(QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi – USA Today Sports)
Key Players Returning:
QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, RB Justin Marshall, WR/PR Troy Horton, OC Jacob Gardner, OG Drew Moss, OT Saveyon Henderson, DE Nuer Gatkuoth, DT Cam Bariteau, DT James Mitchell, LB Chase Wilson, CB Dom Jones, NB Ayden Hector, NB Dominic Morris, FS Henry Blackburn, KR Dylan Goffney, PK Jordan Noyes, and PT Paddy Turner.
Key Players Departing:
RB Vann Schield, WR Louis Brown (San Diego State transfer), WR Justus Ross-Simmons (Syracuse transfer), TE Dallin Holker, OG Andrew Cannon, OG Oliver Jervis, DE Mohamed Kamara (Dolphins R5), DE Grady Kelly (FSU transfer), DE Marshon Oxley, DE Tony Pierce Jr., LB Justin Sanchez, CB Chigozie Anusiem, and SS Jack Howell.
(WR Jordan Ross – 247Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: DS Dagan Myers (Littleton, Colorado).
3 Star Recruits: WR Jordan Ross (Downey, California), QB Darius Curry (Long Beach, California), CB Elias Larry (Navy transfer), ATH Landon Bell (Newbury Park, California), WR Armani Winfield (Baylor transfer), TE Jaxxon Warren (Corsicana, Texas), DS AJ Noland (Tualatin, Oregon), ATH Chance Harrison (Oxnard, California), and DL Jack Moran (Arvada, Colorado).
2023 Results:
G01 @ #10 Washington L 19-56
G02 UCF L 10-16
G03 NORTH DAKOTA W 42-18
G04 @ San Diego State W 34-31
G05 @ Memphis L 32-36
G06 SAN JOSE STATE W 35-27
G07 @ Colorado State L 30-31
G08 WYOMING W 32-7
G09 @ Fresno State L 30-37
G10 NEW MEXICO W 42-14
G11 @ Utah State W 45-10
G12 AIR FORCE W 27-19
MWC @ UNLV W 44-20
BOWL vs. UCLA L 22-36
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 8-6 (9th in MWC)
Home: 4-2
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
MWC: 3-5
Non-MWC: 2-2
Head Coach: Jay Norvell
Colorado State: 8-16
Career: 41-42
Bowls: 2-1
(WR Tory Horton – USA Today Sports)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi (292-470, 3460 yards, 62.1%, 7.4 avg., 22 TD, 16 INT)
Rushing: Justin Marshall (57 car., 311 yards, 5.5 avg., 2 TD)
Receiving: Tory Horton (96 rec., 1136 yards, 11.8 avg., 8 TD)
TD’s Scored: Tory Horton (9)
Sacks: Chase Wilson (3.5)
Tackles: Jack Howell (114)
Interceptions: Henry Blackburn (3)
Pass Deflections: Jack Howell/Dom Jones/Chase Wilson (3)
Tackles For Loss: Chase Wilson (8.5)
Forced Fumbles: Nuer Gatkuoth/Jack Howell/Dominic Morris (1)
Kick Returns: Dylan Goffney (9 ret., 176 yards, 19.6 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Tory Horton (11 ret., 147 yards, 13.4 avg., 1 TD)
Kicking: Jordan Noves (15-19 fg/fga., 79%, 29-29 xp/xpa., 74 pts.)
Punting: Paddy Turner (51 punts, 2212 yards, 43.4 avg., 18 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 16 Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi (RS SO)
RB: 29 Justin Marshall (RS FR)
WR: 6 Donovan Ollie (GR/TR)
WR: 14 Tory Horton (GR/TR)
WR: 6 Dylan Goffney (SR/TR)
TE: 0 Jaxxon Warren (RS SO/TR)
LT: 77 Saveyon Henderson (SR/TR)
LG: 69 Alex Foster (RS JR/TR)
OC: 75 Jacob Gardner (GR/TR)
RG: 68 Drew Moss (SR/TR)
RT: 78 Aaron Karas (RS SO)
KR: 6 Dylan Goffney (SR/TR)
PK: 23 Jordan Noyes (GR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 9 Nuer Gatkuoth (RS JR)
DT: 91 James Mitchell (GR)
DT: 94 Cam Bariteau (GR)
DE: 92 Mukendi Wa-Kalonji (RS JR)
LB: 49 Buom Jock (SO)
LB: 30 Chase Wilson (RS SR)
NB: 15 Ayden Hector (RS SR/TR)
CB: 1 Isaiah Essissima (GR/TR)
CB: 3 Elias Larry (GR/TR)
FS: 11 Henry Blackburn (GR)
SS: 17 Jack Howell (SR)
PR: 14 Troy Horton (GR/TR)
PT: 41 Paddy Turner (GR/TR)
(SS Jack Howell – AP Photo)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: A
Kickers: B
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/31 @ Texas Longhorns | Colorado State lost (0-46) the only prior meeting in 1975.
09/07 NORTHERN COLORADO BEARS | Colorado State leads the series 19-0. The Rams won (47-21) the last meeting between schools in 2016.
09/14 COLORADO BUFFALOES | Colorado State tails the series 22-68-2. The Rams are 6-1 since 2014, and their last series win (31-17) was in 2014.
09/21 UTEP MINERS | Colorado State leads the series 25-10. The Rams won (59-42 the last meeting between schools in 2013.
TBA @ Air Force Falcons | Colorado State trails the series 21-39-1. The Rams are 1-8 since 2014, and their last series win (38-23) was in 2015.
TBA @ Fresno State Bulldogs | Colorado State leads the series 10-6. The Rams lost (17-38) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
TBA @ Nevada Wolf Pack | Colorado State leads the series 14-5. The Rams are 4-3 since 2014, and their last series loss (10-52) was in 2021.
TBA @ Oregon State Beavers | Colorado State leads the series 2-1. The Rams won (56-27) the last meeting between schools in 2017.
TBA NEW MEXICO LOBOS | Colorado State leads the series 44-25. The Rams are 8-0 since 2014, and they won (17-0) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
TBA SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS | Colorado State leads the series 7-5. The Rams are 4-1 since 2014, and their
TBA UTAH STATE AGGIES | Colorado State leads the series 7-5. The Rams lost (16-38) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
TBA WYOMING COWBOYS | Colorado State leads the series 7-5. The Rams are 3-7 since 2014, the last series win (34-24) was in 2020.
Predictions:
Home: 6-1
Away: 3-2
Neutral: 0-0
MWC: 7-1
Non-MWC: 2-2
Overall: 9-3 (4th in MWC)
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