FORT COLLINS — He was never going to leave, not being a Ram through and through. Not being a guy who still cherished the Bradlee Van Pelt wrist band tossed his way as a youngster.

Now Craig Leonard is getting a chance to tap into that Van Pelt lineage at Colorado State.

First-year CSU football coach Mike Bobo, looking for a spark in the Rams’ offense, put Leonard in the wildcat package against San Diego State two weeks ago, then brought it back over the weekend against Wyoming. From all accounts, it’s here to stay as the Rams prepare for their final home game of the season Saturday against UNLV.

The Rams have used Joe Hansley in the wildcat role in the past, and even Deionte Gaines. But Leonard has had more success with it and is a more serious threat to throw the ball.

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Leonard, who had one run for 9 yards against Hawaii last season, has six carries in the two games — good for 31 yards and an impressive average of 5.2 yards per rush. According to Bobo, Leonard brings more than numbers.

“He’s a leader,” the coach said. “Those kids respond to him. In the weight room, they respond to him on the field, even though he’s only signaling out there at practice. He’s got a certain quality about him that when he’s on the field, the players feel like we’re about to be successful.”

Leonard has been a backup quarterback, a part-time coach and a teammate who helps point out things his fellow quarterbacks might not be seeing.

It’s a role the Fossil Ridge High School product was happy to serve, but getting his chance on the field has put a jolt into his final season.

“Once you get in, it’s kind of addicting,” Leonard said. “You really want to get back in. You get on the field, you have some positive plays and you want to do everything you can to get back on the field. To have that opportunity has been awesome.”

Leonard, a redshirt junior who spent one season at a prep school before coming to CSU when the Rams were coached by Steve Fairchild, said Monday this will be his last season. He is getting married in June and has found his career path, intent on becoming a firefighter. With more school in front of him for that, he will graduate in May, though he hopes to find a way to still be useful during spring camp.

With three games remaining in the regular season — a bowl, too, if the Rams can win two of those three — Leonard is looking to make the most of an opportunity that came late.

It wasn’t an idea the Rams had been toying with all season. He said the first time they practiced it with him at the helm was the Tuesday before the San Diego State game, and since it went well, it made its way into the framework of the offensive game plan. One call last week was for Leonard to throw the ball, but with the route covered, he still picked up yards.

“It wasn’t there and he was smart enough to tuck it and run,” Bobo said. “We’ve got several passes for him, but we weren’t going to call all of them that game.”

Said Leonard: “I really want to score. We’ve got three games left, and I fully expect to score a touchdown. Hopefully multiple touchdowns before the season is over.”