Colorado State QB Garrett Grayson Is The Real Deal

Nov 8, 2014; Fort Collins, CO, USA; Colorado State Rams quarterback Garrett Grayson (18) passes in the second quarter against the Hawaii Warriors at Hughes Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The last quarterback prospect I can remember coming out of the Colorado State Rams program that even had a shot in the NFL was Bradlee Van Pelt, but in 2015, that will definitely change. Senior quarterback Garrett Grayson is lighting up college football right now, and despite the fact that the Colorado State program is not gaining the national recognition it deserves, former Alabama Crimson Tide assistant coach Jim McElwain has done a phenomenal job getting the best out of his players and is now pumping legitimate talent into the NFL.

Last year, we saw an interior offensive lineman in Weston Richburg and a tight end in Crockett Gillmore get picked pretty early on by NFL teams, and this weekend, we’ll see former star running back and Rams player Kapri Bibbs suit up for the Denver Broncos. Mountain West defensive player of the year Shaquil Barrett is also on the Denver Broncos’ practice squad.

The Rams have never been devoid of NFL talent, really, but 2015 and beyond could be really fruitful for them in producing legitimate starters in the league, and potentially a really good one at the league and game’s most glamorous position — quarterback.

Grayson is the tip of the iceberg for Colorado State, which also has really intriguing prospects in offensive tackle and possible first round pick Ty Sambrailo as well as former Alabama running back Dee Hart and sophomore phenom Rashard Higgins, a wide receiver.

To get back to Grayson for a bit, I really like what I’ve seen in limited samples. He’s obviously blossomed at Colorado State these last two years, and has seen it all come to a head and will be one of the top senior quarterbacks available in this year’s draft, having thrown for 3,024 yards, 26 touchdowns, and just five interceptions in 10 games.

What I see from Grayson is a guy who has good size, solid athletic ability, and a nice, quick release of the football. He has a lower release point which can sometimes result in batted passes, and he takes some sacks that maybe he shouldn’t, but he’s making great decisions with the football and has the ability to push the ball downfield, play small ball, or work the intermediate routes.

I have really liked what I’ve seen in terms of accuracy from Grayson, a guy who puts the ball right on the money, hits receivers on-time and in-stride, and is capable of fitting the ball into tough spaces whether he’s got his feet set and gets a nice wide base or if he has to throw off his back foot or on the move.

This is a player that I really like and there are guys around him that are opening my eyes too. You’ll see in this video from DraftBreakdown.com that he has a receiver in Rashard Higgins who looks like he might be the best NFL prospect of them all. And no, Higgins is not draft-eligible this year. He is a true sophomore who will have at least one year left at Colorado State.

Here is one of Grayson’s better games in his college career.