Colorado State University Athletics
Kelly leaves Rams to pursue career in baseball
3/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 30, 2009
By Zak Gilbert
Athletic Media Relations
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Colorado State quarterback Alex Kelly has opted to pursue a career in baseball, and has decided to leave the Rams football program, the university announced Monday.
Kelly, a redshirt freshman from Rocky Mountain High School in Fort Collins, led his prep baseball team to consecutive state championships at Colorado's highest level, in 2007 and '08. On the football field, Kelly set virtually every single-season and career school passing record, earning first-team all-state honors as a senior.
His decision to concentrate on baseball was not a reflection on the CSU football program or its coaches, but a personal choice, he told Head Coach Steve Fairchild.
Fairchild wished Kelly well, but stressed that the Rams will be OK.
"Alex is a tremendous young man, with a really neat family," Fairchild said. "We wish him all the best in his future as a baseball player.
"It's obviously disappointing because we had high hopes for him. While we're disappointed to see him go, we are prepared to win without him. We'll get Klay Kubiak back in the fall. At that point, we'll have two quarterbacks with Division I game experience - Kubiak and Grant Stucker -- and I've really liked what I've seen from Jon Eastman so far."
The Rams also have signed incoming freshman Nico Ranieri, a talented signal caller out of Orlando, Fla. And, CSU will continue to recruit the position, as it always does.
HANIE, HAGGANS TO VISIT DENVER IN PRESEASON: The National Football League on Monday released its 2009 preseason schedule and two former CSU standouts will be returning to Colorado later this year.
Caleb Hanie, who led the Mountain West in passing efficiency as a senior at CSU in 2007, will be in action with the Chicago Bears in prime time on Aug. 30, when Chicago meets Denver on NBC's Sunday Night Football. Hanie is expected to battle this summer for a backup role to Chicago starter Kyle Orton.
The Broncos' other home preseason opponent, the Arizona Cardinals, also will bring with them a former Ram, LB Clark Haggans. The defending NFC champion Cardinals are at INVESCO Field at Mile High for the preseason finale on Sept. 3. Haggans, Colorado State's career sacks leader, also helped the 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers to a Super Bowl.
