Stephens: Broncos hiring Kubiak benefits CSU football

Joel Dreessen used to get teased in the Houston Texans locker room.

Even 6-foot-4, 245-pound men get picked on.

When he was picked up by the Texans as a free agent in 2007 following a special-teams-ridden rookie season with the New York Jets in 2005, a trend started to emerge. The year before, first-year Houston coach Gary Kubiak drafted Dreessen's former CSU teammate, wide receiver David Anderson, acquired quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt from Denver and signed free agent offensive lineman Mike Brisiel.

A season later, 2008, Kubiak added undrafted free agent linebacker Jesse Nading, another former teammate of Dreessen.

From 2008-2011, four former Colorado State University stars played for Houston (a lot for a college program not consider a juggernaut) and Texans who didn't attend college in Fort Collins weren't too fond of this new-found pipeline.

"Our teammates would always give us grief about it. They'd say, 'all you have to do is play for Colorado State and coach Kubiak will give you a roster spot,'" Dreessen said. "It didn't work that way, you had to be a good football player, too. Coach Kubiak's philosophy was, 'when in doubt, go with a guy from Colorado State, because they're going to work their asses off.' ... that holds true."

Kubiak said, following his introductory press conference in Englewood on Tuesday, he's not sure how strong his connection with CSU is these days given his sons Klint (CSU safety, 2005-09) and Klay (quarterback, 07-10) are long gone. Though he recognized his familiarity and respect for the way the Rams groom their players makes them safe bets for the NFL.

CSU couldn't have asked for a more favorable hire by the Broncos than Kubiak; he's not going to stop signing Rams when his team needs help.

As the offensive coordinator in Baltimore last season, he drafted former CSU tight end Crockett Gillmore in the third round. Gillmore, who said his CSU tie is what landed him a spot on the Ravens roster, thinks the chances of Rams tight end Kivon Cartwright — who has applied for an extra season of NCAA eligibility — making his NFL debut with the Broncos in 2016 are high.

More than drafting CSU players, which he's done four times as an offensive coordinator or head coach, the most valuable resource Kubiak has the Rams' football program is an opportunity for fringe prospects to get their shot at the NFL.

Brisiel and Nading were undrafted free agents that found permanent roster spots in Houston and in 2011, Kubiak cast his widest net to find another hidden gem at CSU, extending camp invites to long snapper Scott Albritton, fullback Zac Pauga and defensive tackle Guy Miller. Offensive lineman Cole Pemberton got his chance with the Texans in 2010.

Albritton was able to stick around through all four preseason games that year, including a Monday Night Football showcase against the Jets, and has since worked out for 10 NFL franchises, the most recent being Chicago back in August — opportunities he never would have had without Kubiak.

"Coach Kubiak has a comfort level with CSU and he knows the talent level there. It might be one of those programs that maybe doesn't have the prestige of big-time schools, but he has a bloodline into that program," Albritton said. "He recruits good individuals and guys that play at a high level. He's found that at CSU and exploits it a little bit.

"For the preseason I was in Houston, I think we had six guys from CSU. That's a lot. I'll bet you the Broncos are going to be flooded with guys from CSU for minicamps. It's almost too easy, to be honest."

Albritton, now living in San Diego, has already had his agent get in touch with the Broncos to see if they need a long snapper. Dreessen, who's trying to return to the NFL as a long snapper after a cartilage injury in his knee ended his career as a tight end, hopes he'll get the same opportunity with Kubiak.

"Before I got to Houston, Joel was a long snapper for them. Mind calling him back and asking him to stop and give me a year?" Albritton joked.

Kubiak's relationship with CSU wasn't tarnished by Sonny Lubick's departure. Albritton was Steve Fairchild's first recruit and Gillmore's skills were perfected under Jim McElwain. And with the Broncos' needs this offseason, to think they won't try to fill them with a Ram or two would be naive.

Denver has the 28th pick in May's NFL draft and needs help on the offensive line; tackle Ty Sambrailo is ranked the sixth-best at his position by CBS Sports and is working out at the Senior Bowl this week in front of NFL executives, including John Elway. If CSU quarterback Garrett Grayson, another Senior Bowl attendee, slips in the draft for some reason (No. 5 rated QB), he could become an option. Broncos practice squad members Kapri Bibbs (RB) and Shaquil Barrett (OLB), former CSU players, should be feeling hopeful.

There's no guarantee Kubiak stocks up on Rams while in Denver. If they don't produce for him, he'll turn them loose, but CSU hasn't steered him wrong before and with where the program is now vs. when he was in Houston, the crop has only improved.

It's hard not seeing that translate positively to the NFL.

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

CSU players drafted by Kubiak