Colorado State football roster breakdown: Which groups will lead the Rams in 2023?

What are the strengths?

Where are question marks?

It's nearly time for the 2023 Colorado State football season to begin, so it's time to look at the roster.

Here's a breakdown by position of the CSU roster, looking at who the key players are and what concerns and strengths are present with each group.

Quarterbacks

Quick summary: Clay Millen is back for his second year as a starter. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi appears to have the inside track for the No. 2 job.

Breakdown: Millen led FBS in completion percentage last season, but no team gave up more sacks than the Rams. Millen needs to get the ball out quicker and be more aggressive in the intermediate and deep passing game. It’s an important season for Millen to take a step forward.

Running backs

Quick summary: CSU will lean on veteran backs Kobe Johnson (a North Dakota State transfer) and Avery Morrow.

Breakdown: Johnson has been one of the highlights of camp and will play a significant role. Morrow has now been declared eligible to play by the school following his January arrest. Freshman Damian Henderson and JuCo transfer KJ Edwards could also earn time. The running back group should be a strong point of the roster.

Tight ends

Quick summary: It’s a revamped room, with Dallin Holker (BYU) and Vince Brown (College of DuPage) brought in to add pass-catching to a position that had only 21 receptions a season ago.

Breakdown: Holker is expected to have a big impact on the offense, with crisp route-running and pass-catching ability to open the middle of the field and intermediate pass game. Brown and Jordan Williams are tall threats who can be used in the vertical passing game and red zone. This group needs to have an important impact on the passing game.

Receivers

Quick summary: There’s now some depth to complement star Tory Horton.

Breakdown: Horton is the best receiver in the league. Justus Ross-Simmons and Louis Brown should both take another step forward in their sophomore seasons. SMU transfer Dylan Goffney will also be in the mix. There are a bevy of young receivers, but they’ll have to fight for playing time. CSU needs players behind Horton to step up in consistency and production.

Offensive linemen

Quick summary: Jacob Gardner is the lone 2022 starter who will be in the top 5 to begin 2023, and he’s in a new spot (back to center from left tackle). Four transfers take the other spots.

Breakdown: It’s almost certain the OL will be better than last season, but by how much? The answer could decide how the season goes. Three of the four starters come from lower-level programs and say their “prove it” mindset will go a long way.

“My favorite thing is everyone on this O-line has a chip on their shoulder,” left guard Oliver Jervis said. “There’s only one kid that’s starting from the team last year but we’re trying to take on the mentality of that O-line last year may not have technically been us as people, but that’s who we represent. We have to make a name for the O-line of Colorado State. … We’re coming into the season as a question mark, but I promise you we’re going to end the season as the exclamation point.”

Depth is still a concern. This group must be improved for CSU to compete for bowl eligibility.

Safeties

Quick summary: An experienced group led by captains Jack Howell and Henry Blackburn, plus nickel Ayden Hector.

Breakdown: One of the strongest starting groups on the team with big playmaking potential. Howell and Hector had three interceptions each a year ago and the safeties are crucial in forcing the amount of turnovers CSU is seeking. There’s an argument to be made that this is the best starting group on CSU’s roster.

Cornerbacks

Quick summary: Depth has been added to join Chigozie Anusiem. Dom Jones (North Dakota State transfer) adds another long corner opposite Anusiem. Ron Hardge (Oregon State) and Dominic Morris (Furman) add experience and depth.

Breakdown: CSU needs more interceptions, and Jones and Anusiem should complement each other well. They have the length and speed to battle receivers.

“The competition in the room has pushed everybody to elevate,” Anusiem said. “I feel like, too, teams are going to have trouble just picking on (one) side this year.”

Linebackers

Quick summary: Jaseim Mitchell may be in line to join Chase Wilson as a starter. Cal transfer Tramayne Mejia-Paster should also see the field plenty.

Breakdown: A lot of change with Dequan Jackson (graduation), Cam’Ron Carter (graduation) and Drew Kulick (medical) all gone. Wilson had 2.5 sacks and 29 tackles in limited action last year and has emerged as a playmaker and leader. It’s a group to watch for who emerges and produces. Keep an eye out for freshman Buom Jock. There's potential, but it's unproven at this point.

Defensive linemen

Quick summary: The group is led by veterans Mohamed Kamara, Cam Bariteau and Grady Kelly.

Breakdown: This is arguably the deepest position group on the team, and Kamara is a star. Redshirt freshman Nuer Gatkuoth could be a breakout player at defensive line. This group should roll through a lot of players, staying fresh and causing problems in backfields. It could be one of the best defensive lines in the league.

Kicking units

Quick summary: Paddy Turner will be CSU’s punter and Jordan Noyes the kicker.

Breakdown: Noyes was 8-for-12 kicking field goals in his career at Utah. It’s limited experience, but Norvell hopes his strong leg opens up a greater kicking range for the Rams. Turner excels at directional punting and limiting returns.

CSU football's Australian punter: How Paddy Turner has become integral to the program

Return units

Quick summary: The running backs (Johnson and Morrow) will likely be the kick returners. Horton is the punt returner.

Breakdown: Kick returning is rarely a key as touchbacks and fair catches are commonplace. Punt returning could be big as Horton is considered the best in the MW.

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on Twitter and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado State football roster: These groups will lead the Rams in 2023