Rams Garner Pre-Season Honors

Seven Colorado State football players were cited today by The Sporting News in the publication's 2003 College Football Yearbook, including: Joel Dreessen is ranked as No. 5 tight end. Dreessen was third on the team in receiving last year and was named first-team All-Mountain West Conference. He caught 29 passes including two four touchdowns in 2002. Eric Pauly, who has led the Rams in tackles in each of the past two seasons, was ranked as the nation's No. 6 outside linebacker. Pauly was a second-team all-league choice in voting by conference coaches last year, and was first-team in 2001. He was also a first-team Academic All-American in 2002. Dexter Wynn is listed as the No. 7 return specialist in the nation. Wynn is a two-time all-league selection as a return specialist, and was second-team as a defensive back last season. Wynn led the league and was sixth nationally in punt returns and third in in the MWC in kickoff returns. Kicker Jeff Babcock, who set a school record by making 24 field goals in 2002, is the No. 7 kicker on the TSN list. Babcock opened the 2002 season in impressive fashion by kicking five field goals in Colorado State's 35-29 win over Virginia, setting a conference record. Bradlee Van Pelt, named quarterback on the All-MWC team and the conference's offensive player of the year, is the 10th-ranked quarterback. Van Pelt competed 150-of-287 passes for 2,073 yards and 10 touchdowns and was second on the team with 819 rushing yards. Drew Wood is the No. 14 middle linebacker in the rankings. Wood is a three-year starter from Buena Vista, Colo., who has been among the MWC tackles leaders in each of the past two seasons. He was fourth in the league in quarterback sacks in 2002. Mark Dreyer, who has started 26 consecutive games for the Rams, is the No. 18 center. Dreyer, from Brighton, Colo., was a second-team all-league choice last season. Colorado State opens the season Aug. 30, facing in-state rival Colorado at INVESCO Field at Mile High in Denver.