TUCSON — If Tuesday was Rashard Higgins’ final day in a Colorado State uniform, he exited with nothing left to chase.
On the first play of the drive that gave the Rams a fourth-quarter lead in their 28-23 loss to Nevada in the Arizona Bowl, Higgins corralled a slant from Nick Stevens and cut upfield for 23 yards, passing David Anderson for career yards. Earlier in the season, higgins passed Anderson for career receptions, and he already had the career mark in touchdown receptions before the season began.
“You know what? Coming to CSU, I never would have imagined that I would be close to his records,” Higgins said after the game of Anderson. “It’s a huge accomplishment that I set out for, and I’m glad I got it.”
Higgins caught nine passes for 129 yards. It was his sixth 100-yard receiving game this season and the 18th in his career, which extended his own school record.
He finished his junior season with career marks of 239 receptions for 3,649 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Asked after the game if he had made up his mind to go pro, Higgins said, “No, sir.”
However, he has already asked for and received a grade from the NFL, though it is not known what the rating was.
A personnel member for an NFL team said the process had three to five teams grade him out, with those scores averaged. That person knows at least one team gave Higgins a third-round grade.
CSU coach Mike Bobo said his role in the decision is only to give advice, but that the final call will be up to Higgins, who was a consensus All-American as a sophomore.
“Rashard and I have had conversations, and that’s going to remain between Rashard and I, but basically it’s just to be there for support and advice,” Bobo said. “Ultimately it’s Rashard’s decision, and ultimately I want what’s best for every player in this program, every coach in this program. I want to see them grow. When they leave this program, I want to see them succeed. We want to help him make the best decision possible for him.”
