Rashard Higgins is a once-in-a-generation type talent and Colorado State Rams fans have been lucky to witness him play for their school the last three years.
Higgins isn’t perfect — going through ups and downs in his career — but he is an other-worldly wideout. In 2014, he was named a consensus All-American, only the third Rams player to ever earn that accolade. And while his numbers dropped in 2015 due to injuries, a change of offense and coaches as well as a change in quarterback when Garrett Grayson graduated to the NFL, Higgins is still an incredible playmaker in 2015.
As a junior, Higgins was named first team All-Mountain West, finishing the season with 66 receptions for 933 yards and eight touchdowns. He’d be an awesome asset for Colorado State in 2016, if he were to stay around for his senior season.
And the question on everyone’s mind is: Will “Hollywood” Higgins stay for his senior season? I asked on Thursday.
“I haven’t made any decisions, but, y’all stay tuned,” Higgins said after practice Thursday morning.
While talking with the media, Higgins said he was impressed with quarterback Nick Stevens during the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl practices, saying he can’t wait to see him next year.
“Even if I’m not open, I’m still open,” Higgins said of what he tells Stevens in the huddle.
“He’s really grown. In practice, he’s improving…This is his first year at it,” Higgins said of Stevens starting at quarterback. “Y’all just got to give him time to develop. Like how I was my freshman year; dropped a lot of passes. So, next year we’re looking for Nick to move.”
Did Higgins hint at the fact that he’ll be staying next season with Colorado State or was he just saying what he’s been coached to? As he said, stay tuned.
As for the game we all know he’ll play in for sure, the Arizona Bowl, Higgins remembers playing well against Nevada last year, as he relived it for us Thursday:
Higgins had 10 catches for 194 yards with two touchdowns last season and the cornerback, “I know he’ll be coming at me with a vengeance because of what I did to him last year, so, it’ll be fun.”
“I feel like I’m 100 percent,” Higgins stated, after dealing with many injuries this year. Being fully healthy will give him that speed an explosiveness he needs to separate and burn defensive backs.
Speaking of Colorado State – Nevada, here’s the highlight tape from the Rams 31-24 win over the Wolf Pack in 2014 (fast forward to the 3:15 mark to watch Higgins’ 51-yard touchdown):
Nevada runs a lot of man coverage, so, how’s he going to beat the Nevada DBs this year? Higgins said he just has to study his opponent in the film room.
“Just little things, I gotta get into my opponent,” he said. “When I make my move, don’t make it too far, because, he could react. Just going back to film, looking at what they do.”
When asked, Rams head coach Mike Bobo has enjoyed what he’s seen out of the star wideout in practice leading up to the bowl game.
“Rashard’s done a nice job,” Bobo said. “I see him really getting his speed back and strength.
“We obviously have a plan to get him the ball,” Bobo continued. “And move him around and put him in some different spots. But then you’ve got to see how Nevada will play us.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjFQiyVkIrs
Colorado State (7-5) — with a fully healthy Rashard Higgins — faces Nevada (6-6) in the Arizona Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 5:30 p.m. MT. The game will be televised on KDVR FOX 31. We’ll be there covering your Rams in what could be Higgins’ final game with the green and gold.
Either way, we hope he puts on a display.
