Deionte Gaines announces he's leaving CSU Football

Colorado State Rams football has lost a talented athlete in Deionte Gaines.

Gaines, who didn’t play in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl in December and wasn’t with the Rams during their spring camp per Mike Bobo, is now gone from the team completely according to the junior’s Instagram account.

I’d like to start this off by saying I appreciate the love and hospitality of Fort Collins. Also I’d like to thank CSU and Coach Bobo for allowing me to be a student and a athlete at Colorado State. I’m very thankful for the people I’ve met and the friendships I’ve gained while being here, I’ll miss you guys. Thank you to all of my brothers on the team for always treating me like a brother since I got here. I’ll always be a ram no matter where I go! All things must come to an end and unfortunately, I will not be attending CSU next year and will be continuing my football career elsewhere.

A photo posted by DG (@agd_2) on May 11, 2016 at 4:47pm PDT

“I’d like to start this off by saying I appreciate the love and hospitality of Fort Collins,” his caption reads. “Also I’d like to thank CSU and Coach Bobo for allowing me to be a student and a athlete at Colorado State. I’m very thankful for the people I’ve met and the friendships I’ve gained while being here, I’ll miss you guys. Thank you to all of my brothers on the team for always treating me like a brother since I got here. I’ll always be a ram no matter where I go! All things must come to an end and unfortunately, I will not be attending CSU next year and will be continuing my football career elsewhere.”

(H/T to Mike Brohard for seeing this first.)

Back in April, Bobo said of Gaines, “He is not with the football team right now. When I have a statement, I’ll make a statement on Deionte. I’ll let you all know, but it’s an in-house matter right now. I’m not going to comment until I have a formal statement.”

As of time of publication, we’re still waiting on an official statement from Bobo.

Gaines was a speedy player who was utilized in a variety of roles for the Rams. As a freshman, he ran the ball, caught passes, but where he was most explosive was in the return game. His 672 return yards were a Mountain West high in 2014, and he averaged 24.0 yards per return on 28 kickoffs.

Last year, as a sophomore, Gaines was even more sensational; Gaines scored three times and averaged 23.4 yards per return on 28 kickoffs. He scored on an end-around in the team’s first game, a blowout of Savannah State, caught his first career touchdown in the win over UTSA and ran in a 30-yard score against New Mexico.

Without a doubt, he was one of the speediest young men on the Rams, one of their biggest playmakers.

And losing him — for what reason, we aren’t sure — means CSU has lost their No. 1 return man as well as a starting receiver. When the team released their spring depth chart, he was listed as the starting slot man, with Olabisi Johnson and Xavier Williams the outside guys.

Now, Colorado State is down another receiver in a group which was already somewhat thin following Joe Hansley and Rashard Higgins’ departures, and they must find a kickoff return man. When I asked Bobo about who he thinks will be the kickoff returner after the Spring Game, he said, “I think they’re in the freshman class.”

A big responsibility for a true freshman.

This piece will be updated.