Keeler reports that the CSU Rams' recent National Signing Day did not include any Colorado high school players, causing concern among coaches who believe their players have the talent to play at that level.

Fort Collins is buzzing with excitement as the local football coach, Jeremy Bennett, discusses his recruiting strategies. He may not keep receipts, but he definitely keeps score when it comes to recruiting. With the season in full swing, Bennett hopes that his team can make some adjustments during halftime.

Bennett shares that he has been in contact with Washington State and their recruiter multiple times throughout the year, with at least three visits from the school annually. This is all in hopes of landing one of the top prospects in Colorado's Class of '26, 6-foot-6 tight end Mason Bonner. Bonner, a 3-star recruit with impressive 5-star length, has caught the attention of top schools such as Wazzu, Florida, Minnesota, and Duke. However, surprisingly, the Rams have yet to offer him a spot on their team.

According to Bennett, the reason for this could be due to Jay Norvell's recruiting style, which relies heavily on building relationships with potential players. Bennett believes that Norvell may not see the value in this approach and instead may be focusing on building relationships with players in bigger states. Despite this, the Rams have been performing well, with their first bowl appearance in seven years and a record-breaking season in terms of attendance.

On the first day of the early national signing period at Canvas Stadium, the Rams secured commitments from three out-of-state players, including a 6-foot-5 tight end from Missouri, a 5-8 tailback from Nashville, and a 6-6 punter from Australia. However, there were no commitments from any local Colorado players. Norvell remains optimistic, stating that next year's recruiting class is expected to be very strong.

In Norvell's defense, there are several factors to consider. The early signing period is the earliest it has ever been, and many high school commitments have been affected by the transfer portal, which opens up on Monday. This allows for players to transfer to other schools, creating a hectic "shopping spree" for coaches. Bennett explains that it makes sense for coaches to choose players who have experience in college, such as those who have transferred from bigger schools, over local high school players who are just starting out.

However, there is one aspect that Bennett cannot understand, and it is something that bothers him greatly. According to the 247Sports database, the Rams have only offered one in-state player from the Class of '25, Cherry Creek tackle Soren Shinofield, who ultimately committed to Utah. In comparison, CSU extended 13 offers to Colorado players in the Class of '24, 14 in '23, and 17 in '22. In contrast, CU had at least three in-state offers for the Class of '25 and Wyoming had four.

Bennett believes that this could be due to a shift in recruiting trends, with the top 5% of players in each state receiving offers, leaving little room for local players. However, he strongly disagrees with the idea that Colorado players are not talented enough to play for CSU. In fact, he believes that having local players on the team can be beneficial, especially with the new NIL (name, image, likeness) rules and the transfer portal. Bennett mentions that players are less likely to leave if they are from the area and have support from their families.

Norvell assures that they are not done with recruiting and expects to have several local players on the team by the end of the season. He mentions that they are even looking into potential players from the transfer portal, such as Gabe Kirschke, who returned to Colorado to play for the Rams after previously playing at Wisconsin. Norvell understands the value of having local players on the team, as they bring a sense of pride and determination to succeed.

Bennett agrees, stating that local players such as Jack Howell, Henry Blackburn, and Kirschke have made significant contributions to the team in the past. With only six in-state offers out for the Class of '26, Bennett hopes that Bonner is not overlooked and that he can showcase his skills at the next level. As someone who has been in the recruiting game for 30 years, Bennett finds it frustrating when he knows his players have what it takes, but they are not given the opportunity to prove themselves.

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