Our projection for CSU football's depth chart for 2018

It’s been an unusual spring for the CSU football program.

A significant number of players likely to fill key roles for the Rams weren’t available for spring practices, which ended Saturday with the annual Green and Gold Spring Game.

Some are graduate transfers who will arrive on campus in May and June but won’t be able to participate in a formal practice with their new team until fall camp begins in late July, about a month before the Aug. 25 season-opener against Hawaii.

Several others were held out to recover from injuries and surgery.

And after losing 11 starters and more than a dozen or more others who were regulars in the playing rotation to graduation, the Rams have some significant rebuilding to do after a third straight 7-6 season and bowl loss under coach Mike Bobo.

So, it’s been harder to get a feel for what the Rams will look like this fall during their 15 spring practices. t

Here’s the breakdown and an early look at the projected depth chart:

Quarterbacks

K.J. Carta-Samuels, a graduate transfer from Washington, is the early favorite to win the starting job, unless sophomore Collin Hill is able to make a miraculous recovery from a second torn ACL. Hill, a starter in three games in 2016 before tearing the ACL the first time, underwent surgery March 15 and is hoping to play in the opening game. More than likely, though, he’ll need at least another month or two. Redshirt freshman Justice McCoy was the best of the four QBs available this spring, but he's clearly not ready to step into the starting job, according to Bobo and quarterbacks coach Ronnie Letson. So, the job is Carta-Samuels’ to lose.

Running backs

This is the most competitive position battle the Rams are likely to have. Senior Izzy Matthews is the front-runner after splitting time with the departed Dalyn Dawkins and has run for 1,937 yards and 26 touchdowns, fifth on CSU’s all-time list, over the past three seasons.

But sophomore Rashaad Boddie, who ran for 254 yards and four TDs last season; junior Marvin Kinsey, who has run for 670 yards and six TDs the past two seasons; and sophomore Darius May are all in the mix. Marcus McElroy, a redshirt freshman who had to sit out last season while battling blood clots, should join the fray when fall camp begins.

Receivers

The Rams lost seniors Biletnikoff Award finalist Michael Gallup and Detrich Clark, but this is another spot where the Rams have some returning talent. Senior Bisi Johnson, who has 71 career receptions for 1,223 yards and seven TDs, and Tennessee transfer Preston Williams are the likely starters. But sophomore Warren Jackson, who caught two touchdown passes in one game last fall at Alabama, and EJ Scott will push for playing time.

Scott tore an ACL just before the 2017 season opener and was forced to redshirt. Sophomore tight end Cameron Butler is ready to step into a starting role after making 12 catches for 171 yards and three TDs last year as the No. 2 tight end behind senior Dalton Fackrell. Sophomore Isiah Pannunzio will likely be the No. 2 tight end.

Offensive line

No part of the offense was hit as hard by graduation as the offensive line, which lost three starters. New offensive line coach Dave Johnson, who also is the Rams’ offensive coordinator, has two starters back to work with in senior guard Nicho Garcia and senior tackle Ben Knox and an experienced center in Colby Meeks, a starter at guard in six games over the past two years. Graduate transfer T.J. Roundtree from Louisville is likely to start at left tackle, leaving senior Tyler Bjorklund and junior Jeff Taylor, who started three games apiece last season, to battle it out for the starting job at right guard.

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Defensive line

This was another area hit hard by graduation, with junior end Arjay Jean the only starter back on what will be primarily a four-man front, instead of three, under new defensive coordinator John Jancek.

Junior Toby McBride, a starter two years ago, is still recovering from shoulder surgery that kept him from practicing this spring. Junior Richard King was a regular in the playing rotation last season, as were sophomores Ellison Hubbard and Livingston Paogofie. Sophomore Emmanuel Jones, an outside linebacker in last year’s 3-4 defense, has moved to defensive end, where he’ll likely start, in the Jancek’s 4-3 scheme.

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Linebackers

Senior Josh Watson, a starter the past two years and last season’s leading tackler, has emerged as the defensive leader. Senior Tre Thomas is also a returning starter, and sophomore Trey Sutton appears to be the best fit for the outside linebacker spot. Junior Max McDonald, a former Rocky Mountain High School standout and starter last season, provides solid depth in the middle behind Watson and Thomas, and there's a good chance at least one of the three linebackers in the 2018 signing class works his way into the playing rotation.

Secondary

A major rebuilding job is underway with new position coaches Eric Lewis (cornerbacks) and George Helow (safeties) replacing two starters and two key reserves. Senior Jordan Fogal, a starter, and sophomore Jamal Hicks, a key reserve before breaking his arm late last season, are back at safety. Neither was able to practice much this spring because of injuries.

Junior Anthony Hawkins returns at one cornerback, but the other is likely to be filled by a graduate transfer, V.J. Banks from Rice, who won’t arrive until this summer. Junior Braylin Scott, primarily a safety, and sophomore cornerback Darius Campbell have performed well this spring.

Specialists

The Rams are in good shape on special teams, with veteran kicker Wyatt Bryan returning along with sophomore punter Ryan Stonehouse. Bryan has made 42 of 54 field goals over the past three seasons. Stonehouse averaged 45.9 yards a punt last season.

Senior Bisi Johnson is back to return punts, and the Rams have several strong candidates, led by Kinsey, to return kickoffs. They also have senior Braxton Davis, a Poudre High graduate, back to handle kickoff duties for a third straight season.

Follow reporter Kelly Lyell at twitter.com/KellyLyell and facebook.com/KellyLyell.news and listen to him talk CSU sports at 11:35 a.m. Thursdays on KFKA radio (AM 1310) and 8:15 a.m. Saturdays on Denver’s ESPN radio (AM 1600).