Scouting Colorado State

Colorado State quarterback K.J. Carta-Samuels rolls out to pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Hawaii on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, in Fort Collins, Colo. Hawaii won 43-34. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Coach: Mike Bobo (21-20 overall, fourth season)

2018 Record: 0-2 overall, 0-1 Mountain West Conference

2017 Record: 7-6 overall, 5-3 Mountain West Conference

Postseason Result: Lost 31-28 to Marshall in New Mexico Bowl

Offense: Pro Style

Defense: 4-3

Returning Lettermen: 39 (16 offense, 17 defense, 6 special teams)

Returning Starters: 13 (4 offense, 6 defense, 3 special teams)

Players to Watch: QB K.J. Carta-Samuels, RB Izzy Matthews, WR Preston Williams, WR Olabisi Johnson, TE Cameron Butler, LB Josh Watson, K Wyatt Bryan

The Skinny on Colorado State

The Rams are one of the most inexperienced teams in college football, and if their opening games against Hawaii and Colorado are any indication, 2018 could be a long season on the Front Range.

Colorado State fell behind by 30 points in the third quarter before mounting a comeback bid that fell nine points short against Hawaii, then was overwhelmed by Colorado in the Rocky Mountain Showdown, a 45-13 loss to the Buffaloes at Broncos Stadium in Denver.

The Rams’ defense has been especially bad, allowing 1,213 yards, including 773 passing.

The lack of defense offsets an offense that should put up strong numbers in the normally high-scoring Mountain West Conference. The key is whether the offense can score enough to upset teams from other leagues, such as Colorado last week, and Arkansas and Florida the next two weeks.

K.J. Carta-Samuels, a graduate transfer quarterback from Washington, passed for 537 yards and 5 touchdowns in his debut for the Rams. Colorado held him to 176 yards on 18-of-33, with a touchdown and an interception.

Colorado State Key Stat

The elevation at Canvas Stadium is 5,003 feet above sea level. It is the fourth-highest elevation in college football — behind stadiums at Wyoming, Air Force and Colorado — and is believed to be the highest elevation at which Arkansas has ever played a game. Colorado State does not draw well attendance-wise - it has never sold out a game at its second-year stadium that seats 41,000 - but the elevation can be a great home-field advantage for teams that are not used to the elements.

Colorado State Key Player

Senior running back Izzy Matthews enters the game with 26 career rushing touchdowns, which is second all-time at Colorado State.

Matthews had 15 of the Rams’ 19 called runs against Hawaii. He had four carries on the first drive, but the run game eventually was abandoned after Colorado State fell behind by so many points. The 19 run calls were about half of the 35 the team averaged a year ago.

A similar trend held the following week in the blowout loss to Colorado.

Colorado State still found ways to get the ball into Matthews’ hands. He caught six passes for 58 yards in the opener, including a 9-yard touchdown and a 19-yard gain, and was targeted three more times. He had three catches for 14 yards against the Buffaloes.

K.J. Carta-Samuels figures to rack up numbers passing the ball, but if Matthews does well rushing, it opens up the passing game more. It would not surprise to see Colorado State test Arkansas quite a bit early to gauge just how improved the Razorbacks are against the run.

Colorado State on Offense

In the opener, the Rams averaged nearly nine yards per play, but Colorado State’s offense and kickoff return unit showed moments of indiscipline and committed nine penalties that totaled 88 yards.

The number of penalties, coupled with the 30-point deficit in the second half, forced K.J. Carta-Samuels to throw 50 times. That well exceeded what is desired for Colorado State, which ran the ball on 53 percent of its plays a year ago.

The ratio was more to the Rams' liking against Colorado - 39 runs, 33 passes.

The Rams hit several big plays down the field against Hawaii to receivers Preston Williams (15 receptions, 237 yards, 2 touchdowns) and Olabisi Johnson (12 receptions, 239 yards, 3 touchdowns). Williams, a transfer from Tennessee, appears to have filled the void left by departed receiver Michael Gallup, a Biletnikoff Award finalist last season. The 6-4 Williams won several one-on-one matchups against Hawaii and likely will challenge Arkansas’ top cover corner, Ryan Pulley.

Tight end Cameron Butler (6 receptions, 47 yards) is a receiving threat. He scored three touchdowns last season.

Colorado State starts two seniors and two juniors on the offensive line, but left tackle Barry Wesley is a freshman. The Rams allowed three sacks last week against Colorado.

Colorado State on Defense

The Rams moved to a 4-3 base defense under first-year coordinator John Jancek after running the 3-4 a year ago.

Colorado State’s first two games in the new alignment were not pretty. Hawaii scored touchdowns on six of its first seven drives and averaged 8.5 yards per play; Colorado scored touchdowns on four of its first five drives and averaged 9.2 yards per play.

The Rainbow Warriors spread out the Rams defensively by using a number of four- and five-receiver looks, similar to what Arkansas figures to do Saturday. Much of Hawaii's yardage came on short passes after which the receivers were able to earn several yards after the catch, and when plays broke down, Hawaii quarterback Cole McDonald was able to pick lots of yardage, scrambling for gains of 21, 12, 15 and 14 yards.

Fifth-year middle linebacker Josh Watson is the leader of the defense and has broken career highs each of the first two games this season. Watson has 28 tackles, a tackle for loss, a fumble recovery, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.

Colorado State starts two freshmen on defense, tackle Devin Phillips and cornerback Rashad Ajayi.

Colorado State on Special Teams

Kicker Wyatt Bryan was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award last season when he made 15 of 18 attempts, including 7 of 8 from 40 yards or longer, but he missed from 45 and 48 yards in the Rams’ opener against Hawaii. He was 2-for-2 against Colorado with makes from 51 and 27 yards.

Punter Ryan Stonehouse uses the altitude to his advantage. He averaged 45.9 yards per punt as a freshman lat season, fifth-best nationally, and ranks 10th in college football with an average of 47.3 yards through two games.

Preston Williams averaged 19.8 yards per kickoff return with a long of 28 yards in the opener, but did not have a chance to return a kickoff against Colorado, which had seven touchbacks in eight attempts.

The Bottom Line

Anytime an SEC team plays a non-conference road game against a non-power opponent, the upset chances seem to increase. Oftentimes the established program fails to match the energy brought by the program with more to prove. We have seen a number of instances of this through the years, such as Arkansas’ loss to Rutgers in 2013 before the Scarlet Knights were a member of the Big Ten.

Arkansas is only the second SEC team ever to play at Colorado State, and the first since Mississippi State in 1981. This is an important game for the Rams, perhaps the most significant to be played yet in their second-year stadium, not only because of the opponent but because of the ineptitude of the first two weeks.

But it might be equally important for Arkansas, playing its first road game under Chad Morris. The Razorbacks’ path to a bowl game seems narrow, and any projections that have Arkansas in the postseason have the Razorbacks winning this game.

Arkansas has better athletes than Colorado State and quarterbacks with experience playing on the road in the SEC West. There are holes in the Rams’ defense that a good play caller like Joe Craddock should be able to exploit, especially in the passing game.

If the Razorbacks can limit the big plays that have been killers the past few years, they have the ingredients for a road win.

Colorado State Schedule

Aug. 25 - Hawaii, L 43-34

Aug. 31 - vs. Colorado (Denver), L 45-13

Aug. 8 - Arkansas

Sept. 15 - at Florida

Sept. 22 - Illinois State

Oct. 6 - at San Jose State

Oct. 13 - New Mexico

Oct. 19 - at Boise State

Oct. 26 - Wyoming

Nov. 10 - at Nevada

Nov. 17 - Utah State

Nov. 22 - at Air Force

Colorado State Depth Chart

Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr.

OFFENSE

QB 1 K.J. Carta-Samuels 6-2 225 Sr.

2 Justice McCoy 6-1 198 Fr.

OR 15 Collin Hill 6-5 210 So.

RB 24 Izzy Matthews 6-0 220 Sr.

34 Marcus McElroy 5-11 218 So.

WR 11 Preston Williams 6-4 210 Jr.

80 Nikko Hall 6-0 180 Fr.

TE Cameron Butler 6-2 225 So.

82 Isiah Pannunzio 6-2 235 So.

OR 85 Trey McBride 6-3 245 Fr.

RT 78 Ben Knox 6-6 320 Sr.

74 Salofi Gaoa 6-6 317 Jr.

RG Jeff Taylor 6-1 305 Jr.

Ches Jackson 6-4 290 Fr.

C 51 Colby Meeks 6-3 310 Sr.

64 Scott Brooks 6-3 296 So.

LG 73 Tyler Bjorklund 6-4 300 Sr.

70 Joctavis Phillips 6-4 329 Fr.

LT Barry Wesley 6-6 310 Fr.

58 T.J. Roundtree 6-6 332 Sr.

WR Olabisi Johnson 6-0 203 Sr.

Warren Jackson 6-6 219 So.

FB Adam Prentice 6-0 230 So.

Nate Ryken 6-1 235 Sr.

DEFENSE

DE 33 Emmanuel Jones 6-4 266 So.

53 Caleb Smith 6-3 255 Sr.

NT 94 Devin Phillips 6-1 318 Fr.

99 Damon Dickens 6-2 265 Jr.

DT 98 Ellison Hubbard 6-1 285 So.

92 Livingston Paogofie 6-1 269 So.

DE 95 Richard King 6-4 275 Jr.

54 Brandon Derrow 6-3 243 Fr.

SLB 52 Tre Thomas 6-2 223 Sr.

58 Tanner Clem 6-2 215 Fr.

MLB 55 Josh Watson 6-2 240 Sr.

34 Anthony Giusti 6-0 220 Jr.

WLB 44 Max McDonald 6-1 225 Jr.

13 Trey Sutton 6-0 230 So.

CB 19 V.J. Banks 6-0 200 Sr.

2 Dajon Owens 6-0 185 So.

S 11 Jordan Fogal 5-10 195 Sr.

18 Braylin Scott 6-3 196 Jr.

S 7 Jamal Hicks 6-1 200 Jr.

8 Quinn Brinnon 6-0 180 Fr.

CB 2 Rashad Ajayi 5-10 175 Fr.

14 Anthony Hawkins 5-10 185 Jr.

SPECIAL TEAMS

K Wyatt Bryan 6-0 170 Sr.

P Ryan Stonehouse 5-11 170 So.

H Ryan Stonehouse 5-11 170 So.

LS Ross Reiter 5-10 235 Fr.

PR Olabisi Johnson 6-0 203 Sr.

KR Macs McElroy 5-11 218 So.

Arkansas Depth Chart

OFFENSE

QB 15 Cole Kelley 6-7 258 R-So.

OR 4 Ty Storey 6-2 215 R-Jr.

RB 21 Devwah Whaley 5-11 209 Jr.

2 Chase Hayden 5-10 200 So.

WR 16 La’Michael Pettway 6-2 219 Jr.

14 Chase Harrell 6-4 215 Jr.

TE 44 Austin Cantrell 6-3 263 Jr.

18 Jeremy Patton 6-5 253 Sr.

RT 60 Brian Wallace 6-6 318 Sr.

78 Dalton Wagner 6-9 300 R-Fr.

RG 62 Johnny Gibson 6-4 324 Sr.

66 Ty Clary 6-4 287 So.

C 51 Hjalte Froholdt 6-5 315 Sr.

69 Dylan Hays 6-3 294 So.

LG 68 Kirby Adcock 6-5 280 R-Fr.

54 Austin Capps 6-4 311 Jr.

LT 57 Shane Clenin 6-6 302 R-Fr.

73 Noah Gatlin 6-7 293 Fr.

WR 1 Jared Cornelius 5-11 203 R-Sr.

9 De’Vion Warren 5-10 180 So.

WR 7 Jonathan Nance 6-0 190 Sr.

13 Deon Stewart 5-11 161 Jr.

DEFENSE

DE 91 Michael Taylor 6-2 248 Sr.

5 Dorian Gerald 6-3 260 Jr.

DT 3 McTelvin Agim 6-3 279 Jr.

90 Armon Watts 6-5 298 Sr.

DT 52 T.J. Smith 6-3 304 Jr.

42 Jonathan Marshall 6-3 301 So.

DE 10 Randy Ramsey 6-4 236 R-Sr.

6 Gabe Richardson 6-3 240 Jr.

SLB 27 Hayden Henry 6-2 222 So.

22 Deon Edwards 6-1 212 So.

MLB 8 De’Jon Harris 6-0 244 Jr.

31 Grant Morgan 5-11 220 So.

WLB 23 Dre Greenlaw 6-0 227 Sr.

16 Bumper Pool 6-2 223 Fr.

CB 11 Ryan Pulley 5-11 198 R-Jr.

24 Jarques McClellion 6-0 173 R-Fr.

S 2 Kamren Curl 6-2 201 So.

18 Myles Mason 6-2 208 Fr.

S 9 Santos Ramirez 6-2 204 Sr.

17 Joseph Foucha 5-11 198 Fr.

CB 1 Chevin Calloway 5-10 190 So.

14 Britto Tutt 6-1 180 Jr.

SPECIAL TEAMS

K 19 Connor Limpert 6-1 175 Jr.

P 18 Blake Johnson 6-1 182 Jr.

H 18 Jack Lindsey 6-2 195 So.

LS 48 Jordan Silver 6-1 217 R-Fr.

PR 1 Jared Cornelius 5-11 203 R-Sr.

KR 9 De’Vion Warren 5-10 180 So.

This originally appeared in Hawgs Illustrated