Faton Bauta: The only talent I have is I can absolutely out-work everybody

Welcome, Faton Bauta, new kid in school.

For Colorado State Rams football, Bauta was a boon as one of their biggest named — OK, the biggest — signees. A former University of Georgia quarterback — that’s the SEC, y’all — Bauta was originally recruited by then quarterback’s coach Mike Bobo

One thing that impressed immediately was that Bauta introduced himself to every member of the media before interviewing with us for the first time. Being a college graduate and 22-years old shows immediately in the confidence he has in himself, even when the lights and cameras are pointed squarely in his face, the questions coming quickly.

“The only talent I have is I can absolutely out-work everybody, and I have no problem saying that,” Bauta said Friday evening after CSU’s first spring practice of the year. “That’s the only talent I have, and that’s the only thing I can do. I can out-prepare everybody. Nobody can tell me differently.

“Hopefully I can bring some guys along with me, that’s my job as a quarterback,” he continued. “I take that to heart. And that’s what I try to do every day when I wake up.”

Bobo said it himself on Tuesday, about seeing Bauta upstairs every Saturday when the head football coach would come to support CSU men’s and women’s basketball. The graduate transfer quarterback was studying film, drawing out plays, studying the playbook and all with mid-year freshman quarterback Collin Hill.

Well, Bobo had much more to say about Bauta on Friday following the team’s first spring practice of the year, and how he is a model player.

“He’s a serious guy,” Bobo said of Bauta. “When I talk about focused, and a guy being in tuned to what he has to do, to what we’re trying to do as an offense as a football team, he gets that. He’s a great example, really for our whole football team, of what I’m looking for.

“He’s going to be prepared,” Bobo said of Bauta, calling him a perfectionist. “Usually if you’re prepared, you’re going to have a chance to be successful.”

If Bauta had all the tangibles to be an SEC level quarterback, he likely would’ve seen the field more while with Georgia. Instead, he played in a total of six games, going 4-5 for 48 yards. Clearly, he’s huge on the intangibles, like studying the game religiously off the field to enhance whatever physical gifts he’s been blessed with.

And, while he didn’t necessarily make the grade in the SEC, he could end up being a strong quarterback in the Mountain West. Nick Stevens, the redshirt junior he’s competing against for the starting spot, went through an up-and-down season as a first-year starter for Colorado State in 2015. Still, Stevens led the MW in touchdowns thrown (21) and was second in yards (2,679). Those numbers aren’t massive, leaving the door open for Bauta to possibly see his time to shine. Now.

But, let’s not count out Stevens. The dude showed grit and grew up a great deal last season. Entering the year’s kickoff, he was named the starter, yet backup Coleman Key played — and challenged — Stevens for the starting spot during the early part of the year. Still, Stevens prevailed as the most consistent quarterback, the one who knew Bobo’s offense the best and the best leader of the bunch.

On Tuesday, Bobo said, “I want the guy, that when he steps into the huddle, those 10 guys know ‘He’s the guy.’”

Stevens won his teammates over during the course of the Rams 7-5 regular season, especially with the four-game winning streak to end the year bowl eligible. Bauta, no matter his on-the-field skills, his off-the-field superb study habits or his confidence with the media, must win over the rest of his teammates to be “the guy.”

A quarterback must be confident enough in himself to take the brunt of the criticism when it’s thrown his way following a loss. Successful quarterbacks must understand the offense inside and out, up and down, knowing every player’s role on every play. Winning quarterbacks protect the ball when necessary, and yet, know when to strike for six.

Who will be Colorado State’s starting quarterback in 2016? That’s the $20 million question. (No, wait, $20M is how much an anonymous donor paid to keep “Sonny Lubick Field” at the on-campus stadium, Friday.)

But, don’t count Bauta out. He may be No. 2 on the depth chart currently, but he’s working to be No. 1. As is Stevens.

Like Bobo said on Tuesday, players have 15 chances to prove they belong on the bus and on the field in the fall. For Stevens and Bauta, it’s one practice down and 14 to go.

Colorado State’s annual Green and Gold Game takes place on Saturday, April 23 at 1 p.m. inside Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium. Last year, Stevens helped secure his starting spot by out-performing Key in the Spring Game. Who will step up this time around?