Dawg fans, we’ve made it! It is officially week one, and with that comes the return of one of my favorite things to write, the opponent Q&A! This week, we’ll be talking to Mountain West Connection’s Colorado State writer Chase Dulude to learn about the 2025 Rams!
MS: This is year 4 of the Jay Norvell era for the Rams. Norvell led Colorado State to an 8-5 record and an Arizona Bowl appearance last year. What does this year hold, and what do you think of the job that Norvell has done so far in Fort
Collins?
CD: Considering Norvell’s previous success at Nevada, along with his excitement of the Rams’ commitment to funding success on the football field, his tenure has been quite underwhelming. While he has improved the team’s record every year of his tenure, last year’s 8-5 campaign was a bit misleading, as the Rams allowed more points than they scored, avoided facing both of the conference’s top two teams, lost to the only team they played that finished .500 or better in conference (Fresno State), and were obliterated in their aforementioned Arizona Bowl appearance by Miami (OH). I think the Rams continue to move forward this year, my prediction being an 8-5 record with a Potato Bowl victory over Western Michigan, but I don’t think the Rams will find themselves in contention for the conference championship.
MS: This is also year 4 of Brayden Fowler-Nicholosi’s tenure as the Rams’ quarterback. Fowler-Nicholosi had a bit of a regression from his excellent 2023-24 campaign, but still put up solid numbers. How does he fit into Matt Mumme’s offense and who are the other weapons on the team that the Husky defense needs to watch out for?
CD: First, I’ll answer the weapons question. Redshirt sophomore RB Justin Marshall took a major step up at the end of last year, tallying no less than 67 yards in all but one of the season’s final six games, while never exceeding 18 carries per game. He projects to be a solid option as the starting RB, so the Huskies shouldn’t take him lightly. However, Mumme’s Air Raid system will not run on the ground, it must fly through the air. As the Rams’ famous victory against Boise State in 2023 off of a Fowler-Nicolosi Hail Mary would indicate, this guy has a cannon for an arm. As you mentioned, Fowler-Nicolosi regressed in 2024, though the Rams’ downfield passing attack was limited by a lackluster receiving core, largely thanks to the season-ending injury of eventual NFL Draft pick Tory Horton. In theory, the switch to an Air Raid system would force Norvell to upgrade their lackluster receiving core. However, I have concerns about whether the Rams have done enough to repair said core. CSU’s current projected starters are Ohio State transfer Kojo Antwi, who has only caught one pass in his collegiate career, along with returning starters Armani Winfield and Jordan Ross, who combined for just 559 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2024. As a result, I do think the Rams’ offense might have some struggles against the Huskies’ Big Ten-level defense.
MS: Tyson Summers will be making his debut as Colorado State’s DC, coming over from Western Kentucky. What do you make of the hire and what stands out to you schematically about his defense? Who are the potential defensive impact players for the Rams this year?
CD: Tyson Summers, a one-time defensive coordinator of Ram teams past, produces defenses that are turnover machines. Over his first two seasons, the Hilltoppers scored nine defensive touchdowns, which was the most in the FBS, and snagged 58 turnovers, leading the country in 2022 and ranking seventh in 2023. In 2024, while the Tops only snagged 20 turnovers, their defense ranked 9th in the nation in passing yards allowed per game. This bodes well for the Rams’ secondary, which, like the defense at large, was destroyed by the transfer portal. Out of the 11 projected starters on CSU’s defense, only 5 were on the Rams last season, only three of which (Owen Long, Ayden Hector, Dylan Phelps) had at least 20 total tackles. Notably, Long is the leading tackler remaining with 45 last season, Hector led the team in forced fumbles with 3, and Phelps is the only remaining player to snag a pick last year. In other words, CSU is starting primarily from scratch. Phelps is projected to start at corner, opposite former five-star prospect Jahari Rogers, and both should thrive as ball hawks this season. At safety, Holy Cross transfer Jake Jarmolowich started 11 games in 2024 for the Crusaders, where he tallied 46 total tackles and his first two collegiate interceptions. Linebacker was the Rams’ strength last year, but they have now lost both of their defensive All-MW selections, in Chase Wilson (West Virginia) and Buom Jock (Cal), who were the team’s starting linebackers in 2024. This leaves Iowa State transfer Jacob Ellis, who, thrust into the lineup due to injuries, more than held his own for the playoff contender Cyclones in 2024. Ellis finished with 41 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery. Finally, at EDGE, the Rams look to be starting Baylor transfer JaQues Evans. Notably, Evans was once a Hilltopper under Summers, where he recorded over 100 tackles in 2022. Evans looks to regain the form he once had under his old defensive coordinator, together in a new place.
MS: The traditional Mountain West Conference as we’ve known it will cease to exist after this year, as Colorado State, Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State will all move to the Pac 12 next season. What are your feelings on the move, and how will Colorado State fare in the Mountain West in 2025?
CD: As a Nevada fan and alum, I will leave my personal biases out of this, though I will admit I wish a merger had been completed, as a conference consisting of the new Pac-12 and Mountain West conferences would be awesome in all sports. For CSU, I believe this is the right move, obviously. For Jay Norvell? I’m not so certain. Part of the Rams’ success last year came from a particularly soft schedule, even by Mountain West standards. Now, they are guaranteed to play Boise State, Fresno State, Oregon State, San Diego State, and Washington State, a group of teams Norvell is 2-5 against with CSU, every year for the foreseeable future. Personally, I don’t know if Norvell survives more than a couple seasons in the Pac-12, especially if the Rams suffer regression this season.
MS: It’s time for a score prediction! What will the final score be in this opening tilt in Seattle between the Huskies and the Rams?
CD: 38-21 Washington. The Rams will use their retooled offense to likely score first, but it should be relatively easy for the Huskies to wear down the Rams’ defense with their standard advantages on the offensive line. Washington will likely hold a tentative 24-14 lead at half, but after adjustments are made, the Huskies will shut the Rams down until garbage time, leaving this match with a season-opening victory.
Thank you Chase, and good luck to the Rams the rest of the way! If you want to read my answers to his questions, head over to Mountain West Connection!
