FORT COLLINS — As preparations for their opening game against Wyoming continue, the Colorado State Rams moved practice to the shiny new turf at Canvas Stadium for their first scrimmage of fall camp Saturday.
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In a workout described as a pre-mock game, the Rams entered the field from the tunnel just like they will Sept. 5 against Wyoming. After that, the team got down to business, continuing to build toward that first contest.
Even with several players with minor injuries sitting out, the team made some big plays but also continued to see areas that need improvement. Head coach Jim Mora also was able to see some players step up in the absence of those who were inactive.
“We held a lot of players out today,” Mora said. “Anyone that was nicked a little bit, we just held out. We got a lot of younger guys work, but the procedure, I thought, was really good, getting in our pregame routine again.
“The way they focused, their intensity, overcoming the success or not overcoming their success, overcoming the adversities, I thought was really, really good. So, it was a great start for us today.”
Those younger players who stepped up impressed Mora with the way they overcome adversities and found success when they got their turn.
He will know more when he watches the practice film, but he was overall pleased.
“Just like always, your perception during practice is a little bit different than your perception after you look at the film because there’s things you didn’t see,” Mora said. “So, it’s usually a mixed bag, but the fact that the young guys that we may depend on at some point in this season got a chance to come out to Canvas and practice was really great.”
One of the many new faces on the team this season, Wisconsin transfer linebacker Antarron Turner, enjoyed the experience of playing in Canvas for the day.
The main focus wasn’t about the atmosphere but instead the execution and communication, things the Rams have been working on for the last week and a half.
“It was really focused on communication,” Turner said. “That was the hard thing that we were focusing on all week and also finishing. We were always around the ball but never finished. So today we harped on finishing and just having a lot of communication as a group.”
With players held out, Turner was among those trying to take advantage of the situation and get some positive impressions on tape.
“It means a lot,” he said. “Being in our linebacker room, we’ve got a lot of talent. Just seeing those guys and being able to coach them up, teach them things I know and for them to teach me the things they know, it’s been coming together real good. Our group is pretty close. We all treat each other like a brother and we just grow our group every day, honestly.”
On the offensive side of the ball, returning wide receiver Lavon Brown has been a leader in a room Mora has been impressed with.
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Brown not only stayed at CSU when many of his former teammates left, but he is also trying to emulate Tory Horton, who now plays for Seattle in the NFL, and the leadership that was provided to him when he was a first-year player.
“The reason why I stayed at CSU is because I didn’t want anybody thinking I was running away from competition,” Brown said. “Ram Country has just really been very faithful to me. So, I might as well just stay faithful to them. And I don’t see anything wrong with Fort Collins.”
He said some of the younger receivers in the room will be something in the program one day and he wants to teach them the culture, so they can mentor the younger players when it is their turn.
Brown’s play has caught Mora’s attention. The head coach mentioned him first when asked about the receivers and what he has seen from them so far this fall.
“I’ve seen depth being filled,” Mora said. “There’s some young guys that have really come on. But I just want to see us continue to build quality depth and I want to see them continue to elevate and grow. But I’m pleased with our receivers right now.”
The Rams will continue spring practice next week and will play a mock game Saturday that will feel even more like a game-day experience than this Saturday’s scrimmage.
Rams add RB Jayden Fox
Mora confirmed Saturday that former Cherry Creek running back Jayden Fox, last year’s CHSAA Class 5A player of the year, is now a Ram.
Fox joins the Rams after originally being recruited by Mora to play at UConn. At one point, Fox had committed to play for Mora. He decommitted from UConn, and committed to both UNLV and UCLA before deciding that he wanted to play for Mora in Fort Collins.
“He fits our style of play,” Mora said. “He’s a good outside zone runner. He’s got elusiveness, but he’s got speed, he’s got vision. He can catch the ball.
“It’s just a great get for us. I think it’s a really good fit for both of us. We want the best players in this state to stay home, and now we’ve got the state player of the year from last year here at CSU, so we’re really excited about that.”
Last season at Cherry Creek, Fox rushed for 1,746 yards to lead the Bruins to an undefeated season and the 5A state championship. He also had 284 receiving yards and scored 30 total touchdowns.
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