LAS VEGAS — Trey McBride is well revered around the Mountain West. 

Asking opposing players and coaches about the veteran tight end, it’s clear that No. 85 is respected both for his talent and competitive drive. Even starters from rival schools talked up McBride and his potential to be an impact player in the NFL. 

“Going against Trey, he’s an animal. He’s probably one of the best tight ends we see every year,” Wyoming linebacker Chad Muma said. “He’s a competitor. We always have to game plan around him.”

It’s also clear that nobody enjoys playing the 6-foot-4, 260-pound workhorse from Fort Morgan, CO. In fact, as much as the competition respects McBride’s game, according to players from multiple teams, he is the biggest trash talker in the conference. 

“I guess that’s an honor,” McBride chuckled at the accusation. 

“When I’m out there, I don’t really know what I say, but maybe I get after it a little bit. I’m competitive. So definitely, I’m sure I’ve said some things. But, you know, I totally get it back too. It’s both ways.”

McBride’s confidence has never been in question. After catching five balls for 90 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the win over Wyoming last fall — one of which McBride ran through Keyon Blankenbaker’s attempted arm tackle on his way to the end zone — McBride, with a straight face told the media that it should take more than one person to bring him down. 

“It’s just a mentality, every time I touch that ball, I’m trying to score,” McBride said postgame. “The way I look at it is, I don’t think one defender should be able to tackle me. I’m 250 pounds and a corner is not going to tackle me.”

FT. COLLINS, CO – NOVEMBER 05: Wyoming Cowboys LB Keyon Blankenbaker (18) can’t bring down Colorado State Rams tight end Trey McBride (85) who scores a touchdown against him in the third quarter at Canvas Stadium November 05, 2020. 

What makes McBride so beloved by Ram fans, though, beyond his talent, attitude and an ability to make plays, is the team-first mindset he operates with. After his breakout campaign in 2019, McBride could have transferred to a power five program. He stayed. McBride could have also gone pro after the way he produced for the Rams in 2020. Again, he stayed. 

“I didn’t want to leave after a short year,” McBride said of his decision to return to CSU. 

The veteran tight end explained that a four game season just wasn’t the way he wanted his final year with the program to be. According to the 2021 second-team preseason all-conference selection, there is more he wants to accomplish with the Rams. McBride has never gotten to play in the postseason or really even play on a team that was consistently competitive. He’s hoping 2021 will be a different story, as the squad returns its leading producers from both sides of the football. 

Beyond his team goals, there’s also still work to be done individually. 

“There’s a lot of things you can still improve on,” McBride said. “You can never be the best, you can never be perfect. I always strive to continue working on my game mentally and physically. I try to be a better leader, a better person.”

And of course, there’s the added bonus of getting to play another year with his brother Toby. McBride reminisced about how special it’s been getting to play with him at CSU and joked that Toby is going to be 30 years old this season. 

“I think it’s going to be awesome to get one more season together.”

The other major factor in McBride’s decision to return is that he just genuinely loves playing for Steve Addazio. McBride told DNVR that Addazio has come in and established a hard nosed football culture, which is something he really appreciates and embraces.

“Coach (Mike) Bobo did a lot of good things for us, no disrespect to him at all. Just at some point it’s time for a change,” McBride said. “Coach Addazio came in and he’s done a great job developing and establishing the culture we need. He’s really helped us develop.”

McBride explained that Addazio might come off a little scary at first, especially to the younger guys, but once you get to know him it’s clear that he cares about his players deeply.

“He’s a great person inside and out,” McBride said. “He he’ll do anything for any one of his players. I think he goes above and beyond all the time on trying to make our experience as great as possible.”

According to McBride, one of the the biggest changes has been the mentality in the locker room. Going into the Wyoming game, McBride said that it was evident that Addazio fully expected to win, something that wasn’t necessarily the case in previous seasons.

“Rivalries are important. If you win all the rivalry games and lose every other game, it’s still a pretty successful year.”

In McBride’s first two seasons at CSU the Rams were o-6 against Air Force, Colorado and Wyoming. So it’s unsurprising that finally getting to hold the Bronze Boot made a big impact on him. It’s also not shocking that he enjoys playing in an offensive system that gets him consistent targets.

Although impacted by the shortened season, McBride’s numbers were insane in 2020. He racked up 22 receptions for 330 yards and four touchdowns in just four games played. What’s more, he nearly doubled his per game receiving average from 46.7 in 2019 to 82.5 in 2020. There’s obviously no way of knowing if he would have been able to keep the absurd pace up, but he would have likely had the chance to go well over 1,000 yards and 10+ touchdowns in a traditional 12 game slate.

If he produces even remotely close to the same level in 2021, McBride will have a solid chance to be a top 75 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Addazio-coached teams have always found creative ways to feed the rock to athletic tight ends. Considering there’s nothing on the field McBride can’t do, Ram fans should expect a monster year from their beloved superstar.