FORT COLLINS – This year’s senior class of Colorado State football players have a distinct opportunity Saturday night that no other group will be able to say. Their final home game as a Ram will also be the final game at Hughes Stadium.
For tight end Nolan Peralta, it will be of great significance.
“People are going to be flying in from everywhere to see the game,” Peralta said. “It’s a big game for us, not only for CSU and Hughes Stadium, but to become bowl-eligible. So we’re preparing as hard as we ever have and we’re taking this week very seriously. We know what this game means to a lot of people.”
Peralta’s journey to Fort Collins began in his hometown of Murrieta, California where he starred in football and basketball. A valedictorian and three-time Academic All-CIF student athlete, he had a 4.3 grade point average.
Although Peralta had an invitation to play football for Harvard, he turned it down in order to play for CSU.
The 6-foot-3, 240-pounder may not be the most recognizable name on the offensive side of the football, but he’s been nothing but consistent and reliable for coach Mike Bobo.
“Since I’ve been here, Nolan Peralta is the ultimate team player,” said Bobo. “He’s the ultimate, unselfish guy that’s going to go out and do his job and he’s going to do it well. And if he doesn’t do it well, he’s going to be disappointed in himself and feel like he let the team down. We talk about trying to dominate your job every snap and that’s what he tries to do. He’s really picked it up as far as a leadership role for this football team. He’s always been a blue-collar, tough guy. But he’s been more vocal, he’s first in every line, he’s first in every rep, he tries to set the tone and the tempo for practice every day.”
Don’t think Peralta hasn’t had to deal with adversity along the way. In his collegiate debut against North Dakota State in 2012, he suffered a season-ending arm injury that allowed him to receive a medical hardship waiver as a true freshman.
“It’s definitely been a huge motivation factor. You really realize that our opportunities are limited, especially as a football player. Just to take every opportunity to the fullest. I know that my time here at CSU is coming to a close and I want to really embrace it and make the most of it.”
Peralta got back on the field the following season and played in 10 games for the Rams, recording four tackles. Two of those, interestingly, came at Alabama, the top ranked team in the nation at the time.
“To play against the best team in the nation, in front of 100,000 people, it’s an experience that doesn’t come along very often for anybody,” said Peralta. “So to say I’ve been able to do that is awesome and I’m sure I’ll be telling my kids about it someday.”
For much of 2014 and 2015, Peralta supplanted himself as that steady tight end that coaches could count on. He recorded a combined six catches for 63 yards in those seasons.
It took until his senior season for Peralta to notch his first career touchdown reception. In a blowout Border War loss to Wyoming, Peralta’s score served as one of few bright spots in the contest.
“There was a lot of negative in that game, but there was also some positive. We were able to move the ball well and we look back to that and see what could have been. We’re really close. Our offensive output has been very good these last few weeks and we’ve continued to improve every week. We know we’re close to winning those close games.”
Peralta is just one of a number of seniors who will be honored prior to kickoff. Bobo wants them to go out the right way.
“If you want to honor your family and your loved ones and you want to honor playing at Hughes, then you put forth your best effort,” said Bobo.
Peralta echoes his coach.
“There’s so much history that’s come through here at CSU,” said Peralta. “So many teams, so many players that people still talk about. We just happen to be the last team to go out and play at Hughes Stadium. We take it very seriously. We know that a lot of people are going to be watching us and we’re excited for the opportunity.”
He may not fill up the stat sheet like some of his teammates, but you can bet that Bobo and the Rams are going to miss not only Peralta as a player, but as a person.
“He’s done an outstanding job for us,” Bobo said. “I wish we had him another year. He’s going to be successful in whatever he does, just because of the type of person he is.”
