Jim Mora less gets it.
He wants every kid in Colorado to grow up dreaming to play for the Rams. But that requires signing a few with 303, 970 and 719 area codes.
In the current 2026 class, CSU and CU added one player each from our state among 247Sports’ top 47 recruits. The Rams welcomed Arvada West safety Atticus Tillman, while the Buffs inked Thompson Valley offensive lineman Josiah Manu. The Buffs show little interest in recruiting in their own backyard, not helped by the fact that coach Deion Sanders cannot be bothered to leave campus for at-home visits.
Mora plans to throw a fence around the state, aiming to keep elite recruits in Fort Collins. Coaches make these promises, but rarely keep them. It was understandable when our state was not producing many D1 players. That is no longer the case. The top 25 players are all going to big-time schools.
You don’t think Cherry Creek tight end Ty Goettsche would draw comparisons to Trey McBride if he chose CSU over BYU? He is the ninth-ranked tight end in the country. What about Windsor’s tower of power Deacon Schmitt? You are telling me he would not be an upgrade over the sieve that CU passes off as an offensive line? He is headed to Oklahoma.
And I challenge you to find a player in the state that fits the scheme of new CU offensive coordinator Brennan Marion better than Cherry Creek’s Jayden Fox. He flipped to UCLA along with Legend High quarterback DJ Bordeaux.
Here’s the deal. CU and CSU will always land in-state walk-ons like Charlie Offerdahl, who love the school, learn the fight song and spend Saturday nights enjoying off-campus dinners with family. Mora needs to put his words into action with his next class, and prioritize in-state stars and a handful of risks.
Getting a few of the best to stay will help the Rams in multiple ways.
It builds the brand, shows CSU cares about Colorado preps. It also improves relationships with high school coaches, and leads to the identification of prospects with potential. That two-star offensive lineman can become a starter in his third season if you have a vision for him. Those are the ones that form the foundation of the program, make you less desperate to get old and stay old in the portal. They build camaraderie and chemistry, something that is hard to bake in with transfers.
Mora has called CSU his last stop. He wants people to be proud to support the program. They will if he keeps more local kids, the best and projects alike, around.
Bruising Broncos: What our eyes told us last Sunday, the facts support. The Packers-Broncos game felt like a playoff game, defined by eye-opening physicality and multiple injuries. That is not the first time we have seen Denver throw down the sawdust and engage in a bare-knuckle fight. Teams are 3-10 the week after playing the Broncos. It is why the Bears are expected to punch the Pack this weekend.
Adios Diego: Quarterback Diego Pavia has been a great college football story. He willed Vanderbilt to relevance. But it is clearly time for him to move on. He turns 25 in April. On my first Heisman Trophy ballot, he was second. When he did not win, he posted on social media “F all the voters” with a thumbs down emoji. He doesn’t owe me an apology. He owes the winner Fernando Mendoza one for acting so selfishly and immaturely.
Portal Patrick: Dylan Raiola hit the transfer portal, leaving Nebraska. The quarterback was supposed to restore glory to the Cornhuskers, a program where his father played, but never met expectations. His lack of a mobility is an issue. And the Temu Patrick Mahomes act is getting old. If he transfers to Texas Tech, Mahomes should insist that Raiola change his hairstyle and number — both of which are identical to the Chiefs star — or get hit with a restraining order.
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