After months of build up and anticipation, the early signing period for the 2023 cycle is officially here. 

Heading into year two under head coach Jay Norvell, the Rams are looking to build off of the success established over the final two months of the regular season. However, in order to do so, the Rams need to create much more depth than they had down the stretch of the 2022 campaign. 

With the ability to sign upwards of 40 players this winter, CSU is going to have quite a few new faces joining the locker room over the next six months or so. So with that in mind, keep up to date with everything you need to know about CSU’s 2023 signing class here. We’ll provide updates throughout the early period and will keep Ram fans in the loop as the week progresses. 

High School Signees 

(QB) Jackson Brousseau | Utah | Lehi HS | 6’4 | 210 lbs

• Brousseau was the first verbal commit this cycle and stayed true to his word the entire way. A three-sport star and a four-time state champion between football, baseball and basketball, Brousseau has done nothing but win his entire career. As the gunslinger leading Ed Larson’s offense, Brousseau threw for more than 7,000 yards. He had 74 touchdowns and only 15 interceptions in his high school career as well, so it’s not just arm talent, he’s displayed the ability to make good decisions with the football over a large sample size. While he may not have received a ton of attention for his success nationally, the writers in Utah raved about his game all season long. He’ll add more depth to what is already an encouraging room full of up-and-coming QBs.

(RB) Damian Henderson | California | Los Alamitos HS | 6’3 | 185 lbs

• The highest rated recruit in this year’s class, the ESPN 4-star prospect signed with CSU over offers from Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, San Diego State, San Jose State and Washington. Although he had interest from schools up and down the west coast, it seems that the longstanding relationship he had with the staff really paid off in the end. Henderson was one of the first offers that Jay Norvell and Co. made after leaving Nevada for CSU. Coming off of a stellar senior season in which he went for 1,744 yards on the ground (145.3 per game) and rushed for 23 touchdowns, it’s huge that CSU was able to maintain his interest. He is a versatile playmaker that can line up anywhere on the field. And it would not be surprising at all to see the staff find ways to get him involved in the offense from Day 1.

(RB) Justin Marshall | Indiana | Merrilville HS | 5’11 | 175 lbs

• One of the most intriguing athletes in this class, Marshall is a home run hitter and an absolute weapon in the open field. With reported offers from Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue and Wisconsin, among others, Marshall received significant interest from multiple major programs across the country. Fortunately for the CSU diehards, Marshall will be making plays for the Green & Gold instead. A guy that did a little bit of everything for his team at the high school level, Marshall is coming off of an insane season in which he rushed for 440 yards and five touchdowns on an average of 10.7 yards per carry. He also had 43 receptions for 1,088 yards and 16 touchdowns through the air. Although there are a lot of different ways that CSU could get him involved in the offense, the plan right now is to develop him as a running back.

(WR) Stephon Daily | Arizona | Sierra Linda HS | 6’2 | 170 lbs

• Daily had multiple offers inside the conference and received some interest from Pac-12 schools too. A star on the gridiron and on the hardwood, Daily is one of many multi-sport athletes to be joining the crew this cycle. Over 19 games between the last two seasons, Daily recorded 109 receptions for 2,011 yards and 21 touchdowns. He appears to be yet another intriguing prospect for CSU to attack opponents vertically with, and should be a great fit in the Air Raid.

(WR) Jamari Person | Tennessee | Haywood HS | 6’2 | 185 lbs

• One of the later commits this cycle, Person announced his intent to sign with CSU on Nov. 18. According to 247Sports, his offers include Austin Peay, Indiana and Marshall. He led is team with 57 receptions for 1,150 yards and 13 touchdowns this fall. And like many of the other receiver prospects in this class, Person is a multi-sport star, that has displayed above-average athleticism in the open field.

(WR) Caleb Goodie | Texas | Memorial HS | 6’0 | 175 lbs

• Goodie’s only offer posted on 247Sports is from CSU. His stats are not up to date on Max Preps, however, you can see on his Hudl film that he is a dangerous weapon down the field and has the ability to go up and over a defender for a contested catch. He is explosive in the open field as well, which is great because the Rams need to be able to create more yards after the catch.

(WR) Silas Evans | Colorado | George Washington HS | 6’1 | 190 lbs

• Evans had offers from Colorado and Oregon State but chose to represent his home state up in Fort Collins. An absolute burner with a background in track & field, Evans is the type of guy that can turn a routine catch into a major gain. He finished the 2022 season with 35 catches for 692 yards and eight touchdowns. Additionally he had 105 total tackles and a pair of interceptions as a defensive back.

(WR) Lavon Brown | California | Sierra Canyon HS | 5’11 | 185 lbs

• A three-star prospect out of Sierra Canyon High School, Brown committed to CSU at the end of June, but also held offers from Arizona, Arkansas, Oregon, Florida State, USC, Utah, Utah State and UNLV. Prior to transferring to Sierra Canyon in the Los Angeles area, Brown played for Desert Pines High School in Las Vegas. Looking at him on film, what stands out the most about Brown is his natural hands. He definitely has skill in the open field as well, so look out if defenders don’t come in with the correct form. Brown just may take it to the house.

(TE) Mason Muaau | Hawaii | Campbell HS | 6’5 | 220 lbs

• Muaau was originally the first verbal commit at Hawaii under Timmy Chang but later flipped his allegiance to CSU after taking an official visit over the summer. A four-sport athlete in high school, Muaau also played soccer, track and basketball. He will transition to tight end after playing wide receiver in high school.

(OL) Tanner Morley | Colorado | Valor Christian HS | 6’5 | 310 lbs

• Morley chose CSU over offers from New Mexico State and Northern Colorado, but it was reported that Kansas State was also talking to him. Although he did not receive a ton of national recruiting interest, he certainly has an intriguing frame for a kid that is coming out of high school. He was a first-team all-state selection in 2022 and comes from a program that has consistently produced D1 talent. It’s great to see Bill Best and Co. keep a guy like him local, especially as CSU attempts to rebuild its offensive line.

(OL) Christian Martin | Louisiana | Destrehan HS | 6’5 | 250 lbs

• Martin could have played in the SEC at Mississippi State. He also could have signed with Houston or Louisiana, both of which have established consistent success over the last decade. Ultimately though he decided to come to CSU and help revamp what was one of the worst offensive lines in the country in 2022. While Martin will likely need to put on some weight to be an effective offensive tackle at the FBS level, what really stands out about him on film is how nimble and agile he moves. His ability to beat defensive lineman off the snap is encouraging as well.

(OL) Chris Maxey | Texas | Bryan HS | 6’5 | 323 lbs

• Maxey did not get a ton of interest from schools around the country but he definitely has the right size to play offensive tackle at the FBS level. In addition to football, Maxey also plays basketball for Bryan High School and he actually moves really well laterally for a guy with that much mass. His senior highlight film for football can be watched here.

(OT) Aitor Urionabarrenechea | California | Chaminade College Prep School | 6’5 | 325 lbs

• Along with a couple of intriguing FCS offers including Incarnate Word and Sacramento State, Urionabarrenechea held offers from Fresno State, San Diego State and Wyoming. According to 247Sports, he is a three-star prospect. Watching his senior highlights on hudl, the massive tackle predominantly played on the right side, though he does have the frame to protect the quarterback’s blind side. The most intriguing parts of his game on film is the way that he stays engaged in pass blocking scenarios, and how he absolutely mauls linemen when gets the opportunity in the run game.

(DL) Kennedy McDowell | Texas | Memorial HS | 6’4 | 210 lbs

• How can you not be excited about an edge rusher who has earned the nickname “Mayhem”? Listed at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, McDowell is a monster off the snap and a total quarterback killer. A letterman in football and track, McDowell is a versatile athlete and someone that has the makings of being a three-down player for Freddie Banks. As a senior he recorded 54 total tackles and six sacks. McDowell was also a state finalist in 110-meter hurdles as a sophomore with school-record time of 14.47. In addition to CSU, he received offers from Arizona State, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska and Notre Dame. McDowell could have continued his career at Army or Air Force as well.

(DL) Andrew Laurich | Illinois | Yorkville HS | 6’5 | 250 lbs

• Straight from the heart of Big Ten country, Andrew Laurich comes to CSU with tremendous size for a true freshman. Coming off of an impressive senior campaign in which he recorded 50 total tackles (29 for loss), 17 QB hurries and 7.5 sacks, Laurich has already proved to be a disruptor in every stage of the game. He’s an effective tackler against the run and plays with a relentless motor on every snap. What’s great is that he seemingly could be effective as an interior lineman or a defensive end as well. It would not be surprising at all if Laurich is one of the signees that works his way onto the field fairly quickly.

(DL) Whitfield Powell | Texas | Regents School of Austin | 6’4 | 211 lbs

• Powell comes to CSU with an impressive resume that includes being a two-time all-state selection in football, as well as a state record holder in multiple track events. Watching him on film, you can see the explosiveness that he brings to the table, particularly when he is coming downhill at the quarterback. This fall he finished with 13.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss. In total Powell recorded 137 tackles in his career, 36 of which went for a loss, and 22 sacks. According to 247Sports, he held offers from Arizona, Penn and Washington State.

(DL) Javion Smith-Combs | Colorado | Cherry Creek HS | 6’6 | 222 lbs

• Coming off of yet another state title under Dave Logan, Javion Smith-Combs brings a winning background to Fort Collins. He also brings an athletic profile that is really encouraging. A two-sport athlete for the Bruins, Smith-Combs also played basketball, which is unsurprising given his length. Unlike many high school prospects though, he demonstrates on film that he uses that length to his advantage. Smith-Combs does a great job of having active hands and using his strength to throw offensive linemen around. He is able to cover a lot of ground from sideline to sideline too, due to the long strides that he takes.

(DL) Kenyon Agurs | California | Inglewood HS | 6’3 | 230 lbs

• The fourth player to sign with CSU out of Inglewood High School since Norvell came to town, Agurs is yet another intriguing athletic prospect that can come compete for snaps on the defensive line. In addition to football, Agurs also starred in basketball and track & field, which is obviously a common theme with the 2023 class. Freddie Banks cares much more about explosive traits and general athleticism than he does about being refined at a specific position. And Agurs seems like the type of player that the now-second-year defensive coordinator would love to coach.

(LB) Drew Rodriguez | Oregon | Sprague HS | 6’2 | 195 lbs

• Rodriguez was a three-sport star at Sprague High School, participating in basketball and track, in addition to football. At the high school level he used that athleticism to his advantage greatly as he played both ways and even earned all-conference honors as a receiver and a safety. As a senior he recorded 39 catches for 747 yards and 15 total touchdowns (11 receiving). He also registered 62 tackles, three interceptions and a pair of defensive scores to round out a really stellar senior campaign. Rodriguez is expected to play linebacker at CSU, which makes a lot of sense given how much ground he can cover from sideline to sideline. He very well could be one of the steals of this cycle.

(LB) Niko Lopez | California | Santa Margarita Catholic HS | 6’3 | 210 lbs

• Much like Rodriguez, Lopez is an above-average athlete, and he played a little bit of everything in high school. He was a two-time all-conference selection as a wide receiver and recorded 581 yards and five touchdowns as a senior. At the FBS level Lopez will begin his career as a linebacker, where he’ll really be able to put his size and speed to use. Watching Lopez on film, the guy plays receiver with a ton of physicality, so it’s unsurprising that many Mountain West schools had interest in him playing tight end. I really think he will be a natural fit at linebacker though — a position Freddie Banks has shown an ability to get great results from at both Montana State and CSU.

(LB) Boom Jock | Minnesota | Episcopal | 6’5 | 210 lbs

• Continuing with the trend, Jock is freaky athletic and starred in three different sports in high school. Playing wide receiver and safety this past fall, Jock had 54 receptions for 814 yards and nine touchdowns to go along with his 52 total tackles and four interceptions. At CSU Jock will play linebacker, which makes a lot of sense when you see how much ground he can cover from sideline to sideline.

(DB) TJ Crandall | Washington | Sammamish HS | 5’11 | 170 lbs

• Crandall committed to CSU back in June over offers from Army, Arizona State, Idaho State and Yale. His Twitter page also indicated interest from a multitude of other schools, including Nevada, Washington, Washington State, TCU and USC. With a basketball background, Crandall seems like a natural fit in the secondary. He did also play some offense in high school too though, which keeps in line with the trend of finding versatile athletes to suit up on defense.

(DB) Dylan Phelps | Nevada | Spring Valley HS | 6’2 | 185 lbs

• Phelps was not one the previously announced commits, so he was a bit of a surprise on Wednesday morning. But when you look into his background, it’s easy to see why the staff coveted him. Phelps is a three-sport athlete that also starred in basketball and track. As a cornerback he earned all-conference honors as a senior, when he finished with 57 total tackles and a pick-six. He also received strong recruiting interest from Timmy Chang at Hawaii.

(DB) Dante Scott | California | Bonita Vista HS | 6’1 | 195 lbs

• One of the first commitments for this class, Scott is a versatile athlete that received interest from multiple programs in the Mountain West. Between 17 games over the last two seasons, Scott recorded 51 catches for 1,064 yards and 14 touchdowns. As he explained on the DNVR Rams Podcast in the summer though, Scott will start his collegiate career on the defensive side under Freddie Banks.

(DB) Jaylen Gardner | Texas | Episcopal HS | 6’1 | 205 lbs

• A three-sport letterman in football, basketball and track, Gardner comes to CSU after an extremely decorated high school career. As a senior he recorded 33 receptions for 459 yards and four touchdowns, but had more than 1,100 all-purpose yards. He also recorded 38 tackles and an interception on defense, which is where he will play for the Rams. According to 247Sports, Gardner signed with CSU over an offer from UTSA.

(S) Jett Vincent | Kansas | Canton-Galva HS | 6’3 | 185 lbs

• Vincent signed with CSU over an offer from North Dakota. The versatile athlete out of Kansas was a four-time all-state selection at defensive back and a one-time selection at receiver. In addition to football, Vincent also played basketball and ran track. He is a three-time all-state selection in hoops and averages better than 15 points per game in his career. According to csurams.com, he holds both the 8-man and all-class state record with 36 interceptions.

College Transfers 

(TE) Dallin Holker | Utah | BYU | 6’5 | 240 lbs

• Holker made headlines about a week ago when he announced his intent to transfer to CSU from BYU. A productive tight end with valuable experience both on and off of the field, Holker is a nice addition to a room that is filled with younger guys. He recorded 42 receptions for 521 yards and three touchdowns over 22 total games between 2018-2022. And he’ll have two years of eligibility remaining.

(OL) Saveyon Henderson | Illinois | Lane College | 6’5 | 300 lbs

• Henderson comes to CSU with 20 starts at right tackle under his belt. There is not a lot of video available from his time at Lane College, however, his build is definitely intriguing. We’ll see if he can work his way into the mix for CSU this fall.

(OL) Drew Moss | Texas | Lamar | 6’4 | 300 lbs

• Moss started 22 consecutive games at right tackle for Lamar. He comes to CSU with two years still to play and will be one of the 13 early enrollees this spring.

(OL) Oliver Jervis | Pennsylvania | Monmouth | 6’5 | 300 lbs

• The most experienced of the offensive line transfers, Jervis has 24 starts and 35 career appearances to his name so far. Having spent time at offensive tackle and guard, he provides some flexibility for an offensive line that needs to take big steps in the right direction in 2023.

(DB) Tyrell Grayson | California | Utah Tech | 6’0 | 180 lbs

• Grayson will have an opportunity to play against his old team when Utah Tech comes to Canvas Stadium this September. And when he does, hopefully he’ll be able to produce the way he did for the Bison these past two seasons. Over 22 games between 2021-22, he recorded 187 tackles, 13 PBUs, three interceptions and three forced fumbles.

(DB) Ron Hardge III | Florida | Oregon State | 6’0 | 190 lbs

• A three-star recruit coming out of high school, Hardge began his career at the University of Illinois in 2018 and played in six total games as a true freshman. He then transferred to the City College of San Francisco and recorded 27 tackles, one interception and three pass breakups in 2019, before moving on to Oregon State, where he played in 22 total games between 2020-22. Hardge played in nine games this fall and finished with 20 total tackles and two PBU’s.

(DB) Dominic Morris | Texas | Furman | 5’11 | 175 lbs

• Morris has been productive since the beginning. The athletic defensive back was an all-conference selection as a true freshman in 2021. And he followed up his first successful campaign with another productive season this fall. Morris had 19 tackles, seven PBUs and a pair of interceptions in 10 games. Along with Ron Hardge III, he’ll provides much-needed depth and experience for a group of defensive backs that will have high expectations next season.

(TE) Vince Brown | Illinois | College of DuPage | 6’7 | 215 lbs

• Brown is built almost exactly like Cole Turner (Nevada) and will hopefully be able to serve a similar role at CSU. Watching his college highlights, Brown can be an effective weapon in the Red Zone due to his size. All you have to do is throw it up and let him do the rest. His speed allows him to stretch the field up the middle though — which is a component of the offense that we need to see more of. 

Departures

(WR) Dante Wright | Temple

(WR) Melquan Stovall | Arizona State

(WR) Ty McCullouch | Montana State

(TE) Tanner Arkin | Illinois

(DB) Tywan Francis | Temple

(DT) Devin Phillips | Kansas