Making Sure Opportunity Awaits

Earning a bit of name recognition goes with the ultimate goal, especially for a walk-on.

The blueprint is as old as the game they play. Come in as a nobody with no stars. Earn your way on the team. Work to catch a coach's eye, prove there is some value you can add. Get the chance, make the play. Make people in the stands ask: Who exactly is that kid?

Simple as that. As Colorado State's football team continues to build during spring camp, Tommy Maher entered the 15 practices having done all that in his true freshman season. All it took was one play, though after his first big opportunity, he was just fine with no one knowing who he was.

"I just had a bit of a rough play before halftime. I went in motion -- a bit too fast -- and I fumbled," Maher recalled. "I was down in the locker room, but a bunch of guys came up to me and supported me, so I told myself I need to get it back. Huge credit to the coaches for still believing in me. I went out there, ran the play I ran in practice. I told myself it's the same thing in practice. That's how I approached it, and it worked."

Not just plays in a game, but big plays in The Game – The Border War. Trying to head into halftime with a big lead, Colorado State attempted a sweep on fourth-and-goal from the Wyoming 1, only to have the exchange between Maher – the man in motion – and quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi go awry, leading to a 21-yard loss and a missed opportunity.

Put yourself in his shoes. First time the coaches wanted to put the ball in his hands and he fumbled. On the goal line. Against a rival.

It doesn't require any iota of imagination to know how he felt.

"I was super emotional in that moment. I thought that was going to be my only moment the whole season and I blew it," Maher said. "I was super happy with how I responded, and a huge credit to my teammates and coaches for throwing me back in there and giving me another shot."

There were a lot of pick-me-up words of encouragement from the players.

His coaches, instead, issued him a bill.

"Basically, me and Coach (Chad) Savage went to him and said, 'you owe us,'" current wideouts coach James Finley said. "Basically, later on you have to make a play.

"He said, 'I got you coach.'"

And he did. Nor did he have to wait long to pay off the marker.

On the second CSU play from scrimmage in the second half, Maher drew in a deep ball over his shoulder from Fowler-Nicolosi, a 53-yard touchdown catch for a 24-3 lead. Those were Colorado State's final points of the game where they ended a three-year skid in the rivalry.

Ram fans had a good reason to know his name, but his teammates and coaches know a lot more. Which is why none of them are surprised the kid from California – now on scholarship – is pushing for an increased stature.

Maher admits the feeling of euphoria is one a player doesn't want to give up. You dream about it, then it happens, and you crave the sensation. But when you're a 5-foot-10, 170-pound receiver, opportunities are not given. If he wants to be part of the equation, which Maher says he does, he'll have to earn every play.

That's why none of his teammates are surprised about the way he's going about his business. He may be on scholarship, but he still works like a walk-on with everything to prove.

"Every day. That's how he is. That's his DNA," Finley said. "I've known Tommy a long time, his family. That's his mentality. He came from (St. John Bosco High School) where he was competing with four-stars and competing with other guys like that and competing against some of the top teams in the nation. That's just in his DNA to get up and work every day.

"He's awesome in the classroom and awesome when it comes to me grading on technique and catching the ball and things like that. He's hungry. He's still hungry. He wants to be the best. I love him and I'm glad we've got him."

What fans saw on the touchdown play was a fact which became apparent early on to the team – Maher was fast. It's a great skill to start with, but it won't carry a receiver all alone. Run a route with the proper timing. Create separation from defenders. Understand situations and be able to read defenses.

After the Wyoming game, when head coach Jay Norvell was asked about why Maher for that play, the answer was simply Maher had shown he was really good at running that one particular route, one Tory Horton could run with his eyes closed.

Again, one route does not make a receiver. None of these facts are lost on Maher. He's had a private coach for years back home, and his ability to run multiple routes is not in question on the practice field, still he seeks perfection and versatility.

"I did a great job of running that route, and credit to the coaches for throwing me out there in practice and letting me run that route," Maher said. "But yessir, I've been working hard in the offseason expanding my route tree and continuing to try to be the best version of myself that I can."

Now, it is spring ball, a time when perfecting the craft is paramount. This is the moment when any player can make a surge forward, to gain some trust from the staff and the team and put themselves firmly in the equation for fall camp.

That's when things are really decided. When the entire team is on campus and pieces start falling into place. Not just the two-deep chart, but who does what particularly well, and on offense, who can make plays and how do they make them best.

Nobody is suggesting anything for Maher, but the way they don't speaks volumes about a player who finished the season with four catches for 99 yards. There is something about the kid, one of them being he always seems to be open.

"He's pretty much good at everything. He's one of the quickest people in person I've ever seen," Fowler-Nicolosi said. "His ability to cut and find space, his knowledge of football and being on the same page with me on every play is something I haven't seen a lot. It feels very familiar in that aspect to Tory (Horton), which is pretty cool."

The first hint the Rams are finding way to use him comes in how they are moving him around in camp. He can split out wide, as he can definitely stretch the field vertically with his speed. The Rams are also using him in the slot, a place where he seems adept at getting lost in the shuffle and finding open areas.

For good measure, Finley has him back receiving punts. Don't bet against him because Finley is going all in.

"Let's put it this way. I don't make a lot of money, but I'd put everything I own on Tommy," Finley said. "I'm not going to say that about just anybody. It doesn't matter about size, he's going to give you everything he's got, and that's all you can ask for. If it comes down to making a play, I'll put my money on Tommy over anybody in the nation."

It's nice to have people know your name. It's particularly nice to have a school pay for your education. That's not why Maher walked on at Colorado State. Not to simply make a team. Not to make one play.

He came to make his statement, to chase his dream.

"The goal for me was never to be on scholarship. I had greater goals, obviously going to the NFL," Maher said. "That was just part of the goal, getting on scholarship at first, but that wasn't the ultimate goal. I want to just keep having my head down and working extremely hard so I can achieve my goals.

"After that moment, I know a lot of guys would get complacent and sit back and think I can do this, I'm kinda that guy now. For me, I was more hungry. I knew that I could do that, and I wanted to keep going, keep pushing and continue to be that guy."

Which is why no one is surprised Maher has entered camp with the same chip he enrolled with at Colorado State. When people don't see enough in you to give you a scholarship, the message is clear: Prove it.

Which is all he's done, somewhat quietly. Fowler-Nicolosi said you never hear Maher complain about a tough workout, a grueling day of practice or a rough session anywhere. He's there to work.

That's the kid Finley knows, which is why he was surprised with how Maher reacted after his touchdown. Then again, he also calls him a "flat-out dog" for his ability to work, and a dog will bark if provoked.

"If you watch him practice and the way he works and his demeanor, he's always serious," Finley said. "After he made the play and scored the touchdown, he put up the shush sign (a finger to his mouth), and I asked him why, because you don't celebrate. He said there was a fan in the corner when I fumbled saying a lot of stuff I didn't like, so when I caught that ball, I was telling him to shush."

Truth is, Maher isn't opposed to the name recognition. It wasn't the target, just a step. It was a big one, but he has no intention of it being his last.

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