FORT COLLINS — A month and two days after starting the Colorado State job, Steve Fairchild officially joined the college football coaching ranks Wednesday.
“Every Division I coach is happy with his class,” Fairchild said when all 25 promised letters-of-intent arrived on schedule. “I wasn’t sure what to expect.”
From late pick-up and instate crown jewel Joe Caprioglio,
a Highlands Ranch offensive lineman, to the first commitments last summer to the previous staff, Fairchild said “Anyone who can help us will play immediately,” and he isn’t opposed to just using freshmen on special teams.
The four junior college transfer, deep snapper Scott Albritton, wide receiver Ryan Gardner and defensive linemen Sevaro Johnson and Sam Stewart, will be expected to make immediate impacts.
The exceptions will be three linemen who may delay enrollment to next January as gray shirts — ThunderRidge’s Justin Becker and Arapahoe’s Matt Weems along with Jordan Gragert of Libby, Mont. Fairchild said that could change with any academic attrition on the signing list or on the current roster.
The late surge vaulted CSU from a distant last in the MWC rankings on to fourth behind overwhelming leader BYU. Utah and San Diego State followed. Early Wednesday, CSU stood in a tie with Houston, SMU and Vanderbilt for 86th. Houston and SMU also had coaching changes.
ranked the Rams sixth in the MWC, tied for 92nd overall. Part of the discrepancy was junior Stewart, originally unranked by was re-ranked as a three-star while scout has him as a one-star.
