Fort Collins – Luke Diehl doesn’t need a baby sitter. The Douglas County High School linebacker is too old – just a few months from graduation – and way too big at 6-feet-2 and 215 pounds.
For the sake of time-honored recruiting protocol, Diehl said he hears every weekend from Colorado State football coach Sonny Lubick, or his future position coach, Rams defensive coordinator Steve Stanard, drops by the school.
“It’s good to know that just because I committed early they still actually care,” Diehl said.
But Lubick and Stanard could save the calls and trips. Diehl committed to the Rams last summer. He was CSU’s first oral commitment of 22 signatures the Rams expect to receive Wednesday, which is national signing day. He also is the highest-rated, drawing three stars on recruiting websites Rivals.com and Scout.com.
With the first Wednesday in February falling on the latest possible date for national signing day, recruiting season seems longer than usual for those schools not scrambling for last-minute commitments.
Lubick doesn’t like the term “baby-sitting.” He has lost a handful of commitments through the years and knows it’s just part of the recruiting process.
“Ninety percent who make a commitment hang with it. Once in a while someone defects,” Lubick said last week. “Once kids make their minds up, they are set to the point where they are going and they don’t want to be confused again. Back in the old day, people didn’t make decisions until a week prior to signing day.”
Mostly he says he calls recruits to remind them to keep their grades up “and enjoy the heck out of their senior year, whether they are playing basketball or going out for track. It just shows ‘we’re watching you.”‘
As of last week, Lubick said he sensed this CSU recruiting class is secure in its commitments.
The recruiting part of every coach’s job would be easier if every prospect followed Diehl’s mold. Diehl didn’t attend one of the CSU summer camps, the usual source of early commitments.
“I was always a huge Rams fan. I love Fort Collins, the staff, Coach Lubick and Coach Stanard, the atmosphere and the fishing around Fort Collins,” Diehl said.
He is no stranger to the recruiting process. His oldest brother, Adam, just completed his college career as a defensive end and linebacker at Wyoming. Older brother Ross will compete for a starting job this spring as a third-year sophomore at Kansas State.
Those schools offered scholarships to the youngest Diehl. Adam’s limited playing time eliminated Wyoming, though the Cowboys were first with an offer during Luke’s sophomore year. Kansas State stepped up.
“It’s hard to walk away from the Big 12, but you’ve got to find the right college for you. You want to do your own thing and not be ‘little Diehl,”‘ Luke said.
His first act as a CSU commitment came in September when he won a Gatorade from Colorado-bound teammate Ethan Adkins on the CU-CSU game.
“We’ll joke around. When he’s at basketball practice I tell him to get in the weight room with me if he wants to block me in two years,” Diehl said.
Douglas County coach Jeff Ketron gets a kick out of the brewing rivalry between the longtime friends and teammates.
“Luke is one of those throwback-type kids,” Ketron said. “Football to him is exciting, it’s rough and there’s lots of contact. He’s a very physical, tenacious-type player.”
Footnote
Colorado Springs Mesa Ridge coach Rob Braaton said Kenny Galbreath, his 6-1, 205- pound running back and linebacker, will sign with CSU.
Braaton said Galbreath could play offense or defense with the Rams and might be a grayshirt. He still has to be admitted to the school.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
