Jim Mora signed first CSU recruiting class, staff and roster up next

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Jim Mora signed first CSU recruiting class, staff and roster up next

Jim Mora says he got a little carried away in his introductory press conference with talk of winning the Pac-12 championship.

“Usually not prone to making big statements like that,” the new Colorado State football coach said in his second press conference, held Dec. 7 at Moby Arena.

But hey, he said it and feels it, so why not double down?

“You know, our goal is to win the Pac-12. That’s our goal,” Mora said. “I put it out there, so I’m going to just keep backing it up with the work we do every day.”

He said a similar statement of winning the Pac-12 when introduced to a raucous Moby Arena crowd at halftime of the men’s basketball game Dec. 6 (a big win for the Rams over Colorado).

And why not? It’s a statement to excite a fan base in need of it. As Mora said, the work done to get there is the most important thing and that’s where he is at now.

The Rams signed 26 high school players in the Dec. 3-5 signing window, a blend of longtime CSU commits and those who flipped from UConn to follow Mora.

Next up is curating the CSU roster and building a staff. Here’s a look at where those stand, plus some other notes from Mora’s latest press conference.

CSU football roster changes underway

Mora said he has met with 30 or more members of CSU’s current roster and he will meet face-to-face with every player “and get to start to know them and their story and their background and what their goals are.”

Changes will come after these meetings. Mora said part of this process is having “a chance to keep all the players that you want to have the ability to keep.”

Meaning: A chance to try and convince some of the top players to remain Rams rather than transfer.

This process will also include players being told they no longer have a future in the CSU football program, so some players will be announcing transfer departures soon.

And then on the flip side, the traditional portal window opens in early January and CSU will be aggressive in adding to the roster there.

Colorado State's new head football coach Jim Mora talks to the crowd at halftime during a home game against Colorado on Dec. 6, 2025 at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colo.

Jim Mora working on coaching staff

Mora has yet to officially announce any staff moves.

“The important thing is that we’re very deliberate in making the right decisions for this program,” Mora said.

In addition to meeting with players, Mora has met with the current CSU staff. It’s likely the turnover there will be large (Matt Mumme has already announced on social media he won’t return to CSU).

Clarity should be coming soon, though. UConn hired Toledo’s Jason Candle to replace Mora.

Mora’s offensive coordinator at UConn, Gordon Sammis, is the interim, but he could be a candidate to join Mora (Sammis likely will have other options as well). UConn defensive coordinator Matt Brock could be a candidate for CSU as well.

It’s likely there will be some flavor of the UConn staff at CSU, but other names as well.

Now that college football’s conference championships are done and most head coaches are hired (Washington State now has a late opening), assistant changes will begin taking place.

Jim Mora on QB Carter Emanuel, signing class

Of the 26 signings, quarterback Carter Emanuel from Florida was one of the highest profile ones as he flipped from UConn to join Mora.

“He’s a playmaker. I’m not going to stereotype him and say he’s this guy, but he’s in the mold of a Patrick Mahomes style of play,” Mora said. “He’s creative, good ball security, good decision maker, smart young man, great family, good student, really good person, a guy that picks up and understands concepts quickly. He can adapt. He can adjust. He can come in here and be competitive right away.”

The players who flipped from UConn and signed with CSU are soon coming to campus for recruiting visits, as now allowed by NCAA rules.

These new Rams will be on campus early

There are 15 players signed in December who will be on campus for the spring semester and part of spring ball. Those players are:

  • Linebacker Ace Brown
  • Quarterback Darnell Kelly
  • Defensive back Kallen Martinez
  • Defensive back Xavier Wimbush
  • Running back Damian Moore Jr.
  • Running back Cedric Ross
  • Defensive back Jermaine Santana-Diaz
  • Linebacker Jaylen King
  • Defensive lineman Amare Bell
  • Defensive lineman Desman Manuel
  • Receiver Ross Nickson III
  • Quarterback Carter Emanuel
  • Defensive lineman TaVeon Robinson
  • Receiver Troy Foster
  • Defensive back Thomas Cook Jr.

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on X and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Jim Mora signed first CSU recruiting class, staff and roster up next

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