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 ‘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.
