CNNSI.com - 2000 College Football Preview - CNNSI.com's Colorado State preview

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Colorado State Rams

An abundance of weapons, experience

College Football: The New Century

'99: 8-4, 5-2 Mountain West

Coach

Sonny Lubick (eighth season, 57-27; 78-46 overall)

Key offensive players

Matt Newton, QB, Jr.
Improved vastly during last season, after starting unspectacularly.

Dallas Davis, WR, Sr.
Dazzling return specialist also caught a team-leading 51 passes last year.

Rahsaan Sanders, RB, So.
Top returning rusher -- 468 yards as a backup -- also a top kick returner.

Pete Rebstock, WR, Jr.
Former prep teammate of Newton is also one of his favorite targets.

Key defensive players

Rick Crowell, LB, Sr.
Given another senior year after shoulder injury derailed last one.

Ivan Maisel's Player of the Century: Greg Myers, DB, 1992-95
"Two-time All-American who returned punts and lit up anyone who brought the ball over the middle."

Brightest moment: Beating Missouri in the 1997 Holiday Bowl to cap the most successful season in school history, an 11-2 campaign that included nine straight wins to finish the season. The Rams won the WAC championship and finished the season ranked 16th in the AP Top 25, leading to their first preseason national ranking the following year.

Lowest Moment: Failing to win a single game -- in 12 chances, no less -- in the final season of coach Sark Arslanian's nine-year CSU career in 1981. It was the only team in school history to lose every game it played.

John Howell, S, Sr.
Important key to holding together an otherwise young secondary.

Key newcomer

Dexter Wynn, CB, Fr.
Redshirt could become a starter after having corrective heart surgery last fall.

Throwback player

Rick Crowell, who made 31 tackles in three games with a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery and cost him his season. He'll be back after being granted a medical hardship.

21st century player

Hands down, it's Dallas Davis. Not only does he return punts and kicks and catch touchdown passes, he collects snakes as a hobby. He even chose to visit the Memphis Zoo during the Rams' trip to the Liberty Bowl.

Fast fact

The Rams are 18-2 in games during November under Lubick.

Outlook

With so many key players returning along with the league's most stable coaching staff, there is reason to be excited in Fort Collins. The Rams have been eager to get back on the field ever since they learned they would get Crowell back after a shoulder injury ruined his senior season last year. He will be perhaps the most important player on a defense that returns eight starters, but lost middle linebacker Ula Tuitele. On offense and special teams, the Rams look as strong as anybody in the league -- provided they can find somebody to replace All-MWC running back Kevin McDougal. If that happens, watch out. The Rams have the weapons to go all the way.

--Michael C. Lewis