FORT COLLINS — What makes college football so unique is how a team can change its entire makeup over the course of one offseason and still have the capability to succeed.

For Colorado State, that adaptability will be required from its offense after losing its three main contributors last year in quarterback Nick Stevens, wide receiver Michael Gallup and running back Dalyn Dawkins. With a running back core that goes five-deep with returning players, the rock-toting Rams are ready to take over the scoreboard.

“Our philosophy is to try and be the hardest-working position group on the field and have our teammates see that while we’re watching practice,” running back coach Bryan Applewhite said. “That’s the standard that we’ve set; it was set by Dalyn Dawkins. We practice exactly how we’re going to play.”

No regular starter has been declared for the Rams, but the leading candidate would have to be senior Izzy Matthews. He had the second-most rushing yards for the Rams last year and has rushed for at least one touchdown in 13 consecutive Mountain West games.

Junior Marvin Kinsey Jr. and redshirt sophomore Rashaad Boddie are the next most experienced runners on the team. Kinsey had a stellar freshman year two seasons ago before his ACL injury, and Boddie proved his physicality last year with a two-touchdown performance against Boise State.

“They have a toughness about them, that running back group,” Bobo said. “There’s a lot of things right now that I’m scratching my head and I’m stressing about, but that is a bright spot for us, our running backs, the way they are practicing and the way they are competing.”

Darius May and Marcus McElroy also return this season having been with the team last year as well, making CSU’s roster full of guys who have been around the program, which Applewhite believes is a big help. That many players with experience on the team has made the competition for the starting role a little more interesting for the assumed starter in Matthews.

“They don’t know who the starter is,” Applewhite said. “There’s no seceding to Izzy, none whatsoever. Izzy knows that, and Izzy doesn’t want that. He wants to be challenged. Iron sharpens iron, and the competition does two things for you: You get better or you quit. I don’t see any quitters in there.”

Even with the competition, Matthews knows that he will be looked upon by being a senior, and Applewhite said the California native welcomes any challenge the other backs present to take the starting role away.

“We have a really close group and guys that just want to get each other better,” Matthews said. “It’s not really competing with each other, it’s just competing with ourselves to get better. We have four guys in the room where the sky is the limit for us.”

In order to reach the sky, the Rams’ backs will need to stay consistent and focused on being dominant every day, Applewhite described. Maturity and mental toughness will be their primary focus for a group that has proven they have the physical capabilities on the field.

Being the offensive coordinator at Georgia, Bobo made his team tick behind the run game, most notably from recruitment and coaching of NFL star Todd Gurley. Now with a veteran running back core at CSU, the reliance on the backs will be no secret for the Rams, who look to be more physical come fall.

“We want to have a physical offense and that starts with all positions, not just running backs,” Bobo said. “With a new quarterback this year, we’re going to have to be able to run the ball. We’re going to have to establish the run and run the ball at times when they know we’re going to run the ball. That takes physical and mental toughness, and that’s what spring football is about.”

Roster addition — Colorado State announced Friday evening the addition of offensive lineman T.J. Roundtree to the roster, a graduate transfer from Louisville.

Roundtree will enroll at CSU and be allowed to play in 2018, his final season of eligibility. The 6-foot-6, 315-pound tackled played for Louisville from 2015-17 and appeared in all 13 games for the Cardinals in 2016, with five more last season.

A native of Gainesville, Fla., Roundtree began his college career at Eastern Arizona Community College in 2014 before. Roundtree drew interest from both Louisville and Florida coming out of community college.

The Rams are replacing three all-conference players along the offensive line, making Roundtree’s addition a nice blend of experience, depth and competition for CSU at the position.