Everything Ram fans need to know about Colorado State’s first recruiting class for the Pac-12 era (CSU football 2026 recruiting tracker)

The 2026 recruiting class is coming together quickly for Colorado State Football.

As the latest commitments come in for the Green & Gold, we’ll update this recruiting tracker over the course of the summer and link to the latest content that Ram Nation needs to see. Keep this piece handy and keep up with everything you need to know about the 2026 signing class, a group that will usher CSU into the Pac-12 era.

CSU Football 2026 commitments

(QB) Darnell Kelly | 6’2, 185 lbs | Langston Hughes HS | Fairburn, GA.

Kelly committed to CSU on April 3rd and has been actively hyping up his fellow commits online ever since. The athletic quarterback out of SEC Country is a top 75 prospect at his position according to his 247Sports composite ranking. He chose the Rams over 20+ other offers including Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Tulane and James Madison. As a junior this past season, Kelly threw for 2,521 yards and had 28 touchdown passes while only throwing six interceptions. He had 463 yards on the ground and five rushing touchdowns as well. After two seasons as a starter for Peachtree Ridge High School, Kelly will play for Langston Hughes in 2025.

(TE) Arley Morrell | 6’6, 210 lbs | Pratt HS | Pratt, KS.

The Rams have had some success in Kansas these past few cycles and are hoping to have found another gem in Morrell. A top 50 tight end prospect nationally and a top 10 recruit overall out of his home state, Morrell visited Oregon State in May before coming to Fort Collins and ultimately committing to CSU on June 4th. The three-star prospect has 13 Division 1 offers listed on 247Sports, including New Mexico, Texas State, Wake Forrest and Washington State, to name a few. Morrell had 19 catches for 446 yards and four touchdowns as a junior. In addition to football, Morrell plays basketball and runs track, so he’ll come to CSU with a diverse athletic profile.

(TE) Jude Nelson | 6’4, 220 lbs | Millikan HS | Long Beach, CA.

Nelson has suitors throughout the Rocky Mountain region and up and down the West Coast. Arizona State, Boise State, BYU, Fresno State, San Diego State, Washington State and UNLV are among his many Division 1 offers. After first visiting Boise in late May, Nelson committed to CSU on June 6th shortly after his official visit. The athletic prospect had 29 catches for 357 yards and five touchdowns for Millikan High School in 2024.

(WR) Kash Brock | 6’2, 175 lbs | Basha HS | Chandler, AZ.

After taking an official visit to CSU over the first weekend of June, Brock announced his verbal commitment on June 13th. The three-star prospect picked the Rams over reported offers from multiple power four schools, including Iowa State, Northwestern and the University of Arizona. He has multiple other offers from Mountain West / Pac-12 programs as well. As a junior in 2024, Brock finished with 30 catches for 401 yards and five touchdowns.

(WR) Devin Hamilton | 6’4, 200 lbs | Mill Creek HS | Hoschton, GA.

Hamilton was initially offered by CSU on May 14th. About a week after he was offered, Hamilton posted a photo of wide receivers coach James Finley doing an in-home visit, which clearly went well given his decision to take an OV and ultimately verbally commit on June 18th. An athletic wide-out with a great frame and who can really run, Hamilton chose CSU over at least 15 other programs. He had 18 catches for 215 yards and four touchdowns in 2024.

(WR) Troy Foster | 6’3, 205 lbs | Huntington Beach HS | Huntington Beach, CA.

Foster was initially a San Diego State commit but de-committed shortly after taking his official visit to CSU. On June 22nd, the versatile playmaker out of Huntington Beach High School then posted about his decision to play for the Green & Gold. A three-star prospect on 247Sports, Foster has significant interest throughout the future Pac-12 and Mountain West Conferences. It’s easy to see why when you dive into the numbers though. Foster had 65 catches, about 1,300 receiving yards and 17 total touchdowns as a junior in 2024.

(ATH) Cedric Ross | 5’9, 170 lbs | Estacado HS | Lubbock, TX.

Ross is an absolute burner from the lone star state. The speedster might not be the biggest recruit on the board, but with a recorded 4.37-second 40-yard dash, he’s likely the fastest. A Swiss Army knife who does a little bit of everything, Ross has experience at running back and wide receiver in addition to returning kicks. He committed to CSU over multiple Mountain West schools like San Diego State, New Mexico and Air Force. Ross also has offers from Arizona and Texas Tech, among others.

(ATH) Yasser Jackson | 6’3, 175 lbs | Oakland HS | Oakland, CA.

Jackson was the first to publicly announce his allegiance to CSU after the staff teased a historic 11-commitment weekend all over social media. The two-way star for Oakland High School posted his decision on June 8th, shortly after taking his official visit. Listed as an athlete on 247Sports, the title feels particularly accurate for Jackson, who has experience at wide receiver, linebacker and safety. The versatile recruit recorded 107 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and three interceptions on defense in 2024. He also racked up 22 catches for 476 yards and eight touchdowns as a home run-hitting receiver out wide. The three-star recruit chose CSU over Delaware State and Sacramento State.

(OL) Alexander Brewer | 6’4, 295 lbs | Sequoyah HS | Canton, GA.

One of multiple commitments from the peach state in the 2026 cycle, Brewer committed to CSU on April 23rd. The three-star interior offensive lineman has at least 14 Division 1 offers, including but not limited to Coastal Carolina, James Madison and Memphis.

(OL) Packs Avohelo | 6’6, 320 lbs | Kailua HS | Kailua, HI.

The biggest recruit the Rams have on board so far, Avohelo is a mammoth of a man at 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds. He was recruited by ASU, Cal, Hawaii, San Diego State, UNLV and UTSA. But after visiting Fort Collins in the first weekend of June, the massive, yet athletic offensive tackle elected to commit to the Green & Gold on June 11th.

(OL) Jace Winchester | 6’3, 275 lbs | Dakota Ridge HS | Littleton, CO.

Winchester was the first local commit for CSU in the 2026 cycle and announced his decision to stay home on April 23rd. In a different world he very easily could have ended up playing against the Rams, considering Washington State, Wyoming and Fresno State are among his various Division 1 offers. Fortunately that won’t be the case thanks to a strong recruiting effort from O-line coach Bill Best.

(OL) Jacob McCrae | 6’4, 285 lbs | Allen HS | Allen, TX.

McCrae was the second verbal commitment for CSU in the 2026 cycle, announcing his decision April 4th, just one day after his future quarterback Darnell Kelly posted about his commitment. He has 10 offers reported on 247Sports, including James Madison, Memphis, San Diego State, UNLV and Utah State.

(DT) Desman Manuel | 6’2, 303 lbs | Cedar Hill HS | Cedar Hill, TX.

Manuel has flown under the radar a little bit. The 300-pound defensive tackle out of Texas has posted about offers from UTEP, Sacramento State, Weber State and CSU-Pueblo. He’s also taken an official visit to Jacksonville State. CSU was the most significant offer for the two-sport athlete, though, and he committed shortly after visiting CSU. Manuel is coming off a 2024 season in which he finished with 14 tackles and a sack.

(DT) Tyron Fitten | 6’2, 311 lbs | Callaway HS | Hogansville, GA.

Fitten announced his commitment to CSU on June 16th, 10 days after taking his official visit to campus. 247Sports does not have a star rating for him at the moment. He does however have double-digit offers listed, including Appalachian State, Memphis and Western Kentucky.

(LB) Ace Brown | 6’2, 215 lbs | Archbishop Hoban HS | Akron, OH.

Brown was originally committed to Eastern Michigan but an official visit to CSU quickly changed things for the 6-foot-2, 215-pound two-way star out of Ohio. An outside linebacker / EDGE with significant length and a physical mentality, Brown is somebody who passes the eye test when you see him on video. The three-star prospect chose CSU over offers from Illinois and West Virginia in addition to quite a few programs out of the MAC.

(LB) John McClellan | 6’3, 215 lbs | Rancho Cotate HS | Rohnert Park, CA.

McClellan is an intriguing two-way star who will come to CSU having played both running back and linebacker at the high school level. As a junior in 2024, McClellan racked up 157 tackles, including 15 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He added 41 carries for 202 yards on the offensive side as well. A three-star prospect according to 247Sports, McClellan was also offered by Nevada, Northern Arizona, Sacramento State and UNLV. Similarly to Owen Long in the 2024, though, the hyper-athletic linebacker might just end up being a real steal for the Green & Gold.

(DB) Thomas Cook Jr. | 6’1, 175 lbs | North Crowley HS | Fort Worth, TX.

Cook is a three-star cornerback out of Texas who is coming off of a 2024 season in which he recorded 20 tackles and had two interceptions according to MaxPreps. Among his Division 1 offers include Tulsa, Texas State and Arkansas State. He’ll come to CSU with a winning pedigree having been part of a North Crowley High School team that went 16-0 and won the Texas 6A Division I state championship last season.

(S) Atticus Tillman | 6’2, 170 lbs | Arvada West HS | Arvada, CO.

Tillman is a three-star prospect out of JEFFCO who elected to stay close to home. The Arvada West standout also had offers from Navy, Bowling Green, Georgia State, New Mexico State and Portland State. 247Sports lists him as a top 20 recruit out of Colorado in the 2026 cycle, so he’s a nice local pickup along with Jace Winchester (Dakota Ridge). He’s coming off a productive junior season in which he recorded 40 total tackles, 11 pass breakups and three interceptions.

(S) Jermaine Santana-Diaz | 6’1, 180 lbs | Ridge Point HS | Missouri City, TX.

Santana-Diaz has 15+ Division 1 offers including Baylor, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Miami and Kansas State. The three-star safety out of Texas is also being pursued by San Diego State and UNLV within the Mountain West. After being offered by CSU on June 4th, though, and then visiting campus about a week and a half later, Santana-Diaz ultimately committed to the Rams on June 20th. As a junior in 2024, the athletic DB recorded 49 total tackles, four PBUs and a pair of interceptions.