National Signing Day is here for high school recruits in the 2026 cycle and it’s an exciting time in Ram Country. Less than 48 hours after Jim Mora was introduced as the head coach, the CSU Football program is signing its first players under the new regime.
It’s the beginning of a new era in Fort Collins — one led by a man with legitimate pedigree and a track record of success in both the professional and collegiate ranks. And while the last decade has largely been underwhelming for the program, there’s a feeling of hope and optimism right now, like the Rams finally landed the right guy for the job.
There will still be Division I transfer additions to the team in January. Unlike the past couple of seasons, the high school and transfer signing periods are now separate, which actually makes the day feel a little closer to what it used to be. But with that in mind, here’s a live tracker with all of the latest CSU signees.
CSU Football 2026 signees
(QB) Carter Emmanuel | Orlando, Fla.
Emmanuel was scheduled to be Mora’s quarterback at UConn. Now he’ll be coming to Fort Collins instead. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound QB is a three-star prospect on 247Sports and has offers from Arkansas, Pittsburgh and West Virginia, among others. Emmanuel threw for just over 2,220 yards as a senior, finishing the year with 16 touchdown passes and just three interceptions. He’s accounted for 35 passing touchdowns and nine rushing scores over the past two years.
(QB) Darnell Kelly | Fairburn, Ga.
Kelly has long been committed to CSU and that never wavered despite the coaching change. A three-star prospect out of Langston Hughes High School, Kelly has thrown for 1,972 yards this season to go along with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He’s also rushed for 508 yards and seven touchdowns. A versatile athlete with a solid arm, Kelly is a really intriguing recruit who will come in with a winning pedigree.
(RB) Cedric Ross | Lubbock, Texas
A speedster out of Texas, Ross stars on both the track and the gridiron. He at one point de-committed from CSU, however, it’s very exciting for the Rams that he elected to get back on board. He’s recorded 26 total touchdowns throughout his high school career and close to 1,200 all-purpose yards. He could have a Javion Kinnard-type impact for the Green & Gold with his ability to impact the game as both a rusher and receiver.
(RB) Damian Moore | Orlando, Fla.
Moore, like his high school teammate Carter Emmanuel, was originally committed to sign with UConn. The 6-foot, 200-pound running back is coming off a senior year in which he rushed for 1,205 yards and 24 touchdowns at Edgewater HS. The three-star prospect signed with the Rams over offers from Arkansas State, Army and Toledo, among others.
(WR) Troy Foster | Huntington Beach, Calif.
Troy Foster is a big-time playmaker out of California. The 6-foot-1, 202-pound wide-out had over 3,200 receiving yards and 38 receiving touchdowns throughout his high school career. The three-star prospect chose CSU over offers from New Mexico, Oregon State, San Diego State and Utah State, among others.
(WR) Yasser Jackson | Oakland, Calif.
A 6-foot-2, 171-pound prospect, Jackson did a little bit of everything for Oakland High School. He lined up out wide at receiver on offense and played linebacker / safety on the defensive side. He’ll now focus on receiver at the collegiate level though.
(WR) Ross Nickson III | Van Nuys, Calif.
Nickson played at Nevada in 2023 before transferring to Riverside Community College. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound wide receiver is coming off of a 10-touchdown season at the JuCo level and adds some much-needed size to the wide receiver room.
(WR) Isaiah Watson | Aurora, Colo.
Watson is one of a handful of local recruits to sign with CSU in the 2026 cycle. A 6-foot, 180-pound wide receiver out of Vista Peak High School, Watson also runs track and can really move. He’s coming off a season season in which he recorded 54 receptions for 1,190 yards and 16 touchdowns. He’s scored 27 total touchdowns in his high school career and gives shades of a young Olabisi Johnson.
(OL) Luke Van Auken | Franklinville, N.J.
At 6-foot-6, 256 pounds, Van Auken is a big man to be a three-sport athlete. The three-star prospect was originally committed to UConn before following Mora to CSU.
(OL) Uluaki Tatafu | Kailua, Hawaii
One of two Kailua High School offensive lineman coming to CSU this cycle, Tatafu signed with CSU over a variety of schools from the Mountain West and Pac-12. The 6-foot-6, 295-pound lineman had offers from Hawaii, San Diego State and UNLV. UTSA was interested in his services as well.
(OL) Packs Avohelo | Kailua, Hawaii
A 6-foot-6, 320-pound offensive tackle, Avohelo won’t lack size when he gets to campus. The three-star offensive lineman signed with the Rams over offers from Arizona State, Cal, Hawaii, San Diego State, UNLV and UTSA.
(OL) Max Vivier | Hagerstown, Md.
Vivier was one of two offensive line recruits to flip their commitment from UConn to CSU. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound offensive tackle is a three-stat recruit and also had offers from Marshall, Temple and Maine.
(DL) Taveon Robinson | Olathe, Kan.
Robinson comes to CSU from Hutchinson Community College. The 6-foot-5, 308-pound defensive lineman is listed as a three-star prospect on 247Sports and had offers from a handful of FBS schools, including Hawaii, Houston and Texas State. He had 27 tackles over the past two seasons, including 4.5 for loss.
(DL) Amare Bell | Laveen Village, Ariz.
Bell was originally committed to New Mexico State but elected to flip to CSU on Signing Day. Listed at 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, he’ll come in with a solid frame already. The three-star prospected recorded 53 tackles and 8.5 sacks as a senior this fall.
(DL) Tyrone Fitten | Hogansville, Ga.
Listed at 6-foot-2, 290 pounds, Fitten is a defensive tackle out of Callaway High School. He signed with CSU over offers from Appalachian State, Florida Atlantic and Memphis, among others.
(DL) Desman Mannuel | Cedar Hill, Texas
Manuel is a 300-pound defensive tackle who signed with CSU over offers from UTEP, Sacramento State and CSU-Pueblo.
(LB) Jaylen King | Clayton, N.C.
King was one of multiple UConn pledges to flip their commitment to CSU. The 6-foot-2, 192-pound linebacker recorded 104 tackles as a senior this past fall, including an absurd 36 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. He’s an unranked prospect on the major recruiting sites but could prove to be a diamond in the rough for the Rams.
(LB) Ace Brown | Youngstown, Ohio
Brown was originally an Eastern Michigan commit prior to flipping to CSU over the summer. According to 247Sports, Brown signed with the Rams over offers from Illinois, Kentucky and West Virginia as well. He also received interest from a couple of programs in the MAC.
(LB) Jaden Hernandez | Bellevue, Wash.
Hernandez was at one point committed to play tight end at Sacramento State. After visiting CSU, though, he decided that Fort Collins was where he would rather be. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound recruit is listed as a three-star prospect on 247Sports. He had 18 tackles and six sacks this past season on the defensive side of the ball.
(LB) Mickey Williams | San Fransisco, Calif.
Williams, like Hernandez, is being recruited to play the ‘jack’ role defensively. Listed at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, Williams moves well coming downhill and looks like a natural pass rusher. He had 24 tackles this past season for Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep.
(DB) Atticus Tillman | Arvada, Colo.
Tillman was the first local player to sign under Mora. A three-star defensive back out of Arvada West High School, Tillman had 59 tackles and an interception as a senior. He signed with CSU over offers from New Mexico State, Bowling Green, Navy, Georgia State and Portland State.
(DB) Justin Lewis | Fontana, Calif.
Lewis was a one-time UCLA commit who caused a lot of speculation when he flipped to CSU back during the coaching search. The 6-foot-1, 159-pound cornerback comes to CSU by way of Rancho Cucamonga High School. He had seven pass breakups over the last two seasons, according to MaxPreps.
(DB) Xavier Wimbush | Ashburn, Va.
Wimbush was the first UConn commit to publicly flip to CSU. According to MaxPreps, the three-star safety out of Stone Bridge High School recorded 89 total tackles, four interceptions and six pass breakups over the last two seasons.
(DB) Thomas Cook Jr. | Forest Hill, Texas
One of a handful of Texas recruits this cycle, Cook comes to CSU by way of North Crowley High School. The three-star cornerback signed with the Rams over offers from Arkansas State, Texas State and Tulsa.
(DB) Kallen Martinez | Lutz, Fla.
Martinez is listed as a three-star prospect and is yet another UConn flip. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound safety out of Armwood High School recorded 30 total tackles and forced two turnovers as a senior. He signed with CSU over offers from UConn, UNLV and Michigan State.
(DB) Jermain Santana-Diaz | Sienna, Texas
Santana-Diaz is technically a top 10 rated recruit in CSU Football history. The athletic safety out of Ridge Point High School signed with CSU over a ton of offers from a ton of different power 4 programs and appears to be a prospect with an extremely high ceiling. Among the schools interested in his services were Notre Dame, SMU, UNLV and Oklahoma. And it’s easy to see when you witness the physicality and explosiveness he plays with
