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Rashard Higgins drafted by Cleveland Browns, becomes next NFL-bound Ram

April 30, 2016

Welcome to the big league, Rashard “Hollywood” Higgins.

Higgins, the hard-worker out of Mesquite, Texas, has finally realized a life-long dream, being selected 172nd overall by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL draft. Higgins to Cleveland was somewhat of a surprise, considering he is the fifth wide receiver the Browns have selected in the 2016 NFL Draft.

“Rashard Higgins was a joy to coach,” Mike Bobo said in a statement released by the school. “He was everything you want in a football player, and was a great ambassador for Colorado State on and off the field. Rashard will be successful at the next level!”

For fans of the Colorado State Rams football team, it’s a dream come true, too; “Hollywood” is the greatest receiver in the history of the program and seeing him move onto the NFL after only three years in college football is a proud moment.

We should all be proud to be CSU Rams.

As a sophomore, Higgins’ 96 catches for 1,750 yards and 17 touchdowns were all Colorado State single-season records and he was named a consensus All-American, as well as the runner up to the Belitnikoff Trophy to Amari Cooper of Alabama. Last season saw a change in quarterback, coaching staff as well as a few nagging injuries, slowing his production to 75 receptions, 1,062 yards and eight scores.

Still, his quickness and knowledge of the entire route tree are the things which set Higgins apart. As well as his desire to out-work everyone.

When we talked to his trainer earlier this year, David Robinson called Higgins a “wideout junkie.”

“On spring breaks or certain breaks they give guys to go home, he never was going home or going somewhere relaxing, he was always coming home, working on his craft with me,” Robinson explained of Higgins’ burning desire to improve. “Once he started coming home in college more, coming back to Dallas to work on his skill-set in between time, that’s when it clicked to me. He’s taking this serious.

“The more he started believing in his ability, he became a wideout junkie,” Robinson said. “Always asking questions, loves watching film, he always wants to learn more about the game. That’s the growth I’ve seen from his freshman through his junior year at Colorado State.”

Bobo on Higgins: “Rashard Higgins was a joy to coach. He was everything you want in a football player, and was a great ambassador for CSU."

— Colorado State Football (@CSUFootball) April 30, 2016