FORT COLLINS, Colo.— Coming into fall camp, speculation was rampant about whether someone could compete with Collin Hill to be the team’s starting quarterback.

One week in, it’s extremely obvious that there is no competition—Hill is the leader of the Rams—and if anyone other than No. 15 has to take significant snaps, the team will be in trouble.

Now, don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a jab at Patrick O’Brien or Justice McCoy. The media hasn’t had a real opportunity to see the twos and threes run the offense yet. The only times we’ve even seen the backup quarterbacks have been in individual drills. So, honestly, we couldn’t give you a fair evaluation of their play, even if we wanted to.

In the limited action that we’ve seen, Hill has definitely been the best of the three quarterbacks. Mike Bobo confirmed this again on Saturday, telling the press that he’s been pleased with his veteran quarterback’s efficiency this fall.

“I think Collin Hill has played excellently through the first nine practices,” Bobo said. “He’s been very, very efficient. He understands our offense and has great command. I love where he’s at.”

But the main reason that CSU will be screwed if they lose their bearded QB isn’t the fact that he’s the most talented, it’s that he’s the heart and soul of the program. Revered by all that are close to him, Hill is the epitome an ideal teammate. One of these teammates, Brendan Fulton, is Hill’s biggest supporter.

A redshirt senior wide receiver, from Greeley, Colo.,  Fulton has caught passes from the program’s all-time leader in touchdown passes (Nick Stevens) and CSU’s single-game record holder for total yardage (K.J. Carta-Samuels), but it’s Hill that Fulton praises as the best quarterback he’s ever accompanied on the field.

“He’s the best quarterback that I’ve ever been around,” Fulton said. “He’s one of my best friends, he’s my roommate right now. He’s had a lot of setbacks and unfortunate situations, but I don’t see a ceiling for him. He’s incredible with the way he’s composed himself, his work ethic—he’s honestly one of the greatest football players I’ve ever seen.”

Junior wide receiver Warren Jackson had high praise for Hill as well, telling BSN Rams that Hill is absolutely the team’s leader.

“He’s just a great guy—you want to play for Collin,” Jackson said.  “The o-line wants to block for Collin. He’s just a great guy on and off the field.”

Jackson explained how Hill’s presence keeps the team in line. His familiarity with Bobo’s system allows him to run the offense smoothly, especially now that Hill doesn’t have to split reps with Stevens or Carta-Samuels. According to Jackson, though, it’s Hill’s competitive edge that sets him apart.

“He’s really cool off the field, but when we get on the field he turns into a monster,” Jackson said. “That’s something I really like about him—he doesn’t play around out there. When he’s on the field, he’s a dog.”

Hill’s college career has been an uphill battle. Having to overcome two major knee injuries would test the will of anybody. Even throughout the tough times, Hill’s competitive flame never flickered, though. And it’s that drive to keep pushing forward that has earned Hill the respect of the locker room.

With CSU looking to recover from the 2018 debacle, having a player that’s essentially unanimously beloved, commanding the offense, is important. There are many factors that play into a team having a successful season, but QB play is near the top.

Hill has all of the qualities that make a great leader, and it just so happens that he throws a pretty nice ball too. If his play in camp is any indicator of what the Rams are capable of, the team should at least be competitive—particularly if he continues to protect the football. In 200+ throws thus far, Bobo says Hill has recorded just two interceptions, and one of them was off a deflection.

With some of the distractions from last year’s team gone and an experienced signal-caller running the show on offense, the Rams have a chance to start the season on a better note. Can their maestro, Hill, keep them in tune? Time will tell, but the rest of the band sure seems to think so.