CSU Prospects

Time to start a thread on another team. CSU OOC games are Colorado, Nevada, Idaho and Miami-Ohio. Last year they went 3-1 then 0 for the conference.



Rivals.com: CSU's class best on Front Range, No. 4 in MWC A 59 ranking.

The 2010 class is the highest-ranked group since Rivals began ranking team classes in the early 21st century.

Three of the Rams’ signees were ranked by Rivals.com in the nation’s top 25 at their respective positions.

Three Top 25s: Three signees were ranked in the nation’s top 25 at their positions by Rivals.com.

QB Pete Thomas from El Cajon, Calif., is No. 16 on the Web site’s list of top pro-style quarterbacks.

QB Garrett Grayson of Vancouver, Wash., is the No. 22 dual-threat QB in RB Tony Drake from Skyline High School in Dallas, Texas, is No. 8 on Rivals’list of all-purpose backs.

DT John Froland, from Snohomish, Wash., was the No. 60 defensivetackle in the country, according to the site.

Class Nation MWC Highest-rated signee Other notables

2010 59 4 QB Pete Thomas DT John Froland, RB Tony Drake

2009 T101 7 RB Leonard Mason (JC) RB Lou Greenwood

2008 T90 T4 OT Joe Caprioglio CB Momo Thomas

2007 T105 8 LB Luke Diehl LB Mychal Sisson, TE Eric Peitz



Raymond Carter, a UCLA transfer eligible this season who was ranked by Rivals as the country’s No. 3 all-purpose back out of Los Angeles’ Crenshaw High School in 2007.



TONY DRAKE

Running Back | 5-8 | 176 | Skyline High School; Dallas, Texas

High School: Rated the No. 8 all-purpose back in the nation and No. 53 overall prospect in talent-rich Texas by Rivals.com…Called by Tom Lemming (USA Today Super 25) the No. 25 tailback/slotback in the country…A three-year starter for a perennial state power, Dallas Skyline (one of Texas’ largest high schools), played mostly as a running back, but also saw time as a wide receiver in his career, scoring more than 50 touchdowns…Helped the Raiders advance deep into the 64-team playoffs each of his final three seasons, including consecutive appearances (2007-08) in the regional final…An all-state honorable mention and second-team all-district choice in 2009, ran for 1,373 yards, averaging 8.6 yards per carry with 13 touchdowns, helping the 14-1 Raiders capture their district title and advance to the fourth round of the Texas 5A Division I playoffs…Ran for 126 yards and a touchdown in 41-36 playoff victory overDeSoto…Also registered 12 receptions for 119 yards in ‘09…One of 18 players in his senior class to receive a scholarship offer, joined Division I signees who will play at Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Air Force and Cal, among other schools, playing for a school that has produced several NFL players as well as gold-medalist sprinter Michael Johnson and former NBA all-star Larry Johnson…As a junior, was Skyline’s second-leading rusher, behind James White, an Iowa State signee and 1,000-yard rusher who earned consecutive all district selections in 2007-08…Had 429 yards on 55 carries (7.8 avg.) and seven catches for 73 yards in 2008, on a 12-2 team that fell just two games shy of the state title contest…The year before, 2007, was an all-district selection as a sophomore for a Skyline club that also reached the state’s Elite Eight… The Raiders’ second-leading receiver in ’07, combined for better than 1,800 rushing and receiving yards, averaging 10.5 yards per touch, and scored 32 touchdowns…Head football coach was Reginald Samples…Has 4.35-second speed in the 40-yard dash…Also recruited by Michigan, Boise State, Colorado, Kansas, Mississippi, TCU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Tulsa, Kansas State, Utah and Wake Forest.



PETE THOMAS

Quarterback | 6-5 | 220 | Valhalla High School; El Cajon, Calif.

High School: Rated the No. 6 pro-style QB in the nation by Tom Lemming (USA Today Super 25)…Also ranked by Rivals.com the country’s No. 16 pro-style quarterback and given four stars by both Rivals.com and Scout.com…Was Rivals’ No. 48 overall prospect from the state of California…A three-year starter, three-year captain and two-time team MVP at Valhalla High School in El Cajon, Calif., guided the Norsemen to a 19-5 record over his final two seasons…Combined over those junior and senior seasons, threw for 5,553 yards, 52 TDs and only 11 INTs, completing better than 66 percent of his passes to capture consecutive Grossmont South League Offensive Player of the Year honors, in both 2008 and ‘09…Including the last three games of his freshman year, started 36 games in a storied prep career, finishing with back-to-back first-team all-state recognition as a junior and senior…As a senior in 2009, guided the Norsemen to the first conference championship in the 34-year-old program’s history, and the first round of the CIF Division II state playoffs, completing 64 percent of his passes for 2,392 yards, 24 scores and only six INTs; also carried for six TDs…As a junior in 2008, threw for 3,161 yards, 28 touchdowns compared to five interceptions, and completed 68 percent of his passes in helping VHS advance to the San Diego section final at Qualcomm Stadium, where the 11-2 Norsemen lost to eventual Division II state bowl champion Cathedral…Also served as his team’s kicker, earning first-team all-league honors as a junior…Owns single-season and career VHS passing records for completions, completion percentage, yards and touchdowns, as well as career field goals…Selected first-team all-conference as a junior and senior, and second-team all-league as a sophomore…Earned sophomore all-state honors in 2007…Lettered four years in football, and two in baseball, where he played varsity ball as a freshman and sophomore before opting to concentrate on football…Played in the Jan. 2 Offense-Defense All-American Bowl in Myrtle Beach, S.C. …Head football coaches were Steve Slaton and Dave Hostetler…Has 4.9 speed in the 40-yard dash…Graduated one semester early with a 4.0 GPA, helping him earn San Diego Union-Tribune Scholar-Athlete award four times, and the publication’s Student-Athlete of the Year among prep football players in San Diego County after his senior year…Chose Colorado State over offers from Arizona State, Harvard, Boston College, Northwestern and Maryland.

http://www.csurams.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/020410aab.html

http://www.coachfair.colostate.edu/index2.asp A ton of videos and info if you want. Their coach has his own website. I wonder if the recruits like it. Anyway I learned their 4 star QB Thomas has enrolled spring term and will get a head start on trying to be the starter.

But do they have any receivers? TEs? or linebackers? Everybody gets good players. I'll go with our guys over anybody else.

I really think the dregs of the conference are starting to step it up in football and the MWC will start to see a lot more success out-of-conference the next couple of years. Both Fairchild and Locksley have landed some talented kids to build around and Coach Christensen has already done wonders up at Wyoming. I can only imagine that Hoke and Long will finally get SDSU competing here soon so the only real question mark in my opinion is what will happen with UNLV. If the MWC survives the expansion(s) unscathed I think we'll earn our BCS inclusion without any help from BSU or anyone else.

This could be the year that we have not FB teams ranked in the 100's. CSU did well OOC last year and then fell apart. We got 3 ranked teams. AF is close to getting there. If we could just get NM and CSU back to where they used to be, the conference would be ranked within the top 6.

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/19769/csus-fairchild-confident-in-teams-direction



Steve Fairchild is pretty sure the jury is still out his Colorado State Rams.



After winning seven games in 2008, the Rams started this past season 3-0 and proceeded to lose their final nine games. Fairchild doesn’t have a definitive reason for the slide, but he’s not convinced either season really defines his team.



“We won seven games that first year and I’m not sure we were that good of a football team,” Fairchild said. “We had a little bit of a skid this past season and I’m not sure we were that bad of a football team.



“I think the truth lies somewhere in between.”



Colorado State had a promising start after defeating rival Colorado at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo. Then it defeated Weber State and a struggling Nevada team. But then the wheels came off. The Rams were manhandled by BYU, suffered some injuries and never fully got back on track. They lost three games by two points or less.



“I knew when I took this job that it was going to be a minimum three or four-year type of deal where we’re going to have to change everything from recruiting to getting a little commitment from the administration in terms of facilities,” Fairchild said. “It’s just a process. I think we didn’t take as good of a step as we would have liked to last year, but I’m quite confident that we’re headed in the right direction.”



Despite the poor season, the Rams did manage to wrap up the best recruiting class since Fairchild took the job.



For the second consecutive season, the Rams will have a quarterback competition in the spring. Senior Jon Eastman, junior T.J. Borcky, redshirt freshman Nico Ranieri and incoming freshman Pete Thomas all will be competing. Thomas was one of the top recruits in the class and he’s the favorite to win the starting job.



The Rams added a couple new coaches. Fairchild named Pat Meyer offensive coordinator and brought back Dan Hammerschmidt, who worked with the Rams in the 90s, to help with the passing game. Fairchild also will be intimately involved with all aspects of the offense.



“It will be the same system,” Fairchild said. “We’ll always tweak it and do some self analysis in the offseason, but I’m kind of the offensive coordinator anyway, I call the plays.”



The Rams do return 92 percent of their rushing yards and only lost two starters on defense. The biggest question will be the offensive line, for which Fairchild felt confident the Rams could find suitable replacements.



“I’ve said all along here, ever since I took this job that it’s a process that’s going to take three or four years before we even get there,” Fairchild said. “We’ll stack a few recruiting classes in there and get the type of depth and speed and things that we need to compete. We didn’t arrive after that first year and we’re not there yet and we probably won’t be there after next year. But we’ve just got to keep working.”

Spring practice starts: March 25



Spring game: April 24



What to watch:



Quarterback seems to be the popular question for the Colorado State in the spring. This year, there’s much anticipation over early enrollee Pete Thomas. Thomas will challenge senior Jon Eastman, junior T.J. Borcky, and redshirt freshman Nico Ranieri. Borcky will also play wide receiver.

A year ago, the offensive line was a position of strength for the Rams, this year they’re trying to replace four starters and the only returner, tackle Paul Madsen, didn’t even start the entire seasons. Guard Jake Gdowski and tackle Mark Starr figure to be in the mix along with several redshirt freshmen and sophomores.

The defense should be a strength for the Rams this year. They lose just two starters and return 24 lettermen, including linebacker Ricky Brewer, who was an all-conference performer in 2008 but was suspended all of 2009.

Dan Hammerschmidt is returning to Colorado State.



The university announced Tuesday that Hammerschmidt is rejoining the staff as the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator. He spent last season coaching wide receivers and tight ends at Wyoming.



Hammerschmidt, who played at Colorado State from 1982-85, spent 13 seasons as an assistant coach with the Rams, coaching receivers, quarterbacks and sharing duties as an offensive coordinator. Fairchild and Hammerschmidt coached together from 1996-2000.



“He was a guy I kind of targeted at the top of the list and mainly because he’s a Colorado State grad, I worked with him and I know what I’m getting into,” Fairchild said during a phone interview. “He knows me. It seemed like the right fit. He’s familiar with almost everybody on our staff. It’s good to have him back on the staff.”



Fairchild lauded Hammerschmidt’s ability to coach receivers and to recruit. Fairchild also said that while he’ll still be the offensive coordinator, he looks forward to Hammerschmidt’s input on the passing game. Fairchild said Colorado State has no plans to change its offense, but that he’ll probably add knowledge from Hammerschmidt’s stops at Rice and Wyoming.



Wyoming head coach Dave Christensen issued a statement saying that he supported Hammerschmidt’s decision and that he understood that it was best for Hammerschmidt and his family.



“It’s a chance to come home for my family and me,” Hammerschmidt said. “It’s my alma mater, where I coached with Steve. But I also honestly believe this is the best time to be a Ram, with CSU’s new facilities, and the foundation Steve has put in place. The future of the program hasn’t been brighter than it is now.”

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/tag/_/name/colorado-state-rams

Just hired coach Stroud as their recruiter coordinator from Florida State.

I like what you're doing with these threads.



I really do hope that UNM and CSU capitalize on their good recruiting classes (plus SDSU, who did pretty good as well), and that Wyoming continues to show improvement this year, and AF maybe making a case for a MWC "big 4." I don't follow recruiting often, so I don't know how atypical this year was for the MWC as a whole, but I can't help but find it encouraging for the conference.



I think what's been frustrating about these conference expansion talks as of late is they neglect the fact that, for the last couple years, the MWC has been producing some honest-to-goodness great football. Our basement-dwellers may need to improve, sure, but its been fun watching Utah, TCU, BYU and AF (who played two of the big three down to the wire) duke it out. It stands in stark contrast to the usual BCS-busting team who maybe wins one or two good OOC games and then skates through conference play. (Think BSU last year, or even something like Marshall back in 2001 when they beat us in their bowl game.)



It would be nice if we could get some of the lower teams in the MWC to be on the same level Fresno State or Idaho were on this year; i.e. easily beatable by a solid team, but still able to rack up 7-8 wins and be bowl eligible.

Arizona State, which hesitates, is lost. And now Colorado State may have the quarterback who serves as the program’s foundation for coach Steve Fairchild.



Pete Thomas, a Rivals.com four-star recruit, originally committed to ASU but reportedly wavered when coach Dennis Erickson fired offensive coordinator Rich Olson and went through an extended search before naming Noel Mazzone as his successor.



That allowed CSU to swoop in and nab Thomas, a 6-foot-5, 220-pounder from El Cajon, Calif., who is already enrolled in school and will participate in spring practice.



Thomas’ arrival, however, meant the departure of quarterback Tyler Shreve, a three-star Rivals recruit who changed his commitment from Colorado State to Utah. The Rams still have Garrett Grayson, a quarterback from Vancouver, Wash., who will compete against Thomas.



CSU landed 28 players for its 2010 recruiting class, ranking fourth in the Mountain West Conference and 57th nationally, according to Rivals.com. More importantly, the Rams continued to make progress in Fairchild’s ongoing rebuilding project in Fort Collins, Colo.



“I think we’ll have a pretty good idea what this class is when they get here this summer and fall,” Fairchild was quoted as saying by the Fort Collins Coloradoan. “I’m excited about last year’s, and I think this one’s even better.”



The impact of the Rams’ meltdown in 2009—nine straight losses to end the season—was minimized by the fact that they had eight commitments for 2010 in October. CSU really helped itself at linebacker, grabbing three Rivals three-star recruits in Charles Favors, Marquis Hood and Eric Niederberger. The Rams also acquired three three-star defensive linemen in end Nordly Capi and tackles John Froland and Trevor Murphy.



CSU also mined the state of Florida heavily, landing 12 recruits, including athlete Bobby Borcky, who is the brother of Rams wide receiver T.J. Borcky.



Top Recruits:

• QB Pete Thomas, El Cajon, Calif.—Maxpreps.com ranks Thomas as the No. 6 pro-style quarterback in the country. Thomas threw for 5,553 yards with 52 TDs and just 11 season his past two seasons at Valhalla High School. He compiled a 19-5 record during his junior and senior seasons and played for the San Diego Section championship his junior year.



• LB Charles Favors, Orlando, Fla.—One of three CSU signees from Dr. Phillips High School, Favors is the No. 10 prospect in the Orlando Sentinel’s Central Florida Top 100, and the No. 82 prospect in Florida overall. He’s also Dr. Phillips’ all-time leader in tackles with 372. He had 132 his senior year.



• RB Tony Drake, Dallas—Drake originally committed to Michigan in March, but a lack of communication from the school led him to switch to CSU late last month. Drake, rated the No. 8 all-purpose back in the nation by Rivals, reportedly has run a 4.4-second 40, and he rushed for 1,376 yards with 13 TDs for Skyline High School.



• DB Mike Orakpo, Houston—The younger brother of current Washington Redskins and former Texas standout defensive end Brian Orakpo, is enrolled in school and part of the 2010 class. He committed to CSU last year but did not receive NCAA Clearinghouse approval in time for school.



Quote To Note: “None of these guys, right now, are good enough to help us win the Mountain West Conference championship. They’ve got to develop, and our coaches, a lot of them are here in this room, they’ve got to develop these guys. They need to be a lot better here in a year or two; that’s part of the job.”—Colorado State coach Steve Fairchild, in the Fort Collins Coloradoan, on the 2010 recruiting class.



STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL



2010 Look Ahead: The Rams have a lot of work to do on offense, returning just three starters. For the third time in coach Steve Fairchild’s three years, CSU must break in a new starting quarterback, which is why Pete Thomas’ signing and enrollment in January was critical for the program’s immediate future.



The Rams, however have to groom four new starting offensive linemen. Defensively, CSU has to stabilize the secondary, but SS Ivory Herd got some experience when now-departed Klint Kubiak was lost for the year.



The Rams have to find out who will take the reins at quarterback and whether Pete Thomas can put himself in a position to lead the team in 2010. CSU has not had a clear front-runner at quarterback during the spring in Fairchild’s tenure, and developing one would be a huge plus. They also must find out who’s going to block, having lost the most experienced line in college football.



Defensively, the Rams have a few holes to plug on the line and in the secondary but should begin to form a game plan around a talented linebacker corps that returns Ricky Brewer.



Roster Report:

• LB Ricky Brewer, who was suspended for his junior season in 2009 because of an undisclosed violation of team rules, will return to the team.

• TE Eric Peitz, who missed the last three games with a shoulder injury, likely will be limited in spring practice.

Colorado State beat writer Natalie Meisler breaks down this year's recruiting class:



QUARTERBACKS



Garrett Grayson, 6-2, 200, Vancouver (Wash.) Heritage HS



Pete Thomas, 6-5, 220, El Cajon (Calif.) Valhalla HS



Ideally, Thomas gets a jump in spring ball and breaks into the lineup by midyear after the offensive line has time to mature. It worked last season for Utah and Wyoming. Grayson is more of an all-purpose QB then strictly drop-back. He broke most of Washington's Class 4A passing records and had the highest completion percentage in the nation last season at .732 (238-of-325), with 2,720 yards and 18 TDs.



RUNNING BACKS



Tony Drake, 5-8, 176 Dallas Skyline HS



Marvin Ford, 5-9, 185 Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips HS



Drake was rated Rivals.com's eighth-best all-purpose back. He comes from a talent-rich school and has the best 40 time (4.35) in CSU's class. Also played wide receiver. He committed to Michigan but fell through the cracks during a position coaching change. He still has to qualify academically. Ford runs the 40 in 4.4 seconds and lettered four years. As a starter the past two seasons, Ford had 1,702 yards rushing and 22 TDs. Neither fits the mold of a CSU power back.



WIDE RECEIVERS



James Boone, 6-1, 183, St. Cloud (Fla.) HS



Thomas Coffman, 5-10 170, Austin (Texas) Stephen F. Austin HS



Jay James, 6-3, 215, Orlando (Fla.) Jones HS



Bobby Borcky, 6-2., 190, Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips HS



This position has some untapped talent already on the roster, but there a chance for any or all to step in. CSU had to hold off late interest by other schools for Boone, a tremendous overall athlete with 4.45 speed. He was also a wildcat formation QB. Coffman is considered a playmaker and a return specialist candidate. James is the young brother of CSU sophomore C.J. James. Borcky is listed as an overall athlete and is the younger brother of current Ram QB/WR T.J. The younger Borcky played quarterback in high school.



TIGHT ENDS



Kivon Cartwright, 6-4, 215, Pueblo South HS



Crockett Gillmore, 6-6, 235, Bushland (Texas) HS



A traditionally strong position at CSU has thinned out depth-wise. Both were early commitments. Cartwright's frame with room to bulk up is somewhat reminiscent of ex-Ram Kory Sperry. Cartwright did not play much of his senior season because of a knee injury. Gillmore, who is from the Texas Panhandle, was a four-year starter and the school's first 1,000-yard receiver with 1,142 yards on 45 catches, and he caught 22 TD passes last season.



OFFENSIVE LINE



Mason Hathaway, 6-5, 270, Southlake (Texas) Carroll HS



Mason Myers, 6-3, 285, Moore (Okla.) Southmoore HS



Ty Sambrailo, 6-5, 275, Watsonville (Calif.) St. Francis HS



Christian Stefo, 6-6, 316, Pomona HS



Alex Tucci, 6-3, 295, Weston (Fla.) Cypress Bay HS



Redshirts for all and some potential grayshirts. Hathaway didn't allow a sack. Mason gives CSU a true center in the group. The biggest of the incoming group, Stefo came on strong as a senior and was the final commitment in the class. He gave up just one sack last year after giving up just three as a junior. Tucci played on both lines last year, and played in the Prep Bowl in Honolulu.



DEFENSIVE LINE



Nordly Capi, 6-3, 242, Ocoee (Fla.) HS



John Froland, 6-5, 250, Snohomish (Wash.) Glacier Peak HS



Charles Green, 6-2, 221, Sanford (Fla.) Seminole HS



Trevor Murphy, 6-3, 290, Jefferson (Texas) HS



Defensive line is the most difficult position to fill at any level of the game, and the Rams did an exceptional job. Froland was the No. 9 player in Washington and initially committed to Northwestern. Steve Fairchild described Green as "playing basketball above the rim." Capi bounced from linebacker to end in his last two seasons at Ocoee and registered 24 sacks (15 as a senior).



LINEBACKERS



Charles Favors, 6-1, 235, Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips HS



Vance Green, 6-0, 211, Gillmer (Texas) HS



Marquis Hood, 6-0, 203, Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips HS



Max Morgan, 6-1, 215, Greeley West HS



Eric Niederberger, 6-1, 210, Nevada City (Calif.) Union HS



Rams were perilously thinned out by injuries at the position last season. Favors, an all-star game MVP, is the best candidate for early playing time. Morgan is likely to go on a church mission first. Fairchild has improved the overall speed at the position. Morgan is the only top-15 in-state player the Rams signed this year. He also played at strong safety. Niederberger played end his junior year but was moved all around the roster as a senior, playing linebacker and running back and also returned kicks (including one punt for a touchdown).



DEFENSIVE BACKS



Shaq Bell, 5-11, 178, Kissimmee (Fla.) Osceola HS



Bernard Blake, 6-0, 177, Bastrop (Texas) HS



Najee James, 6-0, 187, Orlando (Fla.) Evans HS



Mike Orakpo, 6-1, 200, Houston Westbury HS



CSU went after more speed and depth at the corners. Bell has a 4.51 time in the 40. James is recovering from a gunshot wound to the foot but is already back at track practice. Orakpo signed last February but needed to get some paperwork in order. Projected as a safety, he is the younger brother of Washington Redskins stellar rookie Brian Orakpo.



Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_14329422?source=rss#ixzz0goks5lG3

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/20290/colorado-state-learns-from-exchange-of-ideas



Coach is talking with Chow and other coaches to improve.