How CSU Football has been impacted by transfers so far

FORT COLLINS, CO. — Transfer season is officially upon us and with more player movement around the country than ever before, it’s safe to say that many teams are going to have a much different look in 2021. 

Now, don’t worry. This is not one of those articles bashing players for exercising the same freedom of choice that coaches have been using since Day 1. Just look at Bryan Harsin who bailed on his 2021 signees at Boise State the minute that a better opportunity opened up for him at Auburn. The truth is coaches have always been able to look out for their own interests, so why shouldn’t the players be able to do the same? 

Having addressed the hypocritical nature of college football, though, there’s also no denying that with so many guys moving around the country each offseason, it can make it increasingly difficult to establish any type of consistency within a football program — especially for schools outside of the Power 5, whom rely on development more than signing stacked classes with elite talent. 

For a program like Colorado State, players having more freedom of movement is somewhat of a blessing and a curse. On one hand, you always worry that bigger schools are lurking in the DM’s of your players — something Steve Addazio has criticized publicly as an issue with the modern game. 

“A lot of the upper tier (programs) of the Power 5 have whole recruiting departments and personnel departments,” Addazio said on Dec. 16. “They try to spot the top kids in every conference throughout the country and then they try to recruit your kids. How do you hold a guy anymore?” 

But while Addazio is spot on about bigger schools trying to steal elite talent from the smaller teams, playing devil’s advocate, the Rams have also benefited from the addition of transfers themselves. Between Scott Patchan on the defensive line and Cam Reddy on the o-line, the Rams were able to boost the starting lineup with an influx of talent and toughness that legitimately did make a difference, despite CSU’s 1-3 overall record in a weird season impacted by COVID-19. 

So, essentially, like most things in life the subject of transfers is complicated. There will be times it helps your team and also times that it hurts — that’s just how it goes. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how CSU’s roster has been impacted by transfers so far this winter. 

Coming 

Vincent Picozzi | OL | 6-foot-4, 300 lbs. | Temple University 

A versatile player with over 200 snaps at three different positions, Picozzi comes to Fort Collins with a ton of experience under his belt and a proven work ethic. After joining Temple as a walk-on back in 2016, Picozzi primarily worked his way onto the field via special teams as a redshirt freshman in 2017. Picozzi started one game at left guard that season as well. 

By 2018 he was named a full-time starter and was in the lineup either at right guard or center for every game that season. After starting at right guard again in 2019, Picozzi initially moved to left tackle in 2020, but played part of the season at right guard due to an injury to Adam Klein. Now a graduate of Temple University, Picozzi will have two years of eligibility remaining — which he will likely use as a starter for the Green & Gold — either at tackle or guard. 

Regardless of which position he ends up playing, his addition is certainly great for the Rams. 

Of all the linemen in the FBS that blocked for 230 or more pass attempts last season, Picozzi was one of only five individuals to allow one or fewer pressures. According to Pro Football Focus, Picozzi graded out as the 12th best pass blocking offensive lineman in the entire nation (88.7). He’ll now reunite with his former teammate in the AAC, quarterback Todd Centeio, who also transferred to CSU from Temple last offseason. 

Going

Patrick O’Brien | QB | 6’5, 235 lbs. | Senior

O’Brien has never been in a cushy situation. After signing with Nebraska, O’Brien ended up transferring to CSU once Scott Frost took over for the Cornhuskers. And even when he got his shot at CSU, it was taking over for Collin Hill a quarter of the way through the season — something that’s never easy for any backup QB to do. But by the end of 2019, the passing offense was actually starting to click pretty well. In fact, prior to the original 12-game schedule being decimated by COVID-19, O’Brien was named preseason second-team All-Mountain West by CFB guru Phil Steele. It should be noted that Warren Jackson was a part of that equation. Irregardless, national expectations were high for CSU’s passing offense in O’Brien’s second season as the starter. Unfortunately, though, it just didn’t play out that way. 

O’Brien was pulled in three of four games this season and just never seemed to click with the new staff. He’ll leave CSU with a statline of 3,394 passing yards, 16 touchdown passes and four rushing scores. For his career O’Brien is a 61 percent passer with a QBR of 135.3 (CFB Reference). His greatest moments in a Rams uniform were road wins over New Mexico and Fresno State in 2019, and of course the Border War victory in 2020. 

Tyreese Jackson | RB | 6’0, 200 lbs. | RS Freshman

Jackson signed with CSU over offers from Kansas, Toledo, Virginia, West Virginia and Utah State, among others. But other than a single special teams tackle against Boise State in 2019, Jackson never managed to get on the field over the last two years. 

Jadon Walker | WR | 6’0, 205 lbs. | RS Junior 

Walker was one of the many recruits that Mike Bobo was able to get to come across the country during his five years as head coach. However, the redshirt junior from Lithia Springs, GA., just never seemed to find his footing. Walker was moved around a couple of times from wide receiver to defensive back and it probably made it tough for him to establish any type of permanent role on the team. 

Walker saw more action at safety as a true freshman in 2017 than he ever really did at wide receiver over the years. After playing in 11 games that season, though, Walker only played in eight over the next three seasons combined. He’ll leave CSU with nine total tackles and once career catch. 

Jeremiah Pruitte | WR | 6’5, 220 lbs. | RS Freshman

There were big expectations for Pruitte when he flipped his commitment from Louisville to CSU in 2019. But after joining fall camp late as a freshman, the former three-star recruit never managed to work his way onto the field in two seasons with the Rams. Due to retaining this year, he’ll leave CSU with four years of eligibility. 

Caleb Blake | DB | 5’10, 174 lbs. | RS Freshman

Blake chose CSU over offers from Air Force, Georgia Tech, Louisville, NC State, and Pittsburgh. He briefly entered the transfer portal last spring before deciding to stick around for the 2020 season. After not playing, though, Blake will leave CSU with four years of eligibility. 

Livingston Pagofie | DL | 6’1, 270 lbs. | Senior

Pagofie saw a decent bit of action as a freshman and sophomore (2017-18) but just kinda faded into the back of the rotation as his career went on. He’ll leave CSU with a single year of eligibility remaining.