Fountain a pipeline for players for CSU-Pueblo
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Six former Trojans attempt to make their mark with T-Wolves
By JOE E. CERVI, THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
Brandon Gray has the distinct honor of scoring the first touchdown in 24 years for Colorado State University-Pueblo.
Of course, it was on a cold Wednesday morning in April, during a scrimmage. But it was the first score in through five practices - and nearly a quarter-century - for the ThunderWolves.
"That was pretty exciting because we needed something (positive) on offense," said Gray, who took a handoff the distance Wednesday morning at Dutch Clark Stadium as part of spring practices for the resurgent program.
"We've got a lot of talent on offense; we just need to work harder," he added.
Gray is one of six former Fountain Fort-Carson High School players on the ThunderWolves' spring roster. David Massullo is getting strong consideration at wide receiver; Jerry McWilliams, recently moved to defensive end from linebacker, has made plays every day this spring; Jamaal Johnson continues to run with the first unit at cornerback; Nick Martinez switched from wide receiver to linebacker; and Brandon Johnson is trying to make the squad at fullback.
Joining those six in the fall are quarterback Will Paddock and defensive lineman Mellus Carney, two players who will graduate from FFC this spring.
"They're calling this Fountain University," Gray said about his teammates. "There are a lot of us that played together up there. This is a beautiful thing they got down here."
Unlike the other five already in camp, Gray had no idea CSU-Pueblo was a first-year program.
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"To be honest, I didn't know there never wasn't football here," he said. "I went to Fountain as a sophomore, then moved to Kansas for two years. I tried the (Air Force) prep school for a semester but that wasn't for me."
All six of the current T-Wolves took different paths to CSU-Pueblo from Fountain. McWilliams began his career at Fort Hays (Kan.) before transferring to Glendale (Ariz.) Community College.
"Man, if this would've been here when I was in high school, I would've come here first," said McWilliams, who graduated from FFC in 2004. "This is exciting stuff. It's 25 minutes from my house."
McWilliams played two years in Glendale, winning a national championship in 2005.
"We've got a lot of improving to do here," McWilliams said. "Everybody's working hard, but there is a long way to go before we can even talk about being ready to play a game."
Massullo played at a small school in West Virginia, Johnson transferred from CSU-Fort Collins and Martinez transferred from Western State.
ThunderWolves head coach John Wristen said Fountain has turned out to be a convenient pipeline for players.
"It's only 10 more minutes to Fountain than it is to Pueblo West, so it's like it's in our back yard," Wristen said. "It's been a great resource for us."
Johnson is the son of Fountain head football coach Mitch Johnson. The coach/dad played for the then-University of Southern Colorado. He was a kicker who still holds a school record with a 55-yard field goal against Adams State in 1975.
His son is working at fullback, attempting to carry on the legacy.
"I love listening to his stories," Brandon Johnson said. "More than anything I want to be a part of something he used to be a part of."
NOTES: Wristen said the offense looked better Wednesday and that practice, in general, was better than Tuesday. "We got a lot of teaching in, and that's good.". . .Practice today begins at 7 a.m. while Sunday's practice begins at 3 p.m. All practices are free and open to the public.
