Colorado State University has their first commit of the 2016 class; Collin Hill, a three-star prospect from Spartanburg, S.C., has verbally committed to play for the Rams. Hill was not highly recruited, but the quarterback had offers from Charlotte, Old Dominion, Eastern Michigan, Connecticut, Samford, Middle Tennessee State and Marshall, according to Yahoo!.
Hill confirmed via his Twitter account about his commitment to CSU.
https://twitter.com/collinhill15/status/599236384289861632
The offers from the other schools were not very impressive but Hill had forged a relationship with CSU’s new head coach Mike Bobo when he was an offensive coordinator at the University of Georgia. When Bobo left Georgia for Colorado State, the bond between Hill and Bobo remained strong. The University of Colorado was also interested in Hill, as well.
David Gutshall, Hill’s head coach at Dorman High School in Roebuck, S.C. spoke to Rivals.com (paywall) about the future of his quarterback.
“The one we’re sending you is an outstanding young man,” Gutshall said. “He’s got a 4.8 grade point average. This kid, this kid is the real deal. He’s top-notch in everything he does.
“I think he’ll be very firm. He’s one of those high character kids. I think when he said he’s going to Colorado State, he’s going to Colorado State.”
Colorado State’s biggest rival in landing Hill was Marshall University. Marshall is a pass-happy offense with a fast-tempo style that attracted Hill to the school. But, ultimately Hill decided on CSU.
“I have to be honest with you, he was really thinking about Marshall because of their throw-it-every-snap mentality,” Gutshall said. “They were 13-1 last year, so it’s not like they were a bad football team.”
“In the end with coach Bobo’s past, the kind of quarterbacks he worked with at Georgia and the fact that he knew coach Bobo so well. Plus he thought Fort Collins and Colorado State University was beautiful.”
Hill also probably saw the success that former CSU quarterback Gray Garrett had at the school, who was drafted in the third round by the New Orleans Saints in the 2015 NFL Draft. That also may have persuaded him to become a CSU Ram.
Marcus Flowers, an intern at Mile High Sports, contributed to this report