Matt L. Stephens

matthewstephens@coloradoan.com

They cheered from the sidelines at Hughes Stadium. When CSU was on the road, they watched the games on TV.

They get kicked around all week in practice on the scout team, and they're not even allowed to travel for conference games.

The life of a freshman football player who's redshirting isn't a glamorous one. For whatever reason, may it be depth or or skill, Colorado State University coaches felt 16 of their 22 true freshmen last season needed to spend the year developing and not seeing the field on Saturdays. It's not always fun to be limited to practice, but the hope is they'll help the team more in the end because of it.

Will it pay off next season?

It will take years to know for certain, but here are the redshirt freshmen I'm expecting to make the biggest impact for the Rams in 2016.

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Richard King, defensive end

King is a mammoth. 6-foot-5, 260 pounds and plays like he’s lighter. He showed in the fall that he’s quick with his moves and has the strength to toss off a block and get to the quarterback. Like the other main defensive lineman in the 2015 recruiting class, O’Shea Jackson, King wasn’t a highly touted prospect coming in, but he shows promise, and with the Rams losing three key defensive ends to graduation (SteveO Michel, Joe Kawulok and Martavius Foster), they’re going to need help.

Salofi Gaoa, offensive line

Just look at him. 6-6, 270 pounds. Gaoa is a specimen. His size and quickness were why he was dominant at Rocky Mountain High School, and it’s what makes him so unique among linemen at CSU.

The only player CSU expects to lose from its offensive line is right tackle Sam Carlson. Everyone else was an underclassman in 2015. Trae Moxley, a converted tight end, is the early favorite to take Carlson’s spot. What makes Gaoa special, though, is his build, with a size more fitting of a defensive end. Every starting lineman at CSU has at least 25 pounds on Gaoa. If he can show agility at tackle, stopping the pass rush around the end, he could be a huge asset for the Rams.

J.C. Robles, quarterback

As the 2015 season progressed, Robles stood out as the quarterback who showed the best fundamentals. His footwork and delivery are phenomenal, and his stance took a big stride from the more statue-like appearance he displayed in fall camp. Credit his eagerness to learn from Nick Stevens and experience on the scout team as to why he’s shown such progress.

Robles, realistically, won’t vie for the starting job next season with Stevens being the returner and graduate transfer Faton Bauta arriving from Georgia; however, his progression should push the two favorites’ game up a notch to keep the redshirt freshman at arm’s length.

Chuk Obinnah, running back.

Few walk-ons are as talented as Obinnah. He was the 15th-best recruit out of Colorado last year, rushing for 1,590 yards (7.2 yards per carry) and 20 touchdowns as a senior at Aurora’s Grandview High School, and was a killer track and field athlete, finishing fourth in the shot put at state.

It’s clear that CSU’s rushing game operates at its best when Izzy Matthews, a true freshman in 2015, is in the backfield. But the Rams like to use a three-back system, and with Jasen Oden graduating, that opens the door for someone to complement Matthews and Dalyn Dawkins. Deron Thompson is one option, and so is Obinnah.

Max McDonald, linebacker

OK, so he’s not a redshirt freshman, but a grayshirt. Still, he’s part of the 2015 signing class and will have his first chance to make an impact next season.

If you’re not familiar with McDonald, here’s what you need to know: He’s like Max Morgan, except, according to CSU defensive coordinator Marty English, better. At least, well ahead of where Morgan was as a senior in high school, which is saying something. Morgan led CSU in tackles as a junior (134) and finished second as a senior (105).

McDonald is 6-2, 220 and scrappy. It took CSU some time to finally offer him a scholarship following his senior season at Rocky Mountain in 2014 when he led the state with 111 solo tackles. It’s a move the Rams won’t regret.

The only thing that should hinder his immediate impact is how deep the Rams’ linebacker corps is.

For insight and analysis on athletics around Northern Colorado and the Mountain West, follow sports columnist Mat L. Stephens at twitter.com/mattstephens and facebook.com/stephensreporting.