At the 2025 Mountain West Media Days in Las Vegas, Colorado State didn’t just show up—they showed out with confidence, purpose, and a belief that last year was only the beginning. Represented by junior quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and senior defensive end Mukendi Wa-Kalonji, the Rams arrived at the Circa Resort & Casino ready to embrace expectations.
Coming off an eight-win season—CSU’s best since 2015—the Rams secured rivalry trophies against Air Force and Wyoming and fell just shy of a Mountain West Championship appearance. According to Fowler-Nicolosi, that near-miss has fueled everything this offseason.
“We had a taste of success last season, but we want to keep building and have even more this year,” Fowler-Nicolosi said.
Offseason Fueled by “Organized Chaos”
To sharpen their edge, CSU’s offseason focused on preparing players for unpredictable, high-pressure moments. Wa-Kalonji explained that coaches placed the team in intentionally confusing situations during practice to force quick thinking and execution.
“They expect us to be confused but still execute and do what we need to do,” Wa-Kalonji said.
For Fowler-Nicolosi, these drills are designed to make in-game chaos feel familiar.
“The goal is just to succeed in organized chaos,” he said. “Come game time, it might not be the exact same, but it’s a little more second nature.”
Fowler-Nicolosi’s Leadership Growth at the Manning Passing Academy
Fowler-Nicolosi also credited his time at the Manning Passing Academy for helping shape his leadership, noting that the experience was as much about maturity as mechanics.
“It was so awesome to be surrounded by so much talent and knowledge—from legends and Hall of Famers to college quarterbacks,” he said.
One standout moment: a tap on the shoulder from Jon Gruden, which Fowler-Nicolosi recalled with a laugh.
“It was a pretty iconic voice. I turned around, and it’s Jon Gruden. I was like, ‘Well, that’s cool.’”
The lessons extended beyond the field.
“It was a lot of the mental side—how to carry yourself, handle situations, stay calm, cool, and collected,” he added.
Defensive Line Leadership and the Arrival of “Donut”
Wa-Kalonji enters the season as the Rams’ only returning starter on the defensive line. He’s embracing his leadership role, drawing inspiration from former teammates like Henry Blackburn and Jack Howell.
“I like to lead by example,” he said. “I want to be more disruptive—more pass rush, more sacks, more TFLs—and be that player offenses are scared of.”
He’ll get help up front from Chuckhas “Donut” Evans, a transfer from Baylor via Western Kentucky who boasts 19 tackles for loss and 12 sacks from his previous stops.
“He’s really high energy, really high motor,” Wa-Kalonji said. “I ask him for pass rush moves—because we call him old—so he’s got all the moves.”
Deep Running Back Room and Offensive Weapons
Colorado State’s backfield is another area of strength. Fowler-Nicolosi didn’t hold back when asked about returning running back Justin Marshall:
“Stud. That kid is an animal.”
Marshall is joined by Jaylen Dupree, a power runner, and Lloyd Von Braeden, creating a trio of backs that Norvell has called his best yet.
There’s also excitement around the tight end position, long a hallmark of CSU football. Ricky Ward, a transfer from FIU with local Colorado ties, pairs with returning tight end Jack Ward to form a dynamic duo.
“We’ve got two big threats at tight end,” Fowler-Nicolosi said. “That’s going to expand the offense and lead to some pretty cool opportunities.”
Secondary Strength and Defensive Aggression
Defensively, CSU is upgrading the secondary with transfers Jerry Rodgers (SMU), C.J. Walker (Utah), and Lamar Drake-Joe (Missouri State). Wa-Kalonji noted that their coverage ability will free the defensive line to create havoc.
“They’ve been covering really well, so it allows us to have ‘coverage sacks.’ We can be way more disruptive.”
That aggression is exactly why Norvell hired defensive coordinator Tyson Summers.
“His scheme puts me in a lot of good positions to cause havoc,” Wa-Kalonji said.
Rivalry Trophies, Fan Energy, and 2025 Expectations
Last season’s wins over Air Force and Wyoming delivered the Ram-Falcon Trophy and Bronze Boot back to Fort Collins. Both players know how much that means to the program.
“The history behind those trophies goes way back,” Fowler-Nicolosi said. “It means so much—not just to us, but to alumni, former coaches, and Ram Nation.”
Wa-Kalonji added,
“We sweat blood for those trophies. We’re going to try to keep them.”
The Rams’ home environment is growing too. Canvas Stadium saw four sellouts last season, something that wasn’t common when Wa-Kalonji was a freshman.
“Now we’re expecting fans to come out to every single home game,” he said.
CSU’s 2025 schedule includes an opening trip to Washington, followed by home games against Northern Colorado, UTSA, and Washington State. The Rams are on a mission to prove last season was no fluke.
“We know exactly what it feels like and exactly what we want,” Fowler-Nicolosi promised. “Ram Nation is going to get all we got—and it should be pretty fun to watch.”
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