Trial By Fire Has Turned into Experience

A sword has two edges. The goal is to do the cutting, not get sliced.

In 2025, the bad side of the blade is what Colorado State's defensive line felt throughout the season. Starter Gabe Jones was injured after one half of football. Mukendi Wa-Kalonji lasted three games. By the end of the campaign, nine players had started on a three-man front unit.

Jack Moran and Keegan Shank were youngsters who suddenly had their game reps expand. Moran played in all 12 games, started seven and finished with 27 stops. Shank played in 10 with eight stops, also missing the final two games.

Kenny McClendon is looking forward to utilizing the other side of the blade this season.

"They were riddled with a couple of injuries, so it was able to allow guys to step up and showcase what they can do. So now with us getting back healthy, getting us to where we need to be, now what it does is it deepens the room," said McClendon, the defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator. "So now if the room is deeper, now guys have the chance to play maybe harder, maybe a little more limited snaps, and then now we get overall better snaps from everybody in the room.

"But we feel very confident where the depth is right now."

It was frustrating for a veteran such as Wa-Kalonji to go through. It brings him back for a final run – his sixth in a CSU uniform – and a chance to finish strong. Strength is what he sees all around him.

Reinforcements come in the form of transfers and those exiting the training room, as well as a few freshmen.

"I would say the depth feels amazing. Almost everybody could be interchangeable," Wa-Kalonji said. "Ones, twos, and threes … Everybody's just as good, so it's really a good thing to see that the room has depth. So God forbid someone does go down, it would just be the next person up and it won't be a drop in skill level at all."

After spring camp and through the early stages of fall, McClendon is convinced the ability is on hand to halt running games and fluster passers, but the best part for him is the way they are attacking each and every practice. Not just on the field, but in the weight room and how the unit takes steps to take care of themselves post workout.

It's a mindset, one which he says Jim Mora and co-defensive coordinator each stress, messaging echoed by every member of the coaching staff. Improve on Monday, but make Tuesday even better, then follow the script through the week.

In short: Be a better version of yourself.

Moran is living the mantra in camp, but it's a familiar tale for him, having done it last year. Each week, his responsibility grew, and the advancement of his game was clear by the end of his first full year of play.

He flipped the blade in real time, then he came in this season ready to learn from a new instructor.

"It was an unfortunate time. We didn't have very much depth last year, but it gave me an opportunity to play more and really develop my game," Moran said. "It was hard, but we were able to get it done.

"I like Coach Kenny a lot. He goes into a lot of depth with things, and he's helped me develop a lot as a player mentally and physically, I feel like, a lot. Definitely my pass rush more because I never used to think about it. I was always a young guy, but now Coach really opened my mind up, I would say, to the world of pass rush football, coverages, that type of stuff."

With the feeling of strength in numbers, McClendon has the opportunity to use them in a manner he feels is best for the defense overall. It's really no different than in other rooms, as the best will play and dictate for how long.

Every player is expected produce max effort while on the field.

"Our thing is we want guys being able to play as hard as humanly possible. One of the biggest pillars in this program that Coach talks about is your effort, and if you're not able to play with 100% effort, well then, we need to get someone in to play with 100% effort," McClendon said. "Now what that looks like, some people have a bigger gas tank than others, but our thing is we just want to play with unbelievable effort as hard as humanly possible, and we feel comfortable with the depth that if someone needs a break, we have another guy to come in with 100% effort."

The past season was a trying time for Colorado State's defensive line, particularly in the moment. Months later and a mental refresh, the collective can look back and see the results. A lot of players grew exponentially, and as a whole, the links in the chain are much stronger.

Tough times can direct people down certain paths. Wa-Kalonji is confident his group chose the right one.

"I feel like the number one thing about the D-line room is that we always grow together. No matter what, when times get tough, everybody always sticks together, always sticks out together," he said. "We're always there for each other."

So they enter the opener wielding blades they feel have been strengthened in the fire and sharpened by lessons past.

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