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SPORTS Thursday, March 8, 2018
FOOTBALL
Michael Gallup, CSU Rams improve NFL Draft stock at Pro Day By Colin Barnard @ ColinBarnard_
Pro Day at Colorado State drew a bevy of interest from NFL teams as 15 draft-eligible student-athletes participated in front of the watchful eyes of 40 professional scouts from 31 different teams. Among the 15 participants, wide receiver Michael Gallup, quarterback Nick Stevens, running back Dalyn Dawkins, and offensive linemen Jake Bennett and Zack Golditch are some of the most notable names looking to move up draft boards or into consideration come April. Gallup will hear his name called in this year’s draft, there’s no question about that. The verdict is still out on the others hoping to continue their professional careers, though. Less than a week after representing CSU at the NFL Combine, Gallup came into his Pro Day intent on proving his speed. After posting an official 4.51 40-yard dash during the combine, Gallup posted an even better mark of 4.45 Wednesday afternoon. “I told them I was a little bit faster on the hand time,” Gallup
said with a smile. “I knew I could run a little bit faster on the hand time, so that’s what I came out here to do.” Stevens, who worked on improving his throwing velocity and lower-body mechanics leading up to the workout, also noticed a difference in Gallup. The two participated in throwing drills during the latter portion of the day. “Watching him run his 40, he’s always been a really, really good top speed guy,” Stevens said. “He’s been working down there every day, getting better. He’s really committed to the process, and I think it showed in the numbers, both at the Combine and here today.” After leading the Mountain West in passing yards (3,799), touchdowns (29), efficiency (147.9) and completions (284) in 2017, Stevens’ NFL prospects are still uncertain. Overall, he felt confident with his performance in front of the plethora of potential NFL suitors. “Hoped for a couple more inches on the vertical, but I felt really, really good about everything else,” Stevens said. “Felt like I threw the ball well, my
other tests were good. Hoped for a few more completions, but it is what it is. I think we all looked good out there, so that’s all you can really ask for.” In one of the more impressive athletic showings of Pro Day, lineman Zack Golditch seemingly improved his stock just over a month before the draft. Limited by a finger injury he suffered in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on Jan. 20, Golditch impressed in the drills he participated in despite wearing a brace on his left hand. The brace, which he will sport for two more weeks, prevented him from weight-lifting drills. Still, Golditch posted admirable results in events including the vertical and broad jumps. Though the drills do not directly translate to real-game situations, especially for linemen, Golditch believes his athleticism shows potential at the next level. “I won’t be running a 40 in the game, I probably won’t be doing a vertical jump or these other things, but I definitely think it shows a lot of potential,” Golditch said. “When a guy like me goes out and jumps a 32.5 (vertical), it shows a lot of explosiveness. A 9.6 (broad jump), for a guy my size to
Senior wide receiver Michael Gallup looks at the crowded student section before the start of the game on Aug. 26. CSU beat Oregon State 58-27. PHOTO BY JAVON HARRIS COLLEGIAN
get out that far, it shows what can be done (in a real game).” Past all the testing portions that lead up to the NFL Draft, players have over a month of waiting before the event begins on April 26. Though the time gives players much-deserved rest, it also intensifies the anticipation and outside noise, something not always easy to ignore. For Gallup, the best way to avoid distractions that may come
from seeing his name on draft boards is easy. “You’ve just got to stay humble, stay grounded,” Gallup said. “You come here and have two pretty good seasons, now they’re talking about you can go in the top rounds. I just need to stay grounded and know where I came from, that’s all I’m trying to do.” Colin Barnard can be reached at sports@collegian.com.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
This year was Ryun Williams’ best masterpiece yet Luke Zahlmann @lukezahlmann
The season began with several question marks for Colorado State women’s basketball as they lost their two best players and leaders in Ellen Nystrom and Elin Gustavsson to graduation and faced a talentladen conference schedule, loaded with older squads. Ryun Williams and his band of misfits led by senior Hannah Tvrdy answered every question and more with one of Williams’ best coaching performances yet. A program seeking direction before his arrival has now found their coach for the foreseeable future, and Joe Parker would be wise to make sure he spends his coaching career in the confines of Fort Collins. Already the winningest coach in program history, Williams has yet to fail at the helm of the program and has carried the CSU women’s program to heights seldom reached in the school’s history. On top of a sterling winning
percentage, Williams finds a way into the hearts of each player he coaches. Warm sentiments have come in abundance from current and past players, as well as the fans that have developed personal relationships with him. “I want to thank (Ryun) for believing in me even though I was injured and didn’t play,” senior Stine Austgulen said. “He’s given (to) all of our players, (developed) players, always (had) a good game plan and (was) ready for us to go.” “The way he believed in me, it’s on and off the court,” Tvrdy said. “He developed us as people and coming in as a redshirt, kind of showed me my first year and then these past two years (he just) believed in me and giving me this opportunity, I just want to thank him for that.” In back-to-back seasons, the Rams have fallen short of their goal of a postseason conference title, with both loses coming at the hands of Boise State. A loss is the same in every box score, but the two losses both gave way to an admiration from players moving on, and an emotional goodbye from each graduating class, passing sentiments of gratitude to Williams.
The Rams once again came head-to-head with a program on the rise and the strength of the Broncos only further shows the masterful job that Williams achieved this season, coming within double-digits in two of the team’s three meetings, despite losing the heart of his squad sans Tvrdy. An offense that struggled from the first game, Williams was forced to constantly adjust and adapt, searching for a way to get a spark. After months of attempting, the Rams fell short in the department as their offense was unable to pick up for a defense that allowed nearly 15 percentage points higher than the team’s top-five mark in the nation. Defense being his specialty, Williams coached a smaller team than those he has usually fielded to one of the most lockdown units in the nation. The size differential each game failed to collapse the Rams as Williams’ constant in-game adjustments proved vital. With yearly turnover, Williams has failed to waiver and shown time and time again that he is in the upper echelon of leaders in the university’s athletic history.
Women’s basketball head coach Ryun Williams coaches the team during the Mountain West Tournament game against Boise State on March 7.
PHOTO BY TONY VILLALOBOS MAY COLLEGIAN
Though a trio of seniors in Tvrdy, Austgulen and Veronika Mirkovic will make their way into the next phase of life, Williams will continue to work his magic, creating a dominant product on the court and a lifetime bond with his players
off.
For that, the Rams faithful and all those involved with the program should be truly thankful. Luke Zahlmann can be reached at sports@collegian.com.