Colorado State Rams recruiting is on fire lately.
The Rams landed five superb players this week. Wait, make that six.
On Friday night, while many Ram fans were getting home and relaxing after a long week of work, Colorado State added a transfer quarterback in Faton Bauta out of the University of Georgia.
It wasn’t just a solid signing for Ram Nation, who are rightfully excited for Bauta’s arrival, but NFL running back Todd Gurley took to Twitter to acknowledge the transfer, too.
We have an official new member of the #RamFam16!! pic.twitter.com/OP0DNjGFlO
— Coach Mike Bobo (@CoachMikeBobo) December 19, 2015
I love it👌🏾 https://t.co/x53nuz6pwq
— Todd Gurley II (@TG3II) December 19, 2015
Gurley, formerly a Georgia Bulldog with Bauta from 2012-2014, with Bauta redshirting in 2012 and then playing in six games the next two years combined. Meanwhile, Gurley was the starting running back for the Bulldogs, racking up 3,265 yards with 36 touchdowns rushing with another 615 yards receiving and six scores.
Apparently, the two were friends, despite the disparity in playing time and star power.
Bauta comes to Colorado State as a graduate student and two years of eligibility remaining. Due to his graduate level of education, Bauta can suit up for the Rams next season and play.
He’ll certainly give redshirt sophomore Nick Stevens — CSU’s current starter — a run for his money, and Bobo likes to have 4-5 quarterbacks on the roster to keep their arms fresh.
So, expect competition next year between Bauta and Stevens as well as maybe another young man or two.
Bobo loves true competition on his team, knowing it will only push the Rams to a higher level overall, saying Thursday, “It’s one thing to talk about competition,” Bobo started. “But, if I’m going against you every day in competition, and I know I’m better than you, I’m really not worried about you.
“So, I’ve got to get some guys in there that are going to raise the talent level at practice every day,” Bobo continued. “And guys that love football. I want guys that when I say, ‘Alright, we’re going to practice or we’re going to put the ball down in the parking lot or we’re going to see who can run the fastest 40,’ they’re ready to go, they’re ready to compete.”
Bauta stands at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds and was mostly a third-string quarterback for Georgia during his time there. He’ll certainly have a chance at starting at Colorado State, though Bobo was also realistic about what transfers can do in their first year on Thursday as they get adjusted to the team, the school and the community.
Either way, Colorado State is loading up on top-notch talent and Bobo is pulling out all the stops on their way to competing for a Mountain West Championship, which is their ultimate goal.
In the meantime, Colorado State (7-5) is preparing to play the Nevada Wolf Pack (6-6) in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl. That game takes place on Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 5:30 p.m. and BSN Denver will be there covering the event live.
