CSU Rams embracing opportunities in first bowl game since 2017

For both the veterans playing their last game in a Colorado State uniform to young players looking to make an impact, Saturday’s Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl is all about opportunities.

CSU is going to Tucson to win a football game, but for the old and young alike still on the teams’ roster, the Rams’ first bowl experience since 2017 will be a chance to showcase not only the university on a national stage, but also the culmination of the team’s most successful season in a decade.

The Rams (8-4) and Miami (Ohio) (8-5) will kick off at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

“I didn’t come here to lose,” CSU graduate running back Avery Morrow said. “Me, personally, I’m treating it like any other game I’ve played in. We’ve been talking about this for a while. We were short of our goal from the championship, but we could still win a ring and that’s on everybody’s mind, hopefully. I know it’s been on my mind. I know there hasn’t been any jewelry around here in a while, so let’s go ahead and check that off the checklist.”

Morrow is one of the players looking to go out on a high note. The graduate running back has 956 rushing yards this season, having flourished in a more run-oriented offensive attack for the Rams in head coach Jay Norvell’s third season.

With 44 yards Saturday, Morrow will not only become the first 1,000-yard rushing for the Rams since 2017, but the first to reach that milestone for any team that Norvell has been the head coach of. He said reaching that mark would mean everything to him.

“I don’t really want to talk about it too much, but that’s been on my mind a lot,” he said. “I know it’s been a while since there’s been a 1,000-yard back, like 2017. For me, that’s always been a personal goal. I remember my first meeting with coach Norvell back at Nevada, I told him, because he made us write down all our goals, I remember telling coach Norvell, ‘I want to be your first.’ So, it would be really cool for me to check that off my checklist, too.”

For a trio of CSU defensive players who have been Rams since before Norvell took over the program, it is an opportunity to end their college careers in a bowl game that has eluded them during their tenure.

Defensive backs Jack Howell and Henry Blackburn and linebacker Chase Wilson have been through a turbulent four years in Fort Collins.

From winning only one game in the COVID-shortened 2021 season to three in Norvell’s first year in 2022 and then missing out on a bowl game by one win last season, the group is relishing its opportunity to end the season with nine wins, which would be the most in a season by a CSU team since 2014.

Saturday’s game will also give some younger Rams a chance to take advantage of unexpected opportunities.

After the team’s two leading receivers, Caleb Goodie and Jamari Person, abruptly entered the transfer portal after the Rams’ regular-season finale against Utah State, the team’s young receivers will be looking to make an impact and a lasting impression going into the 2025 season.

The same goes for several defensive players, who will get their chance to shine after the team’s leading tackler, linebacker Buom Jock, and lineman Nuer Gatkouth, also entered the portal.

Among the receivers who will be in the spotlight Saturday are redshirt sophomore Armani Winfield, graduate Dane Olson and freshman Jordan Ross. Freshman Tommy Maher, graduate Donovan Ollie and redshirt freshman Lavon Brown could also contribute some.

Defensively, Norvell has been very impressed with the play of freshman linebacker Owen Long and redshirt freshman defensive back Jett Vincent. Those players, along with the receivers, could see a larger role than they previously had on Saturday because of the departures of some of the team’s key players.

“We love those young players and the future that they have in front of them,” Norvell said. “This has been a great process, practicing, and a lot of those guys are going to get a chance to play in this game. Tons of young players are going to get a chance to play in an important bowl game and that’s going to help them in the future.”

CSU hasn’t won a bowl game since 2014, which coincides with the last time they won more than seven games in a season. It is the Rams’ second appearance in the Arizona Bowl. They lost the inaugural edition of the event in 2015 to Nevada.

The Rams are 0-2 all-time against Miami (Ohio). The teams met in 2003 and 2010 with the Redhawks winning both contests.

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