Roullier and Rush center Wyoming's new-look offensive line

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) - One's a senior whose name can be found on both the Mountain West preseason all-conference team and the Outland Trophy watch list.

The other was in high school just a few months ago.

Chase Roullier and Gavin Rush might make for an odd couple, but they've wasted no time in getting acquainted this fall camp.

Rush, a true freshman, was recently promoted to first-string left guard after Roullier was moved to center.

Indications are, barring any changes, they'll be starting alongside one another come Sept. 3.

It's not common to see an offensive lineman get significant first-team minutes as a true freshman.

"I don't know if I would've expected to come in here" and start, Rush said. "It was just something that happened. I was working hard trying to learn the offense, and I'm really grateful that it worked out that way."

But Rush isn't a typical college freshman. The Aurora (Nebraska) High School product is listed at 6-foot-3 and 301 pounds.

"He came in very big," Roullier said. "A lot of times that's the main reason why you don't get a lot of true freshmen playing. They don't have the size. But he came at already 300 pounds. ... It allowed him to be capable to play at this level right off the bat."

And he's not just brawn that has allowed Rush to thrive so early.

"Also his mind," Roullier said. "Not everyone is able to learn an offense in two weeks, and he's done a very good at doing that."

The secret, Rush said, is taking extensive notes.

"I've never done it before and I think it is helping me," he said.

It's a strategy stressed by offensive line coach Scott Fuchs.

"There's actually a quote in the back of our room saying how taking notes is like a double dose of memory," Roullier said. "So Fuchs really reiterates that we take notes in meetings, especially those young guys that are really going to have to reference those notes throughout the season."

Roullier has taken practice reps at center every year at Wyoming and has some game experience at the position as well.

"I've always felt comfortable snapping the ball," he said. "It's just a matter of getting used to the defensive lineman being about two feel closer than where he was at guard.

"It seems like kind of a minor thing, but it's something that I just kind of have to get used to, because I don't have as much time once that ball is snapped to get on that defensive lineman. He's right in my face right away."

Roullier did have a botched snap in Wyoming's first scrimmage that led to a defensive touchdown, but he said it was just a miscommunication. He's "always felt comfortable" snapping the ball, be it under center or in shotgun formation.

"I've had no issue just kind of getting in there and throwing a good gun snap even when I wasn't getting reps at it in the past," he said. "So being able to get constant reps at it I think has helped maintain my accuracy back there."

Roullier is the only senior in Wyoming's starting five. That experience allows him to shift positions on the line more easily.

That's a valuable asset to have, Fuchs said.

"I don't believe it's one of those things, you know, 'jack of all trades, master of none,'" Fuchs said. "I think this is more of a deal (that) we do a lot of similar stuff no matter what position you're playing."

Plus, there's an added comfort level having each play start with a senior's hand on the ball.

"It's kind of like a catcher," head coach Craig Bohl said. "A lot of the stuff starts there. A lot of the assignments are similar. Guards and centers are a little bit more interchangeable as far as their assignments as opposed to tackles, but nonetheless a little bit of a learning curve there."

While left tackle has the reputation as the star position among offensive linemen, the Cowboys' offense requires strength at every spot.

"It might be a little bit different than what people are used to because there is so much pulling," Roullier said. "It might be that guard or that center, because center's pulling a lot in this offense as well. ... I think in this offense it kind of equals out the importance of a lot of different positions on the O-line."

There are multiple reasons for Wyoming fans to be optimistic about Roullier's position shift.

For one, it indicates just how impressive Rush has been early. His quick adjustment to the college level has forced the Wyoming staff to consider him as a starter.

"Sometimes it's not the five best players but the five best players that can play together the best," Bohl said, "and that's kind of what we're looking at as well."

For the moment at least, that leaves out Du'Ryan Ebbensen, who entered fall camp as the starting center and has yet to play a down at Wyoming.

"Not to minimize Du'Ryan's progress," Bohl said. "He's been on the scout team four years. He's on scholarship now. But those are critical decisions that we're accountable for as coaches."

And then there's the reason Bohl's most excited about.

Roullier is an elite lineman with a legitimate chance at continuing his career in the NFL. For him to switch positions his senior year sends a message to the rest of the team.

"Well, that's what you're beginning to see with our entire football team. It's a lot less about, 'What's in it for me?' but it's about, 'What can I do to help the team?'" Bohl said. "... There's a cultural change occurring, and that's an overused term, but in the locker room there's a cultural change."

Rush added: "It's almost humbling to me that he's that gracious to do it, and he's done it without complaining at all."

And don't worry, it's not like Roullier's NFL dreams have been sacrificed for the sake of the team.

In fact, this shift might just be the start of a long career at center.

"From what I've heard, I kind of have the body type for a center at the next level, anyway," Roullier said. "So I think that even though I've played guard throughout my two or three years, whatever it's been, I think they've been looking at me at center a lot, and so if anything I think it could actually help that a little bit.

"Obviously, I've just got to continue to get better, because it's not a position I'm entirely comfortable playing right off the bat. I need to continue to get better and be able to dominate out there."

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Information from: Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, http://www.trib.com