Student. Athlete. Nolan Peralta takes both seriously, and it shows.
Last Monday, Peralta earned recognition for his academic achievements by the National Football Foundation Colorado Chapter as a first-teamer. His 3.63 cumulative GPA earned him the honor, and the versatile tight end is years ahead of his time, possessing the mindfulness to strive for his best in every aspect of his life.
“To take advantage of the opportunity in the classroom, being able to get a free education is huge to me,” Peralta explained last Tuesday after spring practice. “To be able to use that and progress my life forward. Because I know football’s going to end one day. So, it’s about be not just being excellent in one aspect of my life, every aspect of my life; socially, academically, spiritually and in football.”
Such intelligent, mindful players are tough to find, but every Rams team in recent history has had at least one; Weston Richburg, Ty Sambrailo, Trent Matthews, Sam Carlson. Many times, they’re offensive linemen, and, with his vast versatility, Peralta is basically an extension of that o-line.
Part blocker, part fullback, part pass-catcher, Peralta is the consummate team-first player. While many football players say they’ll do whatever is best for the team, he acts it out while hoping his experiences can lead to growth among the younger players around him.
“This spring, I’m tying to bring guys along,” Peralta explained. “I’ve always prided myself on being the hardest worker in the room. And, this being my last year here at Colorado State, it’s really my last opportunity to have an impact on these guys and for me to go out and play a sport that I love. So, every time I go out there, just trying to bust my ass as hard as I can and also bring guys along. Now that I am a senior in that leadership role, bring guys along so the whole team can be successful.”
During his introductory spring practice press conference, head coach Mike Bobo spoke of the team needing leaders, on offense, defense, in position groups and leaders to the entire team. Peralta, a well-spoken senior, can be one of those young men to take the reins of the entire group.
“I feel like we have a lot of great leaders on the team,” Peralta said. “I feel like guys look to me in order to get practice going, or when something needs to be said they look to me. That’s the team working hard as a group and then me trying to lead them in the direction we want to go as a team.
“And, it’s really developing that mindset that we’re not just going to be good, we’re not just going to be better than last year, we’re playing for a Mountain West championship this year,” Peralta said emphatically. “So getting that in guys’ mindsets is really the most important thing.”
When you think about it, the mindful Peralta is the perfect young man to help develop that mindset among his peers. Ever since Mike Bobo landed in Fort Collins, his team has been focused on bring home a Mountain West championship. We heard it all last year, and even though they fell short, the four straight wins to end the season to end with seven regular season victories helped set a record for Bobo in his first year with the team.
We know what he can bring to the locker room, but what can Peralta specifically bring to the football field?
“I’ve always prided myself in being able to play in multiple positions,” the senior tight end explained. “Wherever the team needs me, whether that be throwing down the block on the goal line trying to get one yard, having them throw me a route on 3rd down when we need a play. Trying to be that all-around complete player, trying to be the punishing blocker, being able to be a receiver and trying to be that hybrid player.”
“Nolan Peralta’s what I want on this football team,” Bobo said. “He’s blue collar, tough, he finishes every play.”
Through three seasons, he only has six catches for 63 yards, playing some as a fullback and more as a blocking tight end the last two years. But Bobo is confident in his ability to take that leap, to become the productive pass-catching tight end his offense needs to move the ball down the field.
Of course, Bobo and Peralta both know he’s only one piece of the puzzle. Albeit, a big piece when it comes to his leadership, mentoring, as well as on-the-field play.
What’s going to take these Rams to the next level is their ability to come together with complete unity. The senior believes they have what it takes.
“That’s one thing I’ve said before, I feel like this is one of the closest teams I’ve been on here at Colorado State. I feel like building up through the years, these guys have got to know each other very well,” Peralta said. “And now, I feel like we’re at the pinnacle of where we want to be as far as being a close-knit group in the locker room. There’s always divisions on a team, whether it be offense/defense or things like that, but I feel like this is the closest team since I’ve been here. It’s special to be a part of.”
Now, they hope that special closeness leads to an especially good team on the field this fall.
