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Injury knocks out CSU's Bell for season

Randy Holtz, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 31, 2006 at midnight

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After an upbeat preseason camp filled with optimism and good vibes, the Colorado State Rams now must regroup without their top running back.

Junior Kyle Bell, a preseason all-Mountain West Conference selection who ran for 1,288 yards as a sophomore last year, will miss the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee late in practice Tuesday.

Gartrell Johnson, a tough-running sophomore from Miami who has been terrific in preseason practice, will start at running back in CSU's opener against Weber State on Saturday at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium (3 p.m., The mtn.).

Moving to No. 2 on the depth chart is sophomore Michael Myers, a converted defensive back from Riverside, Calif.

"Certainly, I feel bad for our football team," coach Sonny Lubick said after practice Wednesday. "But more importantly, I feel bad for Kyle. He's not only a good player, but a great kid. He's one of those special kids that does everything you ask of him. He's a great team player and a great leader."

Bell, who traveled to his hometown of Keenesburg to be with his family Wednesday, played as a true freshman two years ago and will be able to redshirt this season and have two years of eligibility remaining. He will have surgery to repair the ligament in the next few weeks.

The injury happened on one of the last plays of Tuesday's practice when a defensive back hit Bell during a running drill.

Bell lay on the ground for a couple of minutes, then got up and walked on his own.

He said after practice he thought the injury was only a bruise, but tests Wednesday confirmed the ACL was torn.

Johnson, meanwhile, said he's ready for his increased role.

"I'm sad for Kyle. I'm just shocked. He's such a great guy," said Johnson, who redshirted in 2004 and ran for 26 yards on 11 carries in spot duty last season. "But I'm excited to go on the field and prove that I have talent. I already knew I was going to play, so I won't be that nervous."

Johnson, who experienced fumbling problems last season as a backup to Bell, has held onto the ball well throughout preseason camp, and running backs coach Mick Delaney is high on the powerful, 6-foot, 225-pound back.

"He's done everything you can possibly do to work on his skills and his body," Delaney said. "He's doing the whole deal. He's catching the ball, pass blocking, making great cuts."

Bell's injury prompted the move of UCLA transfer Nnamdi Ohaeri back to offense to provide depth. Ohaeri, who played cornerback with UCLA but came to CSU as a running back, had been working at safety during the spring and summer.

Also, Delaney said senior Tristan Walker, who has bulked up to 255 pounds and was working as CSU's No. 1 blocking back when the Rams use a two-back look, will be in the mix for playing time behind Johnson.

Other candidates include redshirt freshman Alex Square and true freshman John Mosure.

Lubick told the team of the injury during the regular prepractice gathering Wednesday afternoon, saying the players were "sad and upset."

"Some guys have to step up, and I believe they will," Lubick said. "I really believe people will rally."

TV TALK: The mtn., the new CSTV-owned network that will televise Mountain West football games and other conference events, debuts on Comcast digital cable Channel 411 on Friday night. The network will carry the CSU-Weber State game live, then the New Mexico-Portland State game at 6:30 p.m.

Also, it was announced Wyoming-based Bresnan Communications has reached an agreement to carry The mtn. on its digital cable system in Wyoming and parts of Colorado.

Five Wyoming football games are on the network's schedule this season.

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