CSU QB Transfer Blues

By Natalie Meisler

April 29, 2010

What do you call a fourth-string quarterback in spring ball?

A transfer.

It was confirmed Thursday morning that Jon Eastman will leave Colorado State’s program for his final year of eligibility. A year ago, CU and CSU both lost third teamers.

There were two opposing forces at work here. If Eastman started as a senior after following two seniors, CSU would have four straight years of first-time starting quarterbacks. Steve Fairchild on more than one occasion noted when a Mountain West foe had continuity at the QB position.

On the other hand, quarterbacks coach Daren Wilkinson went through the same process as a junior college transfer in the 90’s, not playing a down his senior year. And it’s scary to think of a quarterback making his career debut at Invesco Field for the Rocky Mountain Showdown.

While growing pains are inevitable with the two freshmen candidates Nico Ranieri and Pete Thomas, either one or both should be there for four years. Wilkinson told me after the spring game he thought Ranieri and Thomas wouldn’t get blown away by butterflies.

Besides the fact Eastman watched all spring while the freshmen took the snaps with the occasional turns by wide receiver T.J. Borcky and transfer M.J. McPeek, there was another hint back in February. Fairchild indicated on signing day the Rams wouldn’t be recruiting many, if any, junior college transplants in the future.

Courtesy The Denver Post

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