Monday Presser: Seniors Set For Final Stage

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Sep 20

7:30 PM

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vs UTSA

Sep 27

5:30 PM

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vs Washington State

Oct 3

8:30 PM

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at San Diego State

Oct 10

7:00 PM

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vs Fresno State

Oct 18

5:00 PM

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vs Hawai'i

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The final regular season game is always highlighted with senior honors, and in this instance, it's a group which represents the first two recruiting classes Colorado State head coach Mike Bobo put together after he was hired.

Before Friday's game with Boise State (1:30 p.m.; CBS Sports Network), Colorado State will recognize graduate students Jalen Bates and Tron Folsom; seniors Andre Neal, Jamal Hicks, Anthony Hawkins, Brenden Fulton, Jeff Taylor, Braxton Davis, Jan-Phillip Bombek, Damion Dickens, Joshua Griffin; and early graduates Toby McBride and Max McDonald.

"It does take you back. You realize you've been here awhile and seen guys grow up," Bobo said. "You wish they would have been able to leave with a chance to play for a championship, but I've been proud of guys like Jeff and Jamal and how they've matured over the years."

Bobo inherited part of the 2015 group, some of whom had committed before his hire. Of that group, three played as true freshmen and graduate last year. McDonald delayed his enrollment and came in with the 2016 class, Bobo's first full-year effort.

Hicks, Hawkins and Taylor all played as true freshmen. So too did McBride, who is graduating a year early due to medical reasons.

Those being highlighted Saturday represent 118 starts and 340 games played.

Taylor has served as the offensive line's most experienced player this season, and he's in line to start his 26^th game. Hicks, who has started every game at safety, leads the team in tackles with 102 to rank third in the conference. He has made 29 career starts, Hawkins has 21.

Tall Order

Boise State enters the game having already clinched the Mountain Division nod for the Mountain West championship game, one the Broncos will host when they face Hawaii on Dec. 7 (2 p.m.; ESPN). Not only are they perfect in conference play, but are ranked No. 20 in the nation with a chance to earn the Group of 5 nod for the New Year's Six berth.

Over and over, Bobo stated the team was focused on the task being an opportunity to exit the season on a positive note.

"It's a chance to go out and compete, a chance to go out and play a ranked team," he said. "I don't think Colorado State has beat a ranked team since 2002, and we all know that Colorado State has never beaten Boise on the gridiron."

The Rams are 0-8 lifetime against Boise State, and Bobo is correct on his CSU upset history. The last win over a ranked team came when they beat Colorado 19-14 in the Rocky Mountain Showdown with the Buffs ranked No. 6. CSU has lost 11 consecutive games on their home turf to ranked foes, the last win coming against No. 23 (Coaches Poll) Fresno State in 1993. That year, the Rams also beat No. 22 BYU at home. The Rams have lost to a ranked Boise State team twice at home in that stretch.

"Any time to you're playing somebody who is considered one of the best teams in the country, I think that gives you an extra incentive as a football team to go out and prove you can play with anybody," Bobo said.

Here and There
With heavy snow expected early in the week and even more forecast for game day, Bobo said there is already a plan in place for facilities to make sure the field is ready for Friday's contest. Early predictions had up to 14 inches of snow covering Northern Colorado from Monday night through Tuesday evening. … Davis is expected to appear in his 52^nd career game Friday, tying him with Trent Sieg and Cory James for the second most appearances in Rams history. … The Rams are 3-1 under Bobo in the regular-season finale. … Colorado State ranks seventh in pass defense, the best since 1991.

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