Recruits Watch CSU Prepare for Bowl

FORT COLLINS - The star attractions at Colorado State football practice Saturday wore high school letter jackets and were flanked by parents.

No one had to work up a sweat, except to march off to the next part of the campus tour. "This was more for the recruits, so they could watch practice," CSU coach Sonny Lubick said.

The Rams ran around for 90 minutes to impress 23 prospects taking part in the first big recruiting weekend. Lubick was on the road recruiting all last week. CSU plays Boston College in the San Francisco Bowl on Dec. 31.

Rams quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator Dan Hammerschmidt said the main objective now is to groom a backup for next year's starting quarterback, Justin Holland. Freshman redshirt Casey Hansen, third-stringer and former walk- on Joey Kearney and freshmen walk-ons Zac Bryson and Matt Bryson had plenty of work, while injured starter Bradlee Van Pelt watched from the sideline with a broken hand. Van Pelt will miss the next week of practice. A number of the recruits already had committed to CSU before their official trip Saturday. Kansas State, Oregon State, Colorado and Utah were the schools mentioned most frequently as the other suitors for the prospects.

Those committed include: QB Caley Hanie, 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Forney H.S. (Texas). He committed last summer after attending camp at CSU. He led his team to the state quarterfinals, passing for 24 TDs. He said he committed to CSU because of the way the Rams ran the offense with Van Pelt.

WR Chauncey Duckett, 6-3, 180, Colorado Springs Wasson.The multisport athlete committed last week. He also played quarterback. TE Kevin McPeek, 6-5, 210, Douglas County. A late-summer commitment who said he liked the way the offense used the tight end, he is projected to grow into a Joel Dreessen-type H-back. He caught 20 passes for 350 yards and four TDs. OL Dane Stratton, 6-7, 270, Cheyenne East. The younger brother of current Rams sophomore CB Ben Stratton committed last summer.

Other in-state visitors included LB John Bacon, 6-3, 230, Lakewood (also considering Oregon and Kansas State); DE Tommie Hill, 6-7, 225, Arapahoe (CU, Nebraska, Oregon, Kansas State, Utah); OL Dan Gury 6-6, 300, Monarch (CU, Utah, Oregon); RB Kyle Bell, 6-2, 215, Weld Central (Wyoming); and DE Chris Kawulok, 6-4, 215, Monarch (San Diego State, Utah, Wyoming). The out-of-state contingent included: CB Surrell Davis, 5-10, 195, College of San Mateo (Kansas State, BYU); CB Kreig Peters, Antelope Valley H.S. (Lancaster, Calif.) (Fresno State); CB Kiel McDonald, 5-11, 190, Sacramento (Calif.) JC and a 2001 Doherty graduate (Minnesota, Arizona); RB Jamaal Floyd, 5-8, 185, Claremont (Calif.) H.S. (Oregon, CU, Kansas State); RB Antone Saulsberry 6-1, 202, Bellflower (Calif.) H.S. (Washington State, Arizona State, Nebraska); LB Isaiah Cook, 6-2, 190, Claremont ( Calif.) H.S. (Oregon St. Fresno State); DE B.J. Parsons 6-5, 250, Saddleback (Calif.) JC, (New Mexico, Arizona); and DE Adam Blankenship 6-3, 235, Tulsa Union, (Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Texas Tech).

Footnotes: Offensive guard Albert Bimper, who missed the last month of the season with a neck injury, returned to practice.

The Rams will practice Thursday and Saturday, then re-evaluate the schedule the following week pending final exams. Lubick said he hopes to get three practices in on the new surface before the team breaks for Christmas