Millen “understands how to use the offense”
FORT COLLINS » Colorado State quarterback Clay Millen dropped back to pass and unloaded a perfect spiral more than 50 yards down the sideline.
Spring game touchdowns don’t count for much. But it appears the deep ball, finally, is alive and well for the new- look Rams. Millen’s long bomb to wide receiver Tory Horton was a breath of fresh air on a blustery Saturday afternoon at Canvas Stadium.
“I knew I had a little bit of wind at my back,” Millen said. “My mindset was literally to just try to underthrow it by like two yards and let the wind kind of push it a little bit. It happened to work out really well. I don’t think I’ve played in as much wind as I had right there.”
Millen — a four- star recruit ( via 247Sports) from Snoqualmie, Wash. — appeared in only two games as a true freshman last season at Nevada. He followed Jay Norvell to Fort Collins when he took the CSU head coaching job and Millen entered spring camp as the presumed QB1.
It’s no surprise when you consider the roster Norvell inherited. Former starting quarterback Todd Centeio transferred to FCS James Madison and 2021 signee Evan Olaes is coming off a redshirt year. But Millen still needed to earn the trust of new teammates and coaches in establishing a leadership role with the Rams.
“Clay is a really smart player. He’s kind of your thinking man’s quarterback,” Norvell said. “He understands how to use the offense and he’s just really starting to feel comfortable playing.”
Millen took another step forward in the spring game completing 22 of 33 passes for 292 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. The 6- foot- 3, 200pound redshirt freshman was efficient in moving the football despite strong winds throughout the game.
Norvell’s Air Raid offense flourished at Nevada last season with 4,500 yards passing and 38 touchdowns with NFL- bound quarterback Carson Strong leading the way. Compare that to the Rams’ offense from one year ago: 3,020 yards passing and 15 touchdowns. Better days are likely ahead for CSU’S passing attack.
“I haven’t arrived or anything,” Millen said. “I got to learn from one of the best quarterbacks in the entire country last season with Carson. Just being in meetings with him every single day. … I’ve been able to learn ( the offense) and just get comfortable with the guys. All of the receivers out there are doing a great job.” Drew Kulick shines. The surprise breakout defender from CSU spring football? Redshirt freshman linebacker Drew Kulick.
The Regis Jesuit graduate made his presence felt Saturday from the very first series. Kulick dropped back in coverage, jumped an underneath route and
intercepted backup quarterback Giles Pooler.
“I’m just grateful for the coaches we have and the scheme they put together,” Kulick said. “They put me into good positions to succeed. … I was just getting to my landmark, worked off the QB’S eyes and I broke on the ball.”
Kulick was a dominating force for Regis with 110 tackles and six sacks over his final two high school seasons. He was a threestar recruiting prospect ( via 247Sports) who chose the Rams over scholarship offers from Butler
and San Diego. Kulick is now pushing for a prominent role at CSU this season.
“Drew does a good job. He’s an athletic guy. He can run. He’s done a really good job of learning what we’re asking him to do,” Norvell said. “He’s a guy that’s going to probably get a chance to play quite a bit in the fall. It’s a position that we want to see play better.”