FORT COLLINS — After serving a two-season apprenticeship, first as a redshirt in 2013 and then as Garrett Grayson’s backup in 2014, Nick Stevens was the heir apparent for Colorado State’s starting quarterback job this fall.

Yet all his preparation was in the spread offense installed by the Jim McElwain staff. After the departure of McElwain to Florida and offensive coordinator/interim head coach Dave Baldwin to Oregon State, the changes came.

The Rams had a new staff, including head coach Mike Bobo, a former Georgia quarterback and offensive coordinator who works far more directly with the quarterbacks than did McElwain.

And the Rams had a new offense. It’s not so radically different that Stevens was completely starting over. It just felt that way at times.

WATCH: Mike Bobo discusses using multiple RBs, TEs in CSU offense

“It was hard at first, but I think we did a good job of learning it and getting it down,” Stevens said. “I was pretty good at the old offense, and now I just have to rebuild and kind of get that way with this one. I think I’m well on the way.”

Stevens paid attention as he mostly sat last season, going 15-for-25 for 136 yards in limited duty.

“I learned how to manage the game,” he said. “I think Garrett did a great job of taking the checkdowns when he needed to. And in preparing, he had a great work ethic in the film room in preparing for every practice and every game. He had the ‘installs’ down before we even saw them. I learned that from him, and I think I did a good job of preparing this fall and past spring. That’s what’s helped me out with this offense, getting it down so quick.”

Bobo concurred, giving Stevens the nod over redshirt freshman Coleman Key.

“Just the leadership that has come with that has given me influence,” Stevens said. “I think I’ve done a better job of getting out there and demanding that leadership role and getting the offense going more than before.”

After the Rams’ Wednesday practice, Bobo gave Stevens mixed reviews for his recent work.

“A little bit up and down,” Bobo said. “We’re struggling a little bit to make the routine play, and if we miss a play, we have to let it go. I’m seeing a little bit of pressing on occasion. We have to have confidence in ourself and play the next play.”

Bobo added: “Now, there are going to be growing pains and there are going to be mistakes made, whether Nick Stevens or Coleman Key is the quarterback. They’re both new, this is a new system and we have to do a good job as coaches of getting them prepared every day. And if we have too much for them, we have to cut back and make sure we can execute what we might have called. We might have a little bit too much in right now.”

Stevens’ major target is expected to be junior Rashard Higgins, an All-American a year ago.

“It’s going pretty good,” Higgins said of developing chemistry with Stevens. “Nick is getting his timing down. He knows the concepts, and he’s working them every day. He’s working from high to low and low to high. He’s making the right reads, and he looks good.”

Stevens didn’t blossom as a prospect until his junior season at Vista Murrieta High School in Murrieta, Calif.

“Something clicked my junior year,” he said. “I got comfortable with the offense, and I was able to build up and call my own plays at the line.”

He and his mother, Stacy, took a long scouting trip, making unofficial visits to several schools in the spring and summer before his senior year. They hadn’t planned on stopping in Fort Collins until one of Nick’s high school coaches called and said CSU had just called and asked about him, so Nick and his mom detoured to Fort Collins.

“I was able to explore the campus a little bit,” Stevens said. “My mom and I both loved it. I did a couple more unofficial visits and just kind of committed right away.”

He eventually returned for an official visit and signed a national letter of intent with the Rams in February 2013.

Thirty months later, he’s the starter.

Terry Frei: tfrei@denverpost.com or twitter.com/TFrei