Colorado State football all-time depth chart: Offensive line - Loveland Reporter-Herald

Explosive receivers and play-making running backs are always ideal. But without a formidable offensive front, boasting a multifaceted, all-around lethal offense is nearly impossible.

The difference between Colorado State’s decent offenses and elite offenses over the years certainly pertains to efficacy in the trenches. After all, though the Rams didn’t struggle to light up the scoreboard with Patrick O’Brien under center last season, CSU undeniably lacked proper production for the first-year starter.

When gunslingers such as Bradlee Van Pelt, Garret Grayson and Nick Stevens were commanding ship, it was an entirely different story as the Rams’ sturdy offensive lines significantly influenced nationally prominent offenses.

Without further ado, the Reporter-Herald presents a glance at the Rams’ offensive line in the second edition of our CSU all-time depth chart series.

Tackle

Starter: Ty Sambrailo (2011-2014)

Similar to current contributor Barry Wesley, Sambrailo demonstrated remarkable versatility upon chipping in at both tackle and guard positions as an underclassman. Though he was capable of pulling his weight wherever needed, the multifaceted lineman truly thrived once permanently settling in at left guard as a junior. While superbly protecting proficient gunslinger Garret Grayson, Sambrailo started all of the Rams’ contests in 2013 en route to receiving second-team All-Mountain West Conference distinction. He followed up his dominant junior campaign a year later by accruing 60-plus knockdown blocks and cracking the All-Mountain West first team.

Backup: Kevin Call (1980-1983)

Call certainly satisfied lofty expectations after arriving at CSU as an in-state high school All-American. Needing no time to adjust to the collegiate level, the touted tackle began operating as a starter during his freshman season. He never relinquished the primary role on his way to earning All-Western Athletic Conference honors as a senior –– which was only the beginning of the Boulder native’s prominent success. Call went on to start 87 games for the Indianapolis Colts amid a decade-long professional tenure.

Guard

Starter: Anthony Cesario (1995-1998)

There really isn’t any question as to who represents the best guard in CSU history. Cesario stands as the Rams’ only offensive lineman to acquire All-American distinction on back-to-back occasions (1997, 1998). Despite an underwhelming redshirt freshman campaign, the eventual NFL draft selectee went on to amass 37 consecutive starts and crack a pair of All-WAC first teams. Specializing in pummeling opposing defensive lineman, Cesario accrued a single-season most 64 pancake blocks as a senior in 1998.

Backup: Mike Brisiel (2002-2005)

Slowly but surely, Brisiel emerged as a potent force in the trenches at Hughes Stadium. Everything seemed to click for the lineman as an upperclassman upon receiving an all-conference honorable mention in 2004 and then becoming an All-Mountain West member as a senior in 2005. Brisiel’s two authoritative campaigns provided him an NFL opportunity, which he surely took advantage of while drawing 77 starts in seven seasons.

Reporter-Herald file photo

Weston Richburg was a second round draft pick of the New York Giants in 2014.

Center

Starter: Weston Richburg (2010-2013)

For good reason, Richburg became the first CSU alumnus selected in the second round or earlier of an NFL draft in nearly three decades. The New York Giants called the hefty lineman’s name with 2014’s 43rd overall pick following a collegiate career that Richburg began with a first-team freshman All-American campaign (2010) before notching All-Mountain West honors twice (2011, 2013). Redefining consistent, the center never missed a game in four years upon setting a program record with 50 consecutive starts. While frequently serving as a captain, Richburg also led a dominant Rams’ offensive front in knockdown blocks over his final two campaigns, including 54 in 2013.

Backup: Mike Newell (1995-1998)

Though Newell played five NFL seasons, it’s notable if not outrageous that no professional franchise drafted the three-year focal point of CSU’s offensive line. Newell found his niche at center in 1996 en route to accumulating 36 starts in the middle after playing guard as a freshman. The 2015 CSU Hall of Fame inductee obtained first-team All-WAC recognition to conclude his career in light of contributing to a line that didn’t surrender a sack for the second consecutive campaign in 1998.

Guard

Starter: Zack Golditch (2014-2017)

Golditch got his feet wet in 2015 as a second-stringer, and it certainly paid off moving forward as the Aurora native started in 38 of 39 games over the next three seasons. Notably, Golditch maintained primary duties over arguably the best three-campaign span in the history of CSU’s offensive line –– highlighted by the unit ranking fifth in the FBS in sacks allowed per game in 2017 (1.0). The guard earned first-team All-Mountain West status in 2017 before enjoying cups of coffee in the NFL and short-lived XFL.

Backup: Shelley Smith (2006-2009)

If not for a pair of rhythm-busting injuries during the latter stages of his career, Smith would undoubtedly gain more praise for his efforts at guard. With only three games as a backup under his belt, the young lineman unanticipatedly climbed the depth chart and started in all of CSU’s games as a redshirt sophomore in 2007. While retaining his central role at weakside guard, Smith built off the promising year and leaped onto the All-Mountain West second-team in 2008.

Although, after suffering his first of multiple significant ankle injuries in 2008, the lineman’s ability to stay healthy steadily declined. Smith performed well as a senior in 2009, but another ankle impairment forced him out of three contests and inhibited him from satisfying preseason all-conference expectations. Still, even with the ailments –– which quickly derailed his professional tenure –– Smith dominated when he was on the field for the Rams.

Tackle

Starter: Erik Pears (2001-2004)

Following in his brother Morgan’s footsteps, Erik Pears solidified himself as an immovable presence in the early 2000s. After starting alongside Morgan up front in the 2002 Liberty Bowl, Erik Pears substantially elevated his caliber of play as an upperclassman prior to a prosperous NFL career. The Utah native graduated from CSU with two consecutive first-team All-Mountain West campaigns to his name (2003, 2004).

Backup: Morgan Pears (1999-2002)

The older lineman of the Pears family notably blossomed as a senior before a brief professional stint with the New York Giants at tackle. Aiding a competent Rams’ offense amid a 10-4 season, Pears rose to the occasion throughout his final collegiate campaign en route to rightfully seizing both first-team All-Mountain West prestige and second-team All-American glory in 2002.

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