Colorado State University Rams football play South Dakota State Jack Rabbits in game one
FORT COLLINS, Colo. — The Colorado State University Rams open up their 2021 season September 3rd vs. South Dakota State at 7pm at Hughes Stadium in Fort Collins, Colorado.聽 The Rams are faced with one of the toughest FCS schools in South Dakota State for their season opener.聽 After a shortened 2020 season where the Rams played just 4 of their 8 scheduled games due to covid and a boycott of the Utah State game, they look for a strong start against the South Dakota State Jack Rabbits. Colorado State was just 1-3 in 2020 but coming into 2021 they are projected as the number two team in the Mountain West preseason rankings with quarterback Todd Centeio at the helm.聽 Centeio showed flashes at the end of last season that he can be a dynamic college quarterback.聽 He is a dual threat type of quarterback known for his running ability more than his passing but insists that his pass game is the strong suit of his game. In a small sample size last season, Centeio completed just 14-36 passes but ran for 92 yards with a long of 35 yards.
As for Colorado State鈥檚 matchup with South Dakota State, don鈥檛 expect it to be an easy tune up game like many other schools aim for when playing a FCS school.聽 The Jack Rabbits were very close to winning the spring title in the FCS and still tout an impressive run game that averaged 232 yards per game last season.聽 South Dakota State also has a great defense up front which may give the Rams headaches after a rough showing from their offensive line in 2020.聽 The secondary may be the only weak point for the Jack Rabbits but the Rams passing attack is an unknown at this point.聽 Quarterback Todd Centeio will have plenty of weapons such as tight end Trey Mcbride and wide receiver Dante Wright to throw to and will have to get it going in the opener.聽 Many predictions have this being a close matchup with the Rams barely having the edge in a tight fought victory.
The Colorado State Ram to look out for this year inside Todd Mcshay鈥檚 top 50 prospects for the 2022 NFL Draft is before mentioned tight end Trey Mcbride.聽 Mcbride is a prototypical NFL tight end in the modern day NFL.聽 He has the size at 6 foot 4 and 260 pounds but also can split out wide as an athletic playmaker down field.聽 Mcbride has all the intangibles of top pass catching tight ends in the NFL but also is an impressive blocker, making him the number 1 tight end prospect for most NFL experts in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The home opener is an important game to set the tone for the preseason number two team in the Mountain West.聽 A season opening loss would be devastating for the Rams but they are confident that they are not overrated coming in this highly ranked.聽 However, South Dakota State will not lay over to the division 1 favorites in this game and will most likely keep this a close contest.聽 The game will be nationally televised on FS1 at 7pm on September 3rd.
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