Senior List Shows Sign of the Times

Once a Ram, always a Ram.

But nowadays, it's quite likely they were something earlier. Of the 10 players Colorado State football will recognize Saturday for Senior Day, only one has been here at least three seasons.

It may not be the way of the world, but definitely college football.

"Absolutely. Usually when you do senior day you've got guys who have been around you for four years," CSU coach Jay Norvell said. "You recruited them and have seen them grow up. This is a great example of how college football has changed. We have nine players and only one player whose been here his whole career.

"A lot of these guys have already been through senior day at other schools, so they're getting their opportunity here at CSU. But we're happy to have them."

Thanks to the transfer portal and extra years from the pandemic, rosters across the country are littered with newcomers who have made an impact. Colorado State is no exception.

Where would the team be without the additions of Andrew Cannon and Oliver Jervis on the offensive front. Chigozie Anusiem has made an impact in the secondary the past two seasons. Justin Sanchez came via the junior college route, becoming a starter at linebacker.

All four years or not, the team will honor the players, some of whom are just as surprised at finishing at a school different from the one where they originally signed.

"I think after covid, the transfer portal kind of blew up," said Anusiem, who began his career at Cal. "It opened up a lot of opportunities for players, so I mean, obviously I benefitted from it, I love the transfer portal, I agree with what it is. Yeah, if you would have told me I wouldn't have been graduating from there and finishing college football from there, I probably wouldn't have seen that."

What Anusiem hasn't seen, Mohamed Kamara has witnessed at Colorado State.

He arrived as a freshman from Newark, N.J., earning playing time as a linebacker as a true freshman. Over the years, he's developed into one of the best pass rushers in program history, his 29 career sacks ranking second to Clark Haggans (33), his 42.5 tackles for loss sitting third.

Norvell said one of the best recruiting jobs his staff did was convincing Kamara to play the fifth year he was granted at CSU. Still, Saturday is not the time for reflection.

"There will be time for that later," he said. "There's been little sparks here and there. I think a lot of it was, even last year when I graduated, the big thing for me is when I graduated. I did that soul searching, going through all the things I went through. It will probably happen again because I've had another year to look back on."

As most players admit, what they hold dearest in their memories is the time in the locker room, the time spent with teammates at practice, but also away from the facility. Much of what Kamara envisioned is not what he's chasing now, but the work accumulated to reach this point.

What makes him smile most is seeing the younger defensive linemen taking those same steps.

"It's seeing them play well. That's the future of CSU," he said. "During the last game, Henry Blackburn said I got that sack for you. I don't want to see you leave, and that touched my heart.

"I think a lot of the time, Kenyon Agurs, he does things and he's just not there yet. I'm like, we can work with that hopefully. He makes me laugh a lot, because in a sense, I'm more loud and boisterous now, but I was very much like him when I was younger, very quiet, very to myself and it took me a while to make friends and even open up."

The fact all of his memories are of one place is a bit old school at this time, which Norvell recognizes. And even though he's only been his coach for two years, there's a deep appreciation for the molding Kamara's done in his time. He's gone from a role player to a defensive standout, a leader with a voice which carriers across the barriers of offense and defense.

He's one of the first to the field, and generally one of the last to leave. All the time in between is spent not just on honing his skill but mentoring the next wave.

"The lone kid who's been here all those years is Mo Kamara. I couldn't be prouder of Mo," Norvell said. "I think he's grown as a player so much in the last two years, but I'm more proud of him as a leader. You talk about setting an example in practice and preparation and just being relentless with his effort and physicality. Every day in practice he sets that example; has done a great job as a captain setting a tone. I'm just really proud. He's got two games, and he has a chance to be the all-time sacks leader at this school. Joey Porter went here."

A player who he has already passed in sacks and tackles for loss. Those are pursuits Kamara relishes.

Senior day, he's not going to pass that up, even though he's already done it at Colorado State. When he walks on to the field, it won't be for him.

"I'm going to do it for my family. I'm going to do it for the fans at CSU," he said. "I personally didn't care to do it, but I think it's important to show face for the fans who have been here for my entire journey, and I think it's important for my coaches and my family. I'm going to do it for them."

Always a Ram. Never anything else, which this year makes him stand out in just one other way.

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Kenyon Agurs

Chigozie Anusiem

Henry Blackburn

Andrew Cannon

Oliver Jervis

Mohamed Kamara

Justin Sanchez

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