Freshmen making mark early on Rams’ defense

FORT COLLINS» As Mike Bobo recalled the play in his mind, it was a picture of Rashad Ajayi hanging on for dear life.

Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks isn’t a small person, but Ajayi got to him on the corner blitz on Saturday. Franks didn’t go immediately down — it took some work — but it still counts as the Colorado State corner’s first career sack.

Such is the existence for a true freshman in college football, that feeling of holding on by a thread at times. That just hasn’t been the case for Ajayi, or for classmate Devin Phillips, both of whom have started every game this season for the Rams.

Their play has been far from an afterthought, too. Ajayi ranks ninth on the team with 11 tackles, Phillips 10th with 10, and both were expected to come in and contribute from the day they signed.

“I’m really pleased with Ajayi. I think he’s doing a nice job, he had a nice game last week,” Bobo said. “That was something we talked about, him, for a freshman corner to be playing and play these teams that we’ve played. I mean, just his growth from Week 1.”

As Bobo pointed out, Ajayi’s first start was under fire as Hawaii threw the ball all over Canvas Stadium. Colorado threw it well, and while Arkansas mostly ran, the Gators were willing to put it in the air. He’s also learning the passing schemes are more diverse, and in that regard, Bobo said his size (5foot10, 175) is not allowing him to be as physical as he needs to be when converging on the corner and breaking up screens.

What he does have is technique, which V.J. Banks thinks is the best in the corner room right now. The Fairburn, Ga., product has registered one pass breakup and forced a fumble through four games, and his attention to detail borders on obsessivecompulsive.

“His technique, his confidence and his even keel is great, and his body will catch up,” Banks said. “He’s very detailedoriented. He’s always asking what routes did you get here, what sneak bits are you seeing, is a wide receiver giving up a route or a run. It’s little details, and being detailed oriented already is really good.”

Phillips was the first ESPN 300 recruit to sign with the program, considered to be the 12th best offensive guard in the nation, but the Rams saw the size of the Monroe, La., native (6foot1, 318 pounds) as a recipe for success at nose tackle. Besides, the Rams already had one Phillips on the offensive line, his brother, Joctavis.

Phillips sees constant double teams, but has one tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry, as well as a motor that constantly revs.

“Devin Phillips don’t want to come out. He’s not one of these Dlinemen that taps his head,” Bobo said. “Now, we’ve got to rest him a little bit more, but he’s getting better every week. I thought he did a good job Saturday. We got maybe one holding call, but he was straining where there could have been a couple more, and that was good to see.”

Now a defensive end in John Jancek’s scheme, Jones said Phillips has become a force.

“He does his job and tries his hardest. He will not give up,” Jones said. “It shows his heart. It gives me a comfortable sort of place to know he won’t give up on his. He’s going to try as hard as he can and make sure the team benefits.

“He can close down a gap in a heartbeat. He’s a big body, and he can move. He’s got a little bit of speed in that frame. He’s a package.”