Colorado State University Athletics
Bobo signs highly touted class
2/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Signing Day Central / Full Release (PDF) / Photo Gallery / Live Stream Show
National Signing Day Live Stream, Part 2
FIRST IN
Colorado State head coach Mike Bobo welcomed his second signing class on Wednesday, bringing 26 student-athletes to Fort Collins. The signing class is one of the largest in school history. Arjay Jean, a pass rusher from St. Thomas Aquinas, was the first to sign. His paperwork was processed at 5:59 a.m. MT. He officially signed prior to that, as did Marvin Kinsey, who announced his decision on live TV from the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. Bobo announced defensive tackle Christian Colon at 1:56 p.m. MT, and closed the day with highly touted Devron Davis at 3:18.
SPANNING THE COUNTRY
The 2016 signing class hails from 14 different states, with California (7) being the most plentiful, followed by Georgia (3). Colorado, Florida, Kansas and Texas also produced multiple signees.
State-by-state breakdown: California (7), Georgia (3), Colorado (2), Florida (2), Kansas (2), Texas (2), Arizona (1), Louisiana (1), Nevada (1), New York (1), North Carolina (1), South Carolina (1), Utah (1), Washington (1).
| Player | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown | Last School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Awunganyi | ATH | 6-0 | 175 | Riverside, Calif. | John Burroughs High School |
| Faton Bauta | QB | 6-2 | 220 | Brooklyn, N.Y. | Georgia |
| Rashaad Boddie | RB | 6-0 | 226 | Sammamish, Wash. | Skyline High School |
| Detrich Clark | ATH | 5-10 | 180 | Thatcher, Ariz. | Eastern Arizona Junior College |
| Christian Colon | DT | 6-3 | 310 | Charlotte, N.C. | Independence High School |
| Devron Davis | CB | 6-0 | 210 | Merced, Calif. | Merced Community College |
| Hunter Donnelly | LB | 6-1 | 220 | Arlington, Texas | James Martin High School |
| Dalton Fackrell | TE | 6-4 | 240 | South Jordan, Utah | Snow College |
| Michael Gallup | WR | 6-2 | 210 | El Dorado, Kan. | Butler Community College |
| Nicho Garcia | OL | 6-5 | 300 | Highland, Kan. | Highland Community College |
| Chris Gaston | DB | 6-2 | 180 | La Puente, Calif. | Bishop Amat High School |
| Tavis Guerra | K | 5-11 | 195 | Whittier, Calif. | Fullerton College |
| Anthony Hawkins | WR | 5-11 | 185 | Arlington, Texas | Bowie High School |
| Houston Haynes | S | 6-4 | 200 | Palmdale, Calif. | Pierce Community College |
| Jamal Hicks | DB | 6-3 | 180 | Harbor City, Calif. | Narbonne High School |
| Collin Hill | QB | 6-5 | 225 | Moore, S.C. | Dorman High School |
| Arjay Jean | DE | 6-3 | 220 | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | St. Thomas Aquinas |
| Darneail Jenkins | TE | 6-5 | 240 | Oakland, Calif. | Laney Community College |
| Marvin Kinsey | RB | 6-1 | 190 | Atlanta, Ga. | Riverwood High School |
| Darius May | RB | 6-0 | 190 | New Orleans, La. | McDonogh 35 High School |
| Toby McBride | DE | 6-3 | 250 | Fort Morgan, Colo. | Fort Morgan High School |
| Isiah Pannunzio | TE | 6-2 | 215 | Pueblo, Colo. | Pueblo South High School |
| Anthony Smith | DE | 6-3 | 250 | Las Vegas, Nev. | Desert Pines High School |
| Trey Sutton | LB | 6-1 | 215 | Miami, Fla. | Westminster Christian High School |
| Jeffrey Taylor | OL | 6-5 | 295 | Jonesboro, Ga. | Jonesboro High School |
| A'Keitheon Whitner | DB | 5-11 | 180 | Mechanicsville, Ga. | Eastern Arizona Junior College |
EARLY START
Four student-athletes are already on campus and enrolled for the 2016 spring semester. The group is several weeks into spring classes, and has been taking part in the Rams' 4th Quarter workout program.
Bauta - A graduate transfer from Georgia, the quarterback has one year of immediate eligibility remaining... Completed 15-of-33 passes for 154 yards in a start against Florida in 2015.
Haynes - Helped Pierce Community College to a 2013 American Bowl victory... Totaled 42 tackles and two interceptions... Has two years of eligibility remaining.
Hill - Holds school records for career touchdown passes, completion percentage and passing yards in a season and career... Two-time All-South Carolina selection.
Whitner - Named a 2015 JuCo All-American... Finished his two-year career at Eastern Arizona Junior College with 63 tackles and two interceptions... Has two years of eligibility remaining.
WINNING TRADITION
Colorado State has posted three consecutive winning seasons, and the Rams' incoming signees look to continue that trend. Based off of their high school and college careers, there's reason to believe they will. The combined 2015 winning percentage of the Rams' 26 signees is .731 (226-83). Thirteen individuals propelled their teams to double-digit-win seasons in 2015, and four lost just one contest. Additionally, in 2014, Isiah Pannunzio led Pueblo South to an undefeated record (14-0).
IN THE POSTSEASON
In addition to the strong winning percentage, 10 signees won a conference championship during their high school careers: Robert Awunganyi (John Burroughs), Rashaad Boddie (Skyline), Christian Colon (Independence), Hunter Donnelly (James Martin), Anthony Hawkins (Bowie), Jamal Hicks (Narbonne), Arjay Jean (St. Thomas Aquinas), Toby McBride (Fort Morgan), Isiah Pannunzio (Pueblo South) and Jeffrey Taylor (Jonesboro).
Boddie and Pannunzio are two-time conference champions. Additionally, Jean (Florida) and Hicks (California) won state titles in 2015, while Boddie (Washington) and Collin Hill (South Carolina) were state runners-up. Several signees were dual-sport athletes in high school, including Fort Morgan's Toby McBride, who was a national champion and All-America wrestler.
COLORADO CONNECTION
The Rams signed a pair of Colorado prep stars on Wednesday. Toby McBride hails from Fort Morgan, the same hometown as CSU legend Joel Dreessen. McBride, who will play defensive end at CSU, finished his high school career with 312 tackles, 42 tackles for loss and 18 sacks. He helped the Mustangs to a 12-1 record in 2015, posting 104 tackles and six sacks, in addition to 680 rushing yards and 11 scores. Isiah Pannunzio won two conference championships at Pueblo South, the same high school as 2015 graduate Kivon Cartwright. Pannunzio was a two-time first-team All-Colorado selection, catching 72 passes for 1,324 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior.
NATIONAL SIGNING DAY LIVE STREAM
Colorado State expanded its coverage of National Signing Day in 2016, producing a one-of-a-kind live stream. The six-hour show hosted by Brian Roth featured live analysis, highlight videos of each signee and feature interviews with Bobo, CSU's coordinators, athletics department staff, current players, and several Rams now playing in the NFL. Fans can re-watch the live stream at CSURams.com/signingday.
WHAT COACH BOBO IS SAYING...
(on the excitement of National Signing Day)
"There is a lot of excitement, and most of it is for the young men and their families. All their lives they have dreamed about playing college football and it actually comes to fruition today when they sign that piece of paper and put on that hat or shirt. Really the family gets to celebrate and we are just a part of the process in congratulating them and telling them how exciting this time and chapter in their life is."
(on his staff's focus while recruiting)
"We lost some defensive linemen and some secondary players, and that was an important area for us to locate and evaluate. We wanted to get guys committed and signed that fill that need, and overall team speed. We wanted more depth and quality players that can play on a consistent base. That's what you try to do on your football program is to build quality depth, get more competition that raises the level of play, and I think we did that with this class."
(on recruiting the South)
"Colorado is obviously big for us and California has been big for this university, as well as Texas. We are going to recruit in the South just like everyone else in the country. My first week in Atlanta, Ga., I saw Wyoming, Boise State, Utah State and every Pac- 12 team. We are going to be competing for those players, as well, and we have connections and ties in Atlanta and in the South."
