Former CSU Rams Charles Lovett and Mike Orakpo earn NFL opportunities

Colorado State Rams Football was represented strongly during the NFL Draft last weekend, with Ty Sambrailo being selected No. 59 overall and Garrett Grayson hearing his named called at No. 75. Sambrailo is now a Denver Broncos lineman while Grayson is with the New Orleans Saints.

But those aren’t the only young men getting a shot at becoming next level Rams.

Bernard Blake was signed as a college free agent by the Green Bay Packers right after the draft, and two more former Colorado State players will be given their opportunities as well.

Those two are wide receiver Charles Lovett and linebacker Mike Orakpo.

Lovett was one of Grayson’s go-to guys at CSU and will now try out with Grayson’s Saints. Lovett is smallish in stature (5’8” and 180 pounds) but big on heart. He’s speedy and has good hands, hauling in Grayson’s last-second touchdown pass to beat Boston College on a 4th-and-11 desperation play during the 2014 season. Lovett ended his senior season with 26 receptions for 474 yards and three touchdowns.

Orakpo, like Blake, was signed to a free-agent deal with the Arizona Cardinals. Orakpo played linebacker at CSU before being booted by Jim McElwain in 2012 due to an incident including fighting and beating Colorado State students. He transferred to Texas State and played well as a junior, with 4.5 sacks and 71 tackles. But in 2014, he tore his ACL and MCL, participating in only two games. Still, the Cardinals thought highly enough of his ability to let him prove himself in practices.

All over the NFL – from New York with Weston Richburg and Baltimore with Crockett Gillmore to Denver, New Orleans, Green Bay and Arizona – CSU players are being recognized and competing as pros.