Behind Enemy Lines: Q&A with Colorado State expert

Who are three Ram players that Michigan fans should know about?

Redshirt freshman quarterback Clay Millen is one of a dozen players who transferred from Nevada to CSU to follow Norvell, is the unquestioned starter, and he knows the offense after having been in Norvell’s/Mumme’s system at Nevada last season as a true freshman. He’s 6-3, 210 lb, has a good arm, and seems mature and poised for his age. The coaches have expressed a lot of confidence in him. But he has only thrown three passes in his brief college career. Making his first career start at the Big House is a tall order.

Junior wide receiver Tory Horton: (6-2, 180 lb) is another one of the key Nevada transfers and he is the unquestioned No. 1 target in this offense. He had 72 receptions for 995 yards and 10 touchdowns in 21 games for Nevada. He has some speed, can get open, and has soft hands. Ram fans are expecting him to be the next great receiver at CSU to add to a list of guys currently in the NFL such as Michael Gallup (Dallas), Bisi Johnson (Minnesota), and Rashard Higgins (Carolina), as well as Preston Williams and Warren Jackson who both had brief stints in the NFL. (Not to mention, second-round draft pick TE Trey McBride who went to the Arizona Cardinals.)

Redshirt freshman punter Paddy Turner, part of the trifecta of Nevada transfers, unusually was named a team captain last week. He will likely see plenty of action Saturday while an inexperienced Ram offense tries to figure out how to sustain drives. He is replacing one of the best punters CSU has ever had in Ryan Stonehouse, who just won the Tennessee Titans starting job. Turner is an Aussie with a big leg but hasn’t yet kicked a ball in his college career. (His dad was a professional Australian Rules Football player in the Australian Football League from 1991 to 1999.) Turner will need to have a mistake-free debut and help dictate the field position game vs. the Wolverines.