FORT COLLINS — Four stars are a blessing when they open a prospect’s door to almost any college in the nation. But once the recruiting hype fades away, they can become an albatross. Expectations ratchet up when you are a four-star recruit. With that, pressure rises, too.
This is where sophomore Colorado State quarterback Pete Thomas finds himself, standing at the intersection of Still So Much Potential and What Have You Done For Me Lately heading into the Rocky Mountain Showdown on Saturday.
He has five wins under his belt in a still-young college career. None of those victories — Idaho, UNLV, New Mexico (twice) and Northern Colorado — can be confused with a signature win. That’s where Saturday’s game comes in.
A dominating performance against your in-state rival makes for football heroes. Joel Klatt threw four touchdown passes for CU in his debut with the Buffs in 2003 and stared stardom in the face because of it. Bradlee Van Pelt already had a cult following, but his “head spike” touchdown in 2002 led CSU to a 19-14 win over CU and raised his already sky-high profile to new heights.
That’s where the 6-foot-5, 220- pound Thomas wants to be. Everyone around the Colorado State program is convinced he’s poised to have that signature game.
“I think he is,” CSU offensive coordinator Pat Meyer said. “He’s got to play well. The offensive line has to play well, defense, special teams. But obviously the quarterback is a big, big part of it, and I think he’s ready to do that. I really do.
“He’s a confident kid. He’s not cocky, but confident. He’s a good leader. He’s everything you want, all of those intangibles you talk about in a quarterback, he is that.”
Thomas was a four-star prospect out of Valhalla High in El Cajon, Calif. USA Today ranked him the No. 6 pro-style prep quarterback in the nation. There were more signature moments in his prep career than he can count. He started from the moment he hit campus a year ago, but through one season and two games, he’s yet to have a big breakout moment.
Thomas rarely singles himself out, but when asked if he believes that type of game was at hand, he didn’t hesitate.
“We’re real close to that as an offense,” Thomas said. “We’re real close to clicking as an offense, and it starts with me, so I have to be better. I think that game is coming soon.”
Interceptions have been the biggest problem in Thomas’ young college career. He’s thrown three picks to two touchdown passes this season, which has taken some of the shine off what has been a solid start. He’s already become the youngest quarterback in school history to pass the 3,000-yard mark. His stock is trending up. A big game Saturday could send it soaring.
CSU coach Steve Fairchild said he has no worries about Thomas’ ability to reduce turnovers.
“I’m confident Pete can protect the football,” Fairchild said. “He’s normally pretty good at that.”
Meyer added: “Pete’s just going to get better and better. We put a lot of pressure on Pete. He puts it on himself too. I think Pete’s played well. Pete’s been a great leader. Pete’s still only a true sophomore, and he’s just going to get better and better.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
