The 2020 Colorado State Rams football team represented Colorado State University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Originally, there was a cancellation of the 2020 season for the Mountain West Conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this was reversed when the conference agreed to play a conference-only, eight game season. The Rams were to play their opening game at Sonny Lubick Field at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colorado against New Mexico, but the game was canceled due to virus restrictions. The Rams were led by first-year head coach Steve Addazio.
Schedule The modified schedule included a game against New Mexico on October 24 that was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions. The November 21 game vs. UNLV was also canceled due to COVID-19 cases related to contact tracing within the UNLV program. The November 26 game at Air Force was also canceled due to COVID-19 cases related to contact tracing within the Colorado State program. The December 12 game vs. Utah State was canceled by Utah State University as a result of a Utah State player boycott in protest of comments made by their university president that they perceived as discriminatory.
Preseason Colorado State announced its 2020 football schedule on February 27, 2020. The 2020 schedule consisted of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season. On August 10, 2020, the Mountain West Conference announced the suspension of the football season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On September 25, the Mountain West announced the 2020 season would return with a revised 8-game, conference only season beginning October 24.
In August 2020, the university temporarily suspended the football program and initiated investigations into accusations of racism and verbal abuse of players by the coaching staff. However, the subsequent investigation found that the majority of athletes and staff disputed these accusations, and in October 2020, the investigation concluded and the team was cleared.
Wide receiver Warren Jackson was unanimously selected to the Mountain West Conference Preseason All-Conference Team, though he later opted out of the modified season to train for the NFL draft. Tight end Trey McBride, linebacker Dequan Jackson, and punter Ryan Stonehouse were also named to the 2020 Preseason All-Conference Team.
Game summaries Fresno State
Wyoming
Boise State
San Diego State
Personnel Coaching staff Steve Addazio Head coach 1stJoey Lynch Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach 1stChuck Heater Defensive coordinator/safeties coach 1st Antoine Smith Assistant head coach/defensive line coach 1st Louie Addazio Offensive line coach 1st Brian White Running backs coach 1st Cody Booth Tight ends coach 1st Kenny Guiton Wide receivers coach 1st Sean Cronin Linebackers coach 1st Kap Dede Outside Linebackers/nickelbacks coach 1st Anthony Perkins Cornerbacks coach 2nd Scott McLafferty Head strength and conditioning coach 1st
Roster 2020 Colorado State Rams Football RosterQuarterbacks 2 Justice McCoy – Rs. Junior (New Orleans, LA) 7 Todd Centeio – Rs. Junior (West Palm Beach, FL) 10 Aaron Syverson – Rs. Freshman (Minnetonka, MN) 12 Patrick O'Brien – Rs. Senior (San Juan Capistrano, CA) 15 Jonah O'Brien – Rs. Freshman (Bartlett, IL) 17 Walker Brickle – Freshman (Arvada, CO)
Running backs 24 Kyjuan Herndon – Freshman (Jacksonville, FL) 27 Jaylen Thomas – Sophomore (Colorado Springs, CO) 28 Christian Hunter – Sophomore (Fontana, CA) 29 Tyreese Jackson – Rs. Freshman (Jeanerette, LA) 32 Marcus McElroy Jr. – Senior (Denver, CO) 34 Hunter Williams – Rs. Sophomore (Frisco, TX) 47 David Aggrey – Rs. Sophomore (Bronx, NY)
Wide receivers 1 Jadon Walker – Rs. Junior (Lithia Springs, GA) 3 E.J. Scott – Rs. Junior (Atlanta, GA) 6 Ty McCullouch – Sophomore (Moreno Valley, CA) 13 Jeremiah Pruitte – Rs. Freshman (Marietta, GA) 14 Nate Craig-Myers – Rs. Senior (Dade City, FL) 18 Thomas Pannunzio – Junior (Pueblo, CO) 20 A'Jon Vivens – Rs. Sophomore (Denver, CO) 22 Dante Wright – Sophomore (Navarre, FL) 26 Logan Ludwig – Rs. Sophomore (Roxborough Park, CO) 38 Chris Franquemont – Freshman (Highlands Ranch, CO) 40 Dawson Menegatti – Freshman (Pueblo West, CO) 44 Garrett Burns – Freshman (Fort Collins, CO) 81 Dane Olson – Rs. Freshman (San Diego, CA) 83 Chris McEahern – Rs. Freshman (Arvada, CO) 87 Ryan Sayre – Rs. Senior (Castle Rock, CO)
Tight ends 16 Cam Butler – Senior (Columbia, SC) 40 Corte Tapia – Rs. Junior (Windsor, CO) 80 Sawyer Shepherd – Freshman (Loveland, CO) 82 Dylan Walker – Freshman (Douglassville, PA) 84 Gary Williams – Rs. Sophomore (Charlotte, NC) 85 Trey McBride – Junior (Fort Morgan, CO) 88 Brian Polendey – Rs. Junior (Denton, TX) 89 Kyle Helbig – Rs. Freshman (Broomfield, CO)
Offensive linemen 50 Owen Snively – Freshman (Fremont, NH) 52 Adam Korutz – Grad. Student (Johnson City, NY) 53 Elijah Johnson – Rs. Junior (Severn, MD) 55 Cam Reddy – Rs. Sophomore (Franklin, MA) 56 Ches Jackson – Rs. Sophomore (Tifton, GA) 60 Florian McCann – Rs. Sophomore (Denver, CO) 63 Alex Azusenis – Rs. Freshman (Powell, OH) 64 Scott Brooks – Rs. Senior (Moorpark, CA) 65 Tautai Li'o Marks – Freshman (Santa Ana, CA) 69 Barry Wesley – Rs. Junior (Morrison, CO) 70 Joctavis Phillips – Rs. Junior (West Monroe, LA) 71 Brian Crespo-Jaquez – Freshman (Fort Collins, CO) 72 Dirk Nelson – Freshman (Visalia, CA) 73 Gage Gaynor – Freshman (Parkland, FL) 76 John Blasco Jr. – Rs. Junior (Tacoma, WA) 77 Keith Williams – Rs. Senior (Baltimore, MD) 79 Tex Elliott – Freshman (Indianapolis, IN)
Defensive linemen 0 Toby McBride – Rs. Senior (Fort Morgan, CO) 1 Scott Patchan – Grad. Student (Tampa, FL) 15 Brandon Hickerson-Rooks – Rs. Junior (Harrisburg, PA) 33 Manny Jones – Senior (Cartersville, GA) 44 Blake Householder – Rs. Sophomore (Missouri City, TX) 49 Brandon Derrow – Rs. Sophomore (Columbus, OH) 50 Cian Quiroga – Rs. Freshman (Denver, CO) 52 Aidan Cullen – Rs. Freshman (Monument, CO) 56 Rushton Roberts – Rs. Sophomore (Jacksonville, FL) 59 Grant Stewartson – Freshman (Castle Pines, CO) 68 Cam Bariteau – Freshman (Wareham, MA) 90 Casey Irons Jr. – Freshman (Gilmer, TX) 91 James Mitchell – Freshman (Duncanville, TX) 92 Livingston Paogofie – Senior (Arlington, TX) 94 Devin Phillips – Junior (Monroe, LA) 98 Ellison Hubbard – Senior (Loganville, GA) 99 Luis Lebron – Rs. Junior (Jacksonville, FL)
Placekickers 35 Joe DeLine – Rs. Senior (Steamboat Springs, CO) 93 Jonathan Terry – Rs. Sophomore (Castle Rock, CO) 95 Cayden Camper – Sophomore (Pueblo, CO) 96 Robert Liss – Freshman (Phoenix, AZ) Linebackers 5 Dequan Jackson – Junior (Jacksonville, FL) 12 Cam'Ron Carter – Junior (Tucker, GA) 30 Chase Wilson – Freshman (Arvada, CO) 31 Tanner Hollens – Freshman (Littleton, CO) 35 Aaron Moore – Freshman (Oakland, TN) 36 Payton Polson – Rs. Freshman (Highlands Ranch, CO) 37 Blake Beecher – Rs. Freshman (Norco, CA) 39 Sanjay Strickland – Freshman (Arvada, CO) 42 Mohamed Kamara – Sophomore (Newark, NJ) 43 Troy Golden – Rs. Sophomore (Orlando, FL) 45 Bam Amina – Freshman (Waianae, HI) 46 Devon Edwards – Freshman (Mead, CO) 53 Cade Plath – Rs. Freshman (Chanhassen, MN) 55 Tavian Brown – Rs. Freshman (Demopolis, AL) 57 Will Drewes – Freshman (Longmont, CO) 58 Quinn Meinert – Freshman (St. Cloud, MN)
Defensive backs 2 Dajon Owens – Senior (Los Angeles, CA) 4 Rashad Ajayi – Junior (Atlanta, GA) 8 Quinn Brinnon – Junior (Pleasanton, CA) 9 Logan Stewart – Rs. Senior (Loveland, CO) 10 Tywan Francis – Junior (New Orleans, LA) 11 Henry Blackburn – Freshman (Boulder, CO) 14 Brandon Guzman – Freshman (Pasadena, CA) 17 Christian Cumber – Rs. Junior (Denver, CO) 19 Xavier Goldsmith – Rs. Freshman (Detroit, MI) 23 Mikell Harvey – Rs. Sophomore (Slidell, LA) 25 Keevan Bailey – Sophomore (Conyers, GA) 26 Marshaun Cameron – Rs. Senior (Los Angeles, CA) 32 Liam Huber – Freshman (Erie, CO) 34 Titus Jones – Rs. Sophomore (Kingston, GA) 38 Adonis Rufran – Rs. Junior (Colorado Springs, CO) 38 Griffin Vander Waerdt – Freshman (Parker, CO)
Long snappers 86 Ross Reiter – Junior (Phoenix, AZ) 97 Huck Vollmar – Rs. Junior (Colorado Springs, CO)
Punters 41 Ryan Stonehouse – Senior (La Verne, CA) 99 Jack Gabbe – Freshman (Jupiter, FL) = Redshirted for the 2020 season. | Rs. = Redshirted in a previous season. 2020 Colorado State Football Roster
Awards and honors Mountain West All-Conference selections:
Scott Patchan, DE (First team) Ryan Stonehouse, P (First team) Dante Wright, WR (Second team) Trey McBride, TE (Second team) Dequan Jackson, LB (Second team)
After the season Outgoing transfers Colorado State lost 12 athletes to the transfer portal, per the Coloradoan.
QBPatrick O'BrienRd. SeniorSan Juan HillsSan Juan Capistrano, CA2018, 2019, 2020WashingtonRBTyreese JacksonRd. FreshmanWestgateJeanerette, LA2019, 2020LouisianaWRNate Craig-MyersRd. SeniorTampa CatholicDade City, FL2019, 2020UCFWRJeremiah PruitteRd. FreshmanWheelerMarietta, GA2019, 2020Florida A&MWRJadon WalkerRd. JuniorChapel HillLithia Springs, GA2017, 2018, 2019, 2020N/ADLCasey Irons Jr.FreshmanGilmerGilmer, TX2020Northern ColoradoDLLivingston PaogofieSeniorBowieArlington, TX2017, 2018, 2019, 2020Dixie StateDBKeevan BaileySophomoreSalemConyers, GA2019, 2020N/ADBCaleb BlakeRd. FreshmanBishop MooreWinter Haven, FL2019, 2020Florida StateDBChristian CumberRd. JuniorMullenDenver, CO2017, 2018, 2019, 2020N/ADBXavier GoldsmithRd. FreshmanCass TechnicalDetroit, MI2019, 2020Idaho StateDBDajon OwensSeniorGardenaLos Angeles, CA2018, 2019, 2020Stony Brook
References