CSU Football players continue to rack up preseason respect

Winning commands respect, which is clear with nearly every passing day this offseason for the Colorado State Rams football team.

On Tuesday morning, Rams All-American wide receiver Rashard Higgins was honored with a third watch list, this time being placed on the Maxwell Award list. The Maxwell Award is annually given to the top collegiate football player in the country and Higgins finds himself as one of 80 players and one of 11 receivers. “Hollywood” Higgins was the first Rams player named consensus All-American since Greg Myers in 1995 and everyone around the country is excited to see what he can do in this, his junior year.

Other preseason watch lists he’s on include the Touchdown Club of Columbus and he’s the only returning player to garner attention from the prestigious Biletnikoff Award, bestowed upon the nation’s top receiver. Higgins has also landed on Phil Steele and the Sporting News’ preseason All-America teams.

On Wednesday, two more pass-catchers were acknowledged in Kivon Cartwright and Steven Walker. The two tight ends each found themselves on the John Mackey Award watch list, which is handed out to the top tight end in all the land. Colorado State and Virginia Tech are the only two schools with multiple players in this list of 33.

Cartwright was named eligible for his sixth season due to a second medical redshirt in February. He missed every game but one last season after playing quite well in 2013. That year he caught 27 footballs for 462 yards and led the entire team with six touchdown receptions.

Walker stepped up when Cartwright was injured last season, starting 10 games and finishing the year with 30 catches for 279 yards and four scores. He also earned John Mackey Award Tight End of the Week honorable mention following his 67-yard performance in the win over Boston College.

Colorado State is talented and hopeful to return to a third straight bowl under new head coach Mike Bobo. Their 2015 season kicks off versus Savannah State on Sept. 5 at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium.