Garrett Grayson and 15 other seniors will be honored Saturday at CSU-New Mexico game (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Jim McElwain deserves all the credit in the world for turning around Colorado State’s football program in three years.
But once McElwain gets settled in his new office at the University of Florida, he ought to send a handwritten thank you to his predecessor at CSU, Steve Fairchild, for recruiting so many talented players that McElwain inherited in 2012.
Players that starred under McElwain’s watch but were recruited by Fairchild comprise quite a list. They include:
QB Garrett Grayson
C Weston Richburg
TE Crockett Gillmore
TE Kivon Cartwright
LT Ty Sambrailo
WR Charles Lovett
LB Shaquil Barrett
LB Aaron Davis
LB Cory James
LB Max Morgan
LB Steveo Michel
CB Bernard Blake
S Trent Matthews
S Kevin Pierre-Louis
Even record-setting running back Kapri Bibbs was originally recruited by Fairchild, although Bibbs had to make a detour to junior college prior to finally joining the Rams in 2013.
Come to think of it, McElwain should include a gift certificate to a fancy restaurant along with that thank-you note to Fairchild, who is offensive coordinator at Virginia.
