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The Colorado State Rams are not usually in the running for elite prospects, especially at the quarterback position. Well, that could be changing under head coach Jim McElwain as the Rams are in the final two for Elite 11 quarterback finalist Ross Bowers.
Bowers is a three-star recruit and currently participating at the The Opening -- which is one of the biggest recruiting camps of the year -- and is expected to make his decision before he leaves Oregon. The teams in the running for the 6-foot-2, 175 Washington signal caller are Cal and Colorado State.
Those are an odd pair of teams to be in the mix, but the Rams are there due to being the first school to offer Bowers, and that is carrying a lot of weight:
"They've always showed me a lot of love. I was down there twice and I loved each time I was down there."
"The coaching staff is one of the best in the entire nation when it comes to recruiting just because they're so honest. [...] They're coming off that bowl win and I think they're headed in the right direction so it would be a good place to be."
Colorado State is on the uptick and that shows by that bowl win over Washington State, but also their recruiting. The Rams landed three-star quarterback Coleman Key in last year's class, so if Bowers selects Colorado State he will not be able to walk in and be the starter from Day 1.
Before Colorado State fans get very excited about landing Bowers, he is widely expected to commit to Cal by the end of the week, however it can not be overstated how some of these recruits really like to stick with those schools who first offer them. Cal offered Bowers just over a week ago at a one-day camp back on June 28.
Other offers towards Boweres include Colorado, James Madison and Wake Forest.
Bowers is currently considered an underdog at the Elite 11 finals so far, but he is currently in the top 11 of the 19 that were invited:
One of the underdogs of the event from a profile standpoint, Bowers was dealing on Tuesday after a good Monday showing as well. He had one incompletion that was due to a wrong route by a wide receiver but he immediately picked his receiver up and was able to find the end zone.
Bowers is considered the 38th pro-style quarterback and that is exactly what Colorado State is after in Jim McElwain's offense which is a more traditional under center offensive game plan.
Take a look at Bowers' junior year highlights compiled by Hudl: