Jesse Nading does not want his class to be responsible for the reversal of fortunes in the Colorado State football program.

A not-so-good reversal of fortunes.

After compiling 10 consecutive winning seasons from 1994 to 2003, the Rams' once smooth-sailing ship has taken a major detour into murky waters.

Once synonymous with success, CSU has posted a sub-.500 mark two of the past three seasons, including last season, when it closed the season on a seven-game losing streak.

Nading, a 6-foot-5, 260-pound senior defensive end from ThunderRidge High School, endured losing campaigns in his freshman and junior seasons and has had enough.

"My thing is, I want to win this year, and my role on the team is to pressure the quarterback and play well on defense, which will have to happen if we're going to be successful," Nading said. "I don't like to talk about numbers and stuff like that, but I'm excited for the year."

As practice begins today (8:25 a.m., CSU campus), many are pinning the Rams' hopes on the return to form of running back Kyle Bell, who missed all of last season because of a right knee injury.

But Nading, 22, said Bell isn't the only reason fans might witness the Rams playing significant games in late November.

"You can't underestimate our experience," Nading said. "We have a lot of guys who have played a lot of games, but we haven't won a lot. So we've got guys who are really hungry to get those wins and get back to CSU football, expecting to win and having that attitude and that swagger that we used to have out there."

Leadership role

Nading, named to the preseason all-conference team by Mountain West Conference media, won't try to rationalize or make excuses for last season's tailspin, which left the Rams 4-8 overall and 1-7 in the Mountain West after a 4-1 start.

In fact, he went as far as to assume responsibility that a similar unraveling will not unfold.

"A lot of that lays on our leadership," he said. "We have a lot better idea this year of what we need to do and how to handle success. We started 4-1 and had a couple injuries and a couple road bumps, but there's no excuse to lose seven straight. We need to handle adversity a little better, and I think what we went through last year will help us with that."

Nading undoubtedly has the trust of his peers and defensive line coach Jesse Williams to be the type of leader the cautiously optimistic Rams need.

"He's a kid of a few words, but he leads by example," said Williams, who switched to offensive line coach in the spring but now is back for his ninth season on defense. "He dots the I's and crosses T's, and for him to be voted as captain by his teammates every game as a junior, it speaks volumes."

Quest for wins

Nading has transformed from a 195-pound freshman - "The only running he did in high school was past the weight room," Williams quipped - to a rock-solid frame at least 65 pounds heavier and more the prototypical defensive lineman.

Now the former three-sport high school athlete - he was a starting post player in basketball and a pitcher - hopes his team can beef up similarly in the wins category.

While the return of Bell isn't the only reason for high expectations, it is a big factor. He rushed for 1,288 yards in 2005, but without him last season, the Rams ground game became so pitiful it ranked 113th out of 119 Division I-A teams.

CSU managed only 918 yards on the ground on a meager 2.47 yards a carry.

"You can't underestimate Kyle's value, but people forget that we were 4-1 last year, even without him," Nading said. "We have plenty of talent."

While most eyes will be on Bell, who will take part in contact drills today for the first time since tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament on the third-to-last practice before the 2006 opener, several other Rams appear to be on the verge of a breakout season.

Among them are Nading, mobile quarterback Caleb Hanie and defensive back Klint Kubiak.

Perhaps the most notable, though, is tight end Kory Sperry.

"Now he's about 255 to 260, and he's made great strides during the offseason," Rams coach Sonny Lubick said in a news release.

"He's made himself a great football player, and he has a chance to be, physically, the best tight end we've ever had at CSU."

Wanted: fast start

The Rams were picked to finish sixth in the conference media poll and fifth by Congrove Computer Rankings, an NCAA-wide program that projected the Rams to finish 6-6, 4-4.

It is worth noting the computer has overrated the Rams the past four seasons and six of the past seven.

The program forecasts 2005 MWC champion Texas Christian to reclaim the crown and finish 11-1, one game better than reigning champion Brigham Young.

While CSU knows who the conference front-runners are, the Rams are aiming to get off to a strong start in the nonconference schedule, as they did last season.

The Rams open against Colorado (Sept. 1, Invesco Field at Mile High) and also face California and Houston before conference play begins Sept. 29 at TCU.

Encouraging for CSU is the Rams' two conference rivalry games will be played at Hughes Stadium.

Air Force travels to Fort Collins on Oct. 13 and the Rams welcome border rival Wyoming for the regular-season finale Nov. 23.

"Those games are back and forth so much and there's so much emotion, that to have the home crowd behind you, it can play a big part in those rivalry games," Nading said.

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