FORT COLLINS — Colorado State football coach Steve Fairchild made the obvious official.
Prior to today’s practice, he named true freshman Pete Thomas the Rams’ starting quarterback. Thomas has gotten the majority of the first-team reps during practices, but Fairchild held off making the decision official until today.
“He separated himself,” Fairchild said.
The cool-headed Thomas will lead the Rams when they open their regular season vs. archrival Colorado on Sept. 4 at Invesco Field.
“I’ve got to start working even harder,” Thomas said. “I have so much to learn.”
Thomas, the 6-foot-5, 218-pound QB from Valhalla High School in El Cajon, Calif., was rated the No. 6 pro-style quarterback in the nation by Tom Lemming (USA Today Super 25). also ranked him the country’s No. 16 pro-style quarterback and No. 48 overall prospect from the state of California.
The players were informed that Thomas would be the No. 1 QB on Monday night.
“Pete’s been the most consistent guy this fall,” Fairchild said in a release. “We’re going to be young this year, but Pete’s been the most consistent and hasn’t dropped his guard.”
Nico Ranieri and Klay Kubiak will compete for the backup role, Fairchild added.
A CSU freshman, true or redshirt, has never led the Rams in passing in any season. The last true freshman to start at quarterback for the Rams was Caleb Hanie, who replaced an injured Justin Holland on Oct. 22, 2004. In that memorable 30-7 victory over Wyoming in Fort Collins, Hanie completed 11 of 22 passes for 167 yards and one interception.
Thomas will enter the game against CU with an impressive pedigree. A three-year starter, three-year captain and two-time team MVP in high school, he guided the Norsemen to a 19-5 record over his final two seasons. During his junior and senior seasons, he threw for 5,553 yards, 52 touchdowns and and just 11 interceptions. He completed more than 66 percent of his passes to capture consecutive Grossmont South League Offensive Player of the Year honors, in both 2008 and ’09.
Thomas got a jumpstart on his college football career. He graduated from high school one semester early in order to enroll at CSU in January. That enabled him to take part in all 15 CSU practices this past spring.
