiving yards per game (97.8) and 32nd for receptions per game (5.8). He scored at least one touchdown in each of his final eight games, including three apiece in the final two.

Over the final eight games of his junior season (from Oct. 2 forward), Gallup averaged 128.0 receiving yards per game, the fifth-most in FBS during that span (prior to that point, he ranked 181st).

His six-game touchdown streak ended against Oregon State, but the All-Mountain West wide receiver was as electric as ever in the Rams' win. His 11 catches mark the second most of his career (13 at Air Force, 2016), and his 134 yards gave him six consecutive outings with 100+ receiving yards. Gallup's over-the-shoulder, 48-yard catch on third-and-six in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game was a turning point in the Rams' victory and was featured on highlight reels all over the country.

Gallup now has eight 100-yard games in his career, the fifth-most in program history. The Georgia-native has eight 100-yard outings in just 16 career games played.

A JUCO transfer, Gallup filled the hole left by WRs Rashard Higgins and Joe Hansley in 2016, recording one of the best receiving seasons in CSU history. Gallup finished his first year with the Rams with 76 catches (3rd in CSU single-season history) for 1,272 yards (3rd) and 14 touchdowns (2nd). Gallup scored at least one touchdown in each of his final eight games, including three apiece in the final two.

BOBO KNOWS TALENT
Of the 67 CSU student-athletes who have appeared in a game this season, 33 are from Coach Bobo's last two signing classes—his first two full classes as Colorado State's head coach. This included 8 of the 22 starters in the season opener versus Oregon State. Those 33 are either from the 2016 and 2017 signing classes or have joined the team as walk-ons since the end of the 2015 season, Bobo's first as CSU's head coach.

START 'EM YOUNG
A year after #RamFam16 took the Mountain West by storm--highlighted by true freshmen Hicks, Jean, Kinsey Jr. and McBride's dominance in Mountain West play--#RAMPAGE17 got in on the action in Week 0 with 10 true freshmen making their FBS debuts. Tight end Cameron Butler recorded two catches for 25 yards and a touchdown, while linebacker Patrick Moody recorded two tackles, a tackle for loss and two quarterback hurries. Replacing All-American Hayden Hunt, Ryan Stonhouse punted twice with a 51.0-yard average. CB Darius Campbell, DL Ellison Hubbard, WR Warren Jackson, LB Emmanuel Jones, RB Marcus McElroy, S Jadon Walker and WR Darius Wise were the other true freshmen to see the field.

CSU has now played 12 true freshmen this season - the seventh-most in the NCAA.

FOUR-HEADED MONSTER
CSU featured four running backs that had at least eight carries against the Beavers in Week 0. Dalyn Dawkins led with 15 rushes for 67 yards and a TD (plus a receiving TD). Both Marvin Kinsey, Jr., and Izzy Matthews also reached the end zone, and redshirt freshman Rashaad Boddie (8-56-7.0 ypc) ranked second in rushing productivity for the Rams.

In addition to those four, Coach Bobo has also complimented a pair of other running backs--redshirt freshman Darius May and true freshman Marcus McElroy--during the offseason. McElroy made his debut against Oregon State in a special teams role, and then had two carries for nine yards against ACU, while May has not yet seen action in 2017.

CHANGING IT UP
There were a number of position changes in the offseason, all of which stuck between spring and fall camps. Players who switched postions are listed below:
Chandler Drachslin (from QB to WR)
Justin Falls (from LB to FB)
John Freismuth (from WR to TE)
Conrad Harker (from TE to LB)
Anthony Hawkins (from WR to DB)

Additionally, several others changed their jersey number: Marvin Kinsey, Jr. (No. 5), Jamal Hicks (7), Izzy Matthews (24), Alex Tennant (26), Johnathan Lewis (35), Dante Carnessale (45), Alonso Archuleta (62), Nathan Lucas (85), Chandler Birrell (86), Conrad Harker (93).

STRIVE FOR FIVE
The Rams will aim to build upon their recent success and qualify for a bowl game for the fifth consecutive season – something that has only been done once before, from 1999-2003. Last year, the Rams won four of their final five games to qualify for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and guarantee a fourth consecutive winning season.

All-time, CSU has played in 16 bowl games, including 15 since 1990, in addition to the 1949 Raisin Bowl. The Rams are looking for their 16th conference title, and first since 2002.

BREAKING IN THE NEW END ZONES
The Rams scored seven touchdowns in their first game at the new on-campus stadium, successfully breaking in both end zones.

CSU's seven touchdowns were scored by six different players:

Rushing (3): Dalyn Dawkins, Marvin Kinsey, Jr., Izzy Matthews
Receiving (3): Cameron Butler, Detrich Clark, Dalyn Dawkins
Defensive (1): Tre Thomas (44-yard INT return)

Matthews scored the first CSU TD in the new stadium - a 1-yard rush into the south end zone to tie the game at 7-7. OSU WR Timmy Hernandez scored the first points in the stadium on a 39-yard TD pass from QB Jake Luton.

A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE

With 16 starters returning from last year's bowl team, CSU will challenge itself in 2017, playing a pair of Pac-12 programs (Oregon State, Colorado) and preseason No. 1 Alabama before opening up conference play on Sept. 30 at Hawai'i.
The 2017 season marks the first time since 2004 that CSU has played three Power-5 teams in non-conference. That year, the Rams faced Colorado, No. 22 Minnesota and No. 1 USC. According to FBSschedules.com, CSU's 2017 non-conference slate is ranked as the second-toughest in all of college football.
CSU's 11 FBS opponents went a combined 84-60 (.583) in 2016, with seven playing in bowl games and three competing in their conference title game (Alabama, Colorado, Wyoming).
CSU has a winning record against five of its eight conference opponents (Hawai`i, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah State and Wyoming) and is tied with San José State.
CSU begins conference play with back-to-back road contests for the first time since 1986. On the flip side, CSU will close the regular season with back-to-back home games for the first time since 2011.
With the Oregon State date change to a Week 0 contest, CSU played Colorado during Week 1. It marked just the second time in the past six years (2015) that the Rocky Mountain Showdown has not been the season opener. Attendance for the annual rivalry game has increased each of the past five seasons, including the largest crowd since 2003 last fall.
The Rams will travel to Hawai`i for the first time since 2013. CSU is 14-9 all-time against the Rainbow Warriors, winning six in a row.
CSU has won two of the last three meetings against Utah State – and is 37-33-2 overall – but is looking for its first win in Logan since a double-overtime thriller in 2011.
The Rams and Wolf Pack will play for the first time since the 2015 Arizona Bowl. CSU is 11-3 all-time against Nevada, including a perfect 7-0 in Fort Collins.
The Rams have beaten New Mexico seven consecutive times and hold a 40-25 advantage in the series.
After losing to Air Force seven years in a row from 2006-12, the Rams and Falcons have split the past four meetings, each won by the home team. Air Force leads the all-time series, 33-21-1.
The Rams have played Wyoming more than any other team, holding a 58-45-5 advantage. CSU has won three of the past four meetings, including back-to-back wins in Laramie.
CSU is looking for its first win over Boise State. The Broncos are 6-0 against the Rams, playing each of the past six seasons.
CSU is 4-4 all-time against San José State, winning in the most-recent meeting, in 2014 in San Jose.

A DEEPER LOOK
In addition to the Rams' 2017 slate, CSU has scheduled 20 non-conference dates from 2018-28 – 15 of which are against Power-5 opponents, with six of them being played in Fort Collins.

2018: Sept. 1 vs. Colorado (Denver), Sept. 8 vs. Arkansas, Sept. 15 at Florida, Sept. 22 vs. Illinois State
2019: Aug. 31 vs. Colorado (Denver), Sept. 7 vs. Western Illinois, Sept. 14 at Arkansas, Sept. 21 vs. Toledo
2020: Sept. 5 vs. Colorado, Sept. 12 at Oregon State, Sept. 19 vs. Northern Colorado, Sept. 26 at Vanderbilt
2021: Sept. 11 vs. Vanderbilt, Sept. 25 at Toledo
2025: Sept. 6 vs. Texas Tech, Sept. 27 at Vanderbilt
2026: Sept. 12 at Texas Tech, Sept. 26 vs. Vanderbilt
2027: Sept. 4 vs. Arizona
2028: Sept. 2 at Arizona

#RAMFAM16
The Rams' last two signing classes have been the highest rated in school history. While the impact of #RAMPAGE17 is still to be determined, the pivotal role that #RamFam16 played in last season's success is inarguable. Below is a look at the accomplishments of 2016's first-year players.

14 players who saw action
8 true freshmen who played
First-team all-conference receiver (Michael Gallup)
CSU's all-time true freshman sack leader (Toby McBride)
Mountain West's true freshman rushing touchdowns leader in 2016 (Marvin Kinsey, Jr.)
The nation's fifth-ranked true freshman for passer efficiency rating (Collin Hill)

The 2016 class combined for:

124 games played
31 games started
1,210 passing yards
1,502 receiving yards
938 rushing yards
26 receiving/rushing touchdowns
9 passing touchdowns
73 tackles
7.5 sacks
1 interception

#RAMPAGE17
Colorado State Football's 2017 signing class was the highest ranked in program history. Among CSU's signing class were several three-star commits, according to various recruiting sites. 247Sports lists 19 of the Rams' 27 signees as three-star prospects, while Scout named 16 - both are the most in school history. ESPN has 15 while Rivals has 12. Overall, there were 10 consensus three-star prospects among the four recruiting sites. WR Tyler Smith was named a four-star prospect by ESPN, 247 Sports and Scout.

The combined 2016 winning percentage of the Rams' 21 high school signees is .770 (197-59). Seven players won conference titles during their senior seasons (Firment, Hubbard, Lebron, Moody, Phillips, Scott and Smith), while four others played in their state championship or semifinals (Firment, Hubbard, Paogofie and Phillips). Hubbard helped Grayson High School to the 2016 Georgia Class 7A state championship and a No. 4 national ranking. Meanwhile, Corte Tapia led the Windsor Wizards to a 2015 Colorado 4A title.

FAREWELL HUGHES
CSU said farewell to its 49-year-old stadium on Nov. 19, 2016, playing the 262nd and final game at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium. The team went 146-114-2 (.562) at the facility that was built in 1968, including winning 16 of its final 20 contests. The program has since moved in to its $220-million on-campus stadium, located in the heart of CSU's main campus.

Prior to saying goodbye, the athletics department celebrated the venue throughout the season, creating the Farewell Hughes microsite (www.CSURams.com/farewellhughes) and celebrating each decade at home games throughout the season. During the final game, upwards of 100 former players and coaches were on hand and were recognized on the field during halftime. Following the game, CSU symbolically bid farewell through a special ceremony. Flags representing each decade of Hughes Stadium's lifespan were displayed on the flagpoles on the east side of the stadium, beginning with the 1960s through the present. As each decade flag was lowered, one bank of lights was turned off to represent that decade in the closure of the stadium. Distinguished alumni and VIP guests – including Fort Collins mayor Wade Troxell, university president Tony Frank, legendary head coach Sonny Lubick and CSU's first coach at Hughes Stadium Mike Lude, among others – helped lower the flags and turn off the banks of lights.

Head coach Mike Bobo then fired the ROTC cannon for the final time at the stadium and the ceremony concluded with a video that cast attention on the new, on-campus stadium, including a live shot of a spotlight shining from the stadium's construction site.

GREEN AND GLOBAL - SERVICE AND LEARNING EXPERIENCE IN JAMAICA

13 student-athletes and four staff members traveled to Petersfield, Jamaica from May 18-28.
The athletes experienced cultural immersion, social action and community-based learning. Students were hosted by local families, with 2-4 students per home.
Participating football players: Deonte Clyburn, Zack Golditch, Houston Haynes, Levi Osborn, Nate Ryken.
CSU's student-athletes have seen their opportunities expand dramatically in recent years. The most visible expansion of the student-athlete experience has come in the way of investments in nutrition, facilities and academic support to further fulfill the department's mission to Educate, Engage and Excel.
The trip was organized by Dr. Albert Bimper, CSU's senior associate athletic director for diversity and inclusion.
Bimper was a 2006 CSU graduate and four-year starting center on the football team (2002-05).

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Players Mentioned

Alonso Archuleta

Jake Bennett

Chandler Birrell

Rashaad Boddie

Wyatt Bryan

Cam Butler

Darius Campbell

Dante Carnessale

Detrich Clark

Deonte Clyburn

Dalyn Dawkins

Chandler Drachslin

Justin Falls

John Freismuth

Michael Gallup

Zack Golditch

Conrad Harker

Anthony Hawkins

Houston Haynes

Jamal Hicks

Collin Hill

Ellison Hubbard

Hayden Hunt

Warren Jackson

Manny Jones

Johnathan Lewis

Nathan Lucas

Izzy Matthews

Darius May

Toby McBride

Marcus McElroy, Jr.

Patrick Moody

Levi Osborn

Nolan Peralta

Nate Ryken

Jake Schlager

Tyree Simmons

Tyler Smith

Nick Stevens

Corte Tapia

Alex Tennant

Tre Thomas

Jadon Walker

Josh Watson

Darius Wise

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