CSU Football 2024 transfer tracker — who is coming and who is going?

The offseason is here for the Colorado State Rams and the early signing period is just around the corner.

While the majority of CSU’s 2024 signing class will be high school players, obviously the transfer portal is a major factor with all programs in modern college football.

Ram fans can keep up with all of the latest transfer news here. We’ll update this article with all of the latest roster news throughout the winter as we find out who will be coming, and who will be going during this current recruiting cycle.

Transfers (In)

Donovan Ollie (WR) | Cincinnati

Ollie played three seasons at Washington State before transferring to Cincinnati in 2023. After things didn’t work out in the Big-12, the 6-foot-3, 212-pound wide receiver announced in November that he would be transferring again. Fortunately for the Green & Gold, he elected to play his final year with the Rams. He had a career-high seven catches for 82 yards and two touchdowns against CSU in 2022.

Elias Larry (CB) | Navy

Larry played in 26 total games over three seasons at Navy and was a starter for the past two years. Listed at 6-foot, 197 pounds, Larry is not the biggest defensive back out there but he moves well and brings much-needed experience at corner. He has 40 total tackles, five PBUs and two interceptions in his career.

 Isaiah Essissima (CB) | Nevada 

Essissima started his career in the ACC at Wake Forest and played in 16 total games for the Demon Deacons between 2019-20. After transferring to Nevada for the 2021 campaign, the 5-foot-10, 177-pound cornerback played in 26 games in Reno between 2021-23, but chose to redshirt the remainder of the 2023 season after the first four games to maintain his final season of eligibility.

Although he has not posted about his decision on social media, Essissima confirmed to DNVR that he will play for CSU in 2024. He has 59 total tackles, 12 pass deflections and three interceptions in his career so far. He’ll presumably be one of the contenders to start at cornerback for CSU this fall.

Alex Foster (OT) | Utah Tech

Foster comes to CSU having started all 11 games at left tackle for Utah Tech in 2023. Prior to that he played in all 11 games and recorded three starts for the Trailblazers as a redshirt freshman in 2022. The Rams had quite a bit of success with offensive linemen jumping up from lower ranks this past fall. It will be interesting to see if Foster is another one of those guys.

Chandler Brown (OT) | Shepherd

After starting 27 games at left tackle at the Division II level, Brown will attempt to make the jump to DI. Listed at 6-foot-5, 305 pounds, Brown has great size and he is coming off of a season in which he earned All-PSAC honors. He helped lead an offense that finished 12th nationally in completion percentage and produced 31.4 points per game in 2023.

Transfers (Out)

Grady Kelly (DT) | Florida State

After starting for the Rams over the past two seasons, the athletic defensive tackle unsurprisingly received offers from a variety of big programs across the country after entering the transfer portal this winter. TCU, UNC, Michigan State and Texas A&M are just a few of the many power five schools he posted offers from online. After signing with Florida State, it will be interesting to see what type of role he plays for a Seminoles team that is coming off of an undefeated regular season.

TJ Crandall (DB) | West Virginia

The true freshman cornerback played in 10 games for the Rams this season and flashed serious potential while on the field. Unfortunately for Ram Nation, Crandall will be taking his talent elsewhere, as he became the first player this winter to announce his intent to transfer.

Crandall finished 2023 with 19 total tackles (13 solo), three pass deflections and one interception.

Clay Millen (QB) | Florida

Clay Millen essentially lost the starting job to Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi less than a full game into the 2023 season. After a slow start against Washington State, Millen never saw the field again this past season, which is kinda wild considering he had always been the projected quarterback for the program since Jay Norvell came over from Nevada. He will now go to Florida where he will presumably back up Graham Mertz next season.

Jackson Stratton (QB)

Jackson Stratton signed with CSU as part of Jay Norvell’s first signing class in Fort Collins. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound quarterback appeared in four games in 2022 and completed 4-of-17 passes for 78 yards with one touchdown and a pair of interceptions. The former three-star recruit will leave CSU with three years of eligibility remaining.

Louis Brown (WR) | San Diego State

Louis Brown had a breakout sophomore season this fall. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound wide receiver was third on the team in receptions and receiving touchdowns. And going into his junior year, many expected him to make an even bigger leap. Unfortunately that leap may happen somewhere else, as the South Los Angeles native announced he is entering the portal on Dec. 14.

Brown leaves Fort Collins with two years of eligibility remaining. The athletic wide receiver had 59 catches for 579 yards and five touchdowns in his two years with the Green & Gold.

Trey Paster (LB) | Bethune Cookman

Paster transferred as a grad student from Cal last winter and seemed like he would have a chance to make an impact for the Rams in 2023. A guy with experience at linebacker and defensive back, on paper, Paster was a perfect fit in Freddie Banks’ 4-2-5 scheme. While he did play some this season, Paster largely ended up being a rotational guy for the Green & Gold. He had 10 total tackles and one quarterback hurry as a Ram. He’ll leave CSU with one year of eligibility remaining.

Ethen Erickson (OL)

Ram fans were stoked when the amateur strong man champion transferred in from Chaffey College, however, the 6-foot-2, 280-pound offensive lineman never saw the field for CSU as he battled injuries throughout the season.

Cameron Cooper (OL)

Cooper transferred from UTEP to CSU prior to the 2022 season and saw little action over the last two years. He’ll leave CSU with one year of eligibility remaining.

Clay Nanke (TE)

Nanke signed with CSU as a defensive end under Steve Addazio before ultimately moving to tight end prior to the start of the 2023 season. The 6-foot-6, 235-pound Colorado native recorded two tackles in his time in Fort Collins. He’ll have two years of eligibility to play elsewhere.