Colorado State Professional Athletes

Trey McBride Puts Fort Collins on the Map

Colorado State's most prominent NFL ambassador didn't just have a good Week 1 — he made history.

Trey McBride, the All-Pro tight end for the Arizona Cardinals, turned in a nine-catch, 95-yard, one-touchdown performance in Arizona's 26-14 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on September 13, a showing that landed him atop the NFL reception leaderboard and second in receiving yards through the opening weekend of the 2026 season.

That stat line wasn't just impressive — it was historic. Multiple reports confirmed McBride made NFL history in the process, though the specific record belongs to the broader narrative of his continued ascent as one of the premier tight ends in the game. For Ram fans, the headline is simple: a player who wore the green and gold is now setting records in the league's biggest spotlight.

The Cardinals' win sets Arizona up at 1-0, with McBride firmly established as the offensive engine. It's a role he's been building toward, and Week 1 made the case louder than ever.

A Second Ram in the Mix

McBride wasn't the only Colorado State alum drawing attention this week. Wide receiver Tory Horton, who plays for the Seattle Seahawks, appeared on the injury report heading into Week 2 — a game that, as it happens, pits him directly against his fellow Ram.

Horton was removed from the injury report by Friday, per Fox 13's Curtis Crabtree, clearing him to play in Seattle's road trip to face the Cardinals on Sunday. That sets up an intriguing subplot: two Colorado State products on opposite sidelines in what is already a divisional showdown with early-season implications.

Horton has been described in reports as a "record-breaking player" in his own right, and his availability adds depth to a Seahawks receiving corps that Drew Lock will lean on against Arizona's defense.

Looking Ahead

For McBride, the challenge now is sustaining it. He appeared on Arizona's Week 2 injury report mid-week but returned to practice, signaling he's expected to suit up against Seattle. After a performance that turned heads league-wide, defenses will be game-planning with him front and center — the true test of whether Week 1 was a statement or a ceiling.

For Colorado State alumni watching from Fort Collins to wherever Ram fans have scattered, the 2026 NFL season is already delivering. Two former Rams on the field in a marquee Week 2 divisional matchup, with one of them fresh off a history-making performance, is the kind of early return that makes the wait through the offseason worthwhile.

Trey McBride Is the Only Ram Who Matters in Arizona — Literally

Colorado State's most prominent NFL alumnus heads into the 2026 season as the Arizona Cardinals' franchise cornerstone — and, according to ESPN's top 100 player rankings, their only player worth ranking among the league's elite.

Trey McBride, the Fort Collins product who has quietly built one of the most underappreciated careers at the tight end position, earned back-to-back Pro Bowl selections heading into this season — a distinction that puts him in rare company at his position and makes him the undisputed centerpiece of Arizona's offense. The problem, as analysts have noted, is that McBride is doing a lot of heavy lifting in a very thin room.

The Top-100 Problem

Being the lone Cardinal on ESPN's top 100 list isn't a badge of honor — it's a flashing warning light. A franchise with a single top-100 player is, by definition, operating without depth at the elite level, and in the NFL, that tends to correlate with one thing: high draft picks. Arizona appears to be on a trajectory toward a top-three selection in the 2027 NFL Draft, which means the 2026 season may be less about contending and more about development — with McBride serving as the one proven commodity on the roster.

For CSU fans, the silver lining is that McBride's individual stock has never been higher. Back-to-back Pro Bowls represent genuine recognition of sustained excellence, not a fluke season. He's not just the best player on a rebuilding team — he's one of the best tight ends in football, period.

The Trade Wrinkle

Adding a layer of intrigue to McBride's situation: Arizona made a surprise move before the 2026 roster cut deadline, acquiring a tight end from the Jacksonville Jaguars in a trade. The move raised eyebrows given McBride's entrenched status as the starter, and it's unlikely to threaten his role. But it does signal that the Cardinals' front office is thinking about depth — or perhaps versatility in their formations — around their Pro Bowl anchor.

Whether the addition is a complementary piece or a long-term audition for something more remains to be seen. For now, McBride's standing is untouched.

The Rest of the Ram Pack

McBride is the clear headliner, but Colorado State's NFL footprint extends beyond the desert. Punter Ryan Stonehouse is on the Miami Dolphins roster, while receiver Tory Horton is fighting for reps in Seattle. Dallin Holker and Barry Wesley are both on the New Orleans Saints. Michael Gallup continues to chase opportunities in Washington, and long snapper Trent Sieg remains a reliable specialist in Dallas.

None of those names are generating Pro Bowl buzz, but the sheer volume of Rams scattered across NFL rosters speaks to Colorado State's ability to develop pro-caliber talent — even if McBride remains the standard-bearer.

For a program based in Fort Collins that doesn't always command national recruiting headlines, having a top-100 NFL player earning consecutive Pro Bowl nods is a legitimate source of pride. The Cardinals' roster situation may be bleak by design — but Trey McBride is exactly where he's supposed to be: at the top.

Colorado State's NFL pipeline took a hit this week as cornerback Chigozie Anusiem saw his Las Vegas Raiders training camp cut short.

The Raiders placed Anusiem on the reserve/injured list Saturday, ending — at least for now — the young CB's push to earn a spot on the final 53-man roster. The move comes during the most critical stretch of the NFL preseason, when roster battles are won and lost and the margin for error is razor-thin. For a player fighting to establish himself at the professional level, an injury at this stage is a significant setback.

Anusiem entered camp as an undrafted or depth-roster hopeful working to carve out a role in Las Vegas's secondary. The reserve/injured designation means he is ineligible to practice or play for at least the initial portion of the regular season, barring a return designation being added by the club.

The Broader Ram Alumni Landscape

Anusiem's situation aside, Colorado State has a notable footprint across the NFL heading into the 2026 season. Tight end Trey McBride remains the marquee name, anchoring the Arizona Cardinals' offense as one of the more productive players at his position in the league. His rise from Fort Collins to NFL starter has been the program's clearest success story in recent years.

Wide receiver Tory Horton is in Seattle working to solidify his role with the Seahawks, while Michael Gallup continues his veteran presence in Washington with the Commanders. Tight end Dallin Holker is in New Orleans with the Saints alongside offensive tackle Barry Wesley, giving CSU a two-man presence on that roster.

Elsewhere, punter Ryan Stonehouse and linebacker Dequan Jackson are both in Miami with the Dolphins — a pairing that quietly makes the Dolphins one of the more Ram-heavy rosters in the league. Defensive end Shaquil Barrett and linebacker Mohamed Kamara represent CSU in Tampa, while Oliver Jervis is competing for snaps on the Denver Broncos' offensive line, keeping at least one Ram close to home.

Long snapper Trent Sieg remains in Dallas, one of the more durable specialists in the league at his position, and Drew Moss is battling for time on the Tennessee Titans' offensive line.

The Anusiem news is a reminder of how precarious the path from college program to NFL regular truly is — but with more than a dozen Rams currently on rosters across the league, Colorado State's professional pipeline remains as active as it's been in years. The next few days of final roster cuts will determine how many of them are still holding jobs when the regular season kicks off.