Rams Add 19 Signees in Early Signing Period

Rams Add 19 Signees in Early Signing Period

      

 

December 16, 2020

 

CONTACT: Kyle Neaves, Associate Athletic Director for Communications

(228) 424-6921 | Kyle.Neaves@colostate.edu | @KyleNeavesCSU

 

Rams Add 19 Signees in Early Signing Period

Colorado State added 19 total high school signees on Wednesday, the first of two major signing periods in college football.

 

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – When Steve Addazio arrived at Colorado State on December 12, 2019, he promised to recruit the state of Colorado and build his program from the inside out.

 

So far, he has remained true to his word.

 

The Rams added 19 signees in the early signing period on Wednesday, the first of two major signing periods in college football, and six members of the class of 2021 inked with their home state institution.

 

“Our commitment to the state of Colorado is real,” Addazio said. “I just think we have diamonds in the state. I think in college football, it’s critically important that you have guys vested into your university, into the state, and it’s not just another place to go play college football. When you recruit these kids from Colorado, they’re so proud to be from Colorado. They understand the history of Colorado State University. They have a passion for that.”

 

As early as 5 a.m. MT – since recruits may begin signing at 7 a.m. local time – when Acton, Mass., running back Alex Berrouet was the first to get his commitment officially approved, the Colorado State coaching staff was in and out of FaceTime calls with players and their families congratulating them on taking the first of many major steps in their lives as they come to Fort Collins to develop as both students and athletes.

 

“We feel good about our class,” Addazio said. “We have met a lot of our needs. We have some outstanding players – high character. (They have) a passion for the game. We talk about character, passion for the game, and toughness, and I think a class who will match that. I’m very excited to lock this portion of our class in.”

 

Among the litany of challenges associated with operating football programs nationwide, the NCAA has limited the ability for on-campus visits and many of the 19 Rams who signed on to join what Addazio and his staff are building never got the opportunity to visit Fort Collins or Colorado State University.

 

Despite that, nearly every player who signed on Wednesday was a long-time verbal commitment to the program.

 

“I thought we developed a really strong bond through those months of March, April, and May. We just continued on that. We were confident in our evaluations.”

 

Five signees are also expected to join the Rams for the spring semester as early enrollees: Luke McAllister (Monument, Colo.), Chance Harris (Clovis, N.M.), Jack Howell (Chandler, Ariz.), Lathan Adams (Waxahachie, Texas), and Branden Coleman (Miami, Fla.).

 

Class Breakdown

 

·         Colorado State added players from eight states: Colorado (six), Florida (three), Texas (three), California (two), Nevada (two), Arizona (one), Massachusetts (one), and New Mexico (one).

·         The staff split the sides of the ball as even as possible, inking 10 players expected to begin their careers on offense with nine on defense.

·         Offensively, the class breaks down as: Three quarterbacks, two offensive linemen, two wide receivers, two tight ends, and one running back.

·         Defensively, the class breaks down as: Four defensive linemen, four defensive backs, and one linebacker.

·         There was one legacy signee as Jack Howell (Hamilton, Ariz.) is the son of former Ram great John Howell (1996-2000). RamWire Insider Mike Brohard detailed the signing of the younger Howell and how he plans to leave his own legacy.

 

– CSURams.com –

 

 

 

___________________________

Kyle Neaves

Associate Athletic Director for Communications

Colorado State University Athletics

C: 228-424-6921