Colorado State University Athletics
Feeling Ready For What’s to Come
9/2/2026 12:00:00 PM | Football
Rams’ defense has had good look at dual-threat QB
Teams always prepare for what they're about to see – or expect to see when it comes to season openers. Colorado State has a pretty good idea of what form Wyoming's offense will follow on Saturday based on its starting quarterback.
Tyler Hughes, after spending four seasons at William and Mary, will start in the Border War. He started 12 games in 2025, putting up impressive numbers. He completed 66 percent of his 308 passes, connecting for 20 touchdowns while throwing just three interceptions. He also rushed 155 times, good for 660 yards and 11 additional touchdowns. His career long in the air is 79 yards. On the ground it's 66, which he's done twice.
The very definition of a dual threat. Colorado State feels ready, and not necessarily because of game prep. The reality is Tyson Summers' defense has seen it every day in the offseason as the Rams' quarterback room is filled with dual threats.
"I think it's just the basic fundamentals and understanding of how you've got to play good defense and the things that you have to do when you have a quarterback that is a dual threat," Summers said. "I think whether it's zone-read concepts or designed quarterback runs, the DBs having to understand that he can extend plays with his legs and having a plaster on the back end, I think it's a huge advantage for us.
"I think our guys have a good awareness of it, and I think that they have to hone in and know exactly which quarterback's back there from week to week. You know, we've got four or five quarterbacks here. They all have different strengths and different things that they're good at, but our guys have to know who's in the game, even when we're coming out here practicing, doing our good on goods. So it'll be the same way whenever we play them."
There's a confidence which comes when a team prepares for what it already sees. Defensively, confidence can lead to a faster, more aggressive style of play. It becomes easier to anticipate what could be coming as a play unfolds.
When protection breaks down for a pocket passer, a play breaks down. With a dual-threat quarterback, the action may just be beginning.
"It's super helpful. Hauss (Hejny) and K'saan (Farrar) are both really mobile, agile quarterbacks," CSU defensive end Brandon Kelley said. "For me, it's just been good work the whole fall camp, and I feel like I'm prepared for whatever's to come. Again, just emphasizing those two guys, they really give a great feel and look, I guess you'd say, when it comes to dealing with a dual-threat quarterback."
What Hughes brings to an offense creates a varied set of concerns for the three levels of a defense. The line must rush with integrity. The linebackers must flow accordingly, and the secondary must hold coverage until the line of scrimmage is broken.
All of them have to trust their eyes. Seeing what they see daily makes that easier for the Rams. Linebacker Oumar Diomande equates it to muscle memory for the unit.
"It's very crucial to know your assignment and what you're doing on the field, but you've got to understand the type of people that you're going against, such as a running quarterback, so you've got to put that into mind and adjust to that," he said. "The line is a very important piece of the defense, so if you have a strong line, you won't have to worry much about the quarterback. I'm used to it. I've been playing against running quarterbacks all my life, so it won't be anything new.
"Like I said, it's been like an everyday thing. You always have to trust your eyes and know what you're doing, so going against a running quarterback is slightly different but not too much of a difference."
Summers knows there will be nuances. Not every dual-threat quarterback is the same. Some scramble and look to tuck and run. Others prefer to find possible big plays down field. The really talented ones keep their cards close to the vest and take what is best, making that decision at the moment of truth.
It can force a defense into a precarious position. And there's a history between Hughes and Wyoming offensive coordinator Christian Taylor, was at William and Mary a few years back. Hughes wasn't his starter when he left the school in 2023, but he knows who the player is. And who he's become.
"I mean, he's a talented, talented player. He's had a very successful career, had a great year last year," Summers said. "Obviously the offensive coordinator's got a history of doing things with quarterbacks that are mobile, so we've got a chance to be able to look at all those things and have an idea of what we think might come."
Things, the Rams believe, they've seen every day in the buildup to the start of the 2026 season.
Tyler Hughes, after spending four seasons at William and Mary, will start in the Border War. He started 12 games in 2025, putting up impressive numbers. He completed 66 percent of his 308 passes, connecting for 20 touchdowns while throwing just three interceptions. He also rushed 155 times, good for 660 yards and 11 additional touchdowns. His career long in the air is 79 yards. On the ground it's 66, which he's done twice.
The very definition of a dual threat. Colorado State feels ready, and not necessarily because of game prep. The reality is Tyson Summers' defense has seen it every day in the offseason as the Rams' quarterback room is filled with dual threats.
"I think it's just the basic fundamentals and understanding of how you've got to play good defense and the things that you have to do when you have a quarterback that is a dual threat," Summers said. "I think whether it's zone-read concepts or designed quarterback runs, the DBs having to understand that he can extend plays with his legs and having a plaster on the back end, I think it's a huge advantage for us.
"I think our guys have a good awareness of it, and I think that they have to hone in and know exactly which quarterback's back there from week to week. You know, we've got four or five quarterbacks here. They all have different strengths and different things that they're good at, but our guys have to know who's in the game, even when we're coming out here practicing, doing our good on goods. So it'll be the same way whenever we play them."
There's a confidence which comes when a team prepares for what it already sees. Defensively, confidence can lead to a faster, more aggressive style of play. It becomes easier to anticipate what could be coming as a play unfolds.
When protection breaks down for a pocket passer, a play breaks down. With a dual-threat quarterback, the action may just be beginning.
"It's super helpful. Hauss (Hejny) and K'saan (Farrar) are both really mobile, agile quarterbacks," CSU defensive end Brandon Kelley said. "For me, it's just been good work the whole fall camp, and I feel like I'm prepared for whatever's to come. Again, just emphasizing those two guys, they really give a great feel and look, I guess you'd say, when it comes to dealing with a dual-threat quarterback."
What Hughes brings to an offense creates a varied set of concerns for the three levels of a defense. The line must rush with integrity. The linebackers must flow accordingly, and the secondary must hold coverage until the line of scrimmage is broken.
All of them have to trust their eyes. Seeing what they see daily makes that easier for the Rams. Linebacker Oumar Diomande equates it to muscle memory for the unit.
"It's very crucial to know your assignment and what you're doing on the field, but you've got to understand the type of people that you're going against, such as a running quarterback, so you've got to put that into mind and adjust to that," he said. "The line is a very important piece of the defense, so if you have a strong line, you won't have to worry much about the quarterback. I'm used to it. I've been playing against running quarterbacks all my life, so it won't be anything new.
"Like I said, it's been like an everyday thing. You always have to trust your eyes and know what you're doing, so going against a running quarterback is slightly different but not too much of a difference."
Summers knows there will be nuances. Not every dual-threat quarterback is the same. Some scramble and look to tuck and run. Others prefer to find possible big plays down field. The really talented ones keep their cards close to the vest and take what is best, making that decision at the moment of truth.
It can force a defense into a precarious position. And there's a history between Hughes and Wyoming offensive coordinator Christian Taylor, was at William and Mary a few years back. Hughes wasn't his starter when he left the school in 2023, but he knows who the player is. And who he's become.
"I mean, he's a talented, talented player. He's had a very successful career, had a great year last year," Summers said. "Obviously the offensive coordinator's got a history of doing things with quarterbacks that are mobile, so we've got a chance to be able to look at all those things and have an idea of what we think might come."
Things, the Rams believe, they've seen every day in the buildup to the start of the 2026 season.
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
DL
/ FootballMonday, August 31
Saturday, August 22
Saturday, August 15
Saturday, August 15