Poll: Vote for Top College Football Impact Player from Fort Collins
· Yahoo Sports
It's a special edition of the Coloradoan's Athlete of the Week series, partnering with Blue Federal Credit Union to honor our top local sports stars.
This week's version isn't about current athletes, but former local stars who could have a noticeable impact on the gridiron this fall.
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Which Fort Collins-area product will have the biggest impact on a college football team for the 2026 season? There are many great options, from the Division I FBS level to FCS and even Division II.
You can find the poll at the bottom of the page.
Voting runs through Aug. 4 at 11:59 a.m., with the winner announced at coloradoan.com/sports soon after the poll's conclusion.
Football fans, here are 10 former Fort Collins-area football standouts to choose from:
Meet the top impact player nominees:
- Tanner Gray, Nevada EDGE rusher (Wellington): The lone true freshman on this list and with good reason. The Eagles state champion and three-star recruit already has a college-ready frame at 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds. Don't be surprised if Gray gets an early look at a position of need for the Wolfpack.
- Dontay Johnson, South Dakota State defensive back (Fort Collins): The former Lambkins star and Jackrabbits fifth-year senior is an expected defensive contributor for one of FCS' top programs. Johnson broke out in 2025, tallying two pass break ups and 37 total tackles, including a career-high seven vs. Montana in the FCS playoffs.
- Trek Keyworth, Colorado Mesa receiver (Fossil Ridge): The ex-SaberCat wideout has steadily become one of the RMAC's top targets, earning all-conference honorable mention last season with 38 catches for 645 yards and five touchdowns. Keyworth could be featured even more in CMU's balanced attack this fall.
- Tyler Kubat, William Jewell quarterback (Fossil Ridge): It was a breakout fall for the former SaberCat gunslinger last fall. After assuming the starting role three games into the season, Kubat threw for over 2,150 yards at a 66.9& completion clip with 19 TDs. Will Kubat follow that up with another big year?
- Marcus Mozer, Northern Colorado receiver (Fossil Ridge): There's some unknown here, as Mozer transferred closer to home after one season without seeing the field at San Diego State. But the former three-star SaberCat record setter has the talent, pedigree and build (6-foot-3, 200-plus pounds) to make an instant impact in Greeley.
- Mikey Munn, Rutgers defensive back (Windsor): The 2024 Windsor alumnus was one of FCS' best players last season at South Dakota, earning 2nd team FCS All-American honors at cornerback with five interceptions (two for TDs) and 59 tackles. Now at Rutgers, Munn will get a chance to make his mark in the rugged Big 10.
- Blake Smotherman, Colorado School of Mines tight end (Fort Collins): The super senior is back for one last ride at tight end for a bruising Mines offense. Smotherman was already a 2nd team All-RMAC pick last year with a career-high 21 passes for 218 yards and 3 TDs and serving as a key blocker. Expect the ex-Lambkin to be a key offensive piece again.
- Chase Thomas, Briar Cliff running back (Windsor): Thomas is an entrenched featured back for the Chargers, starting 11 games last season and going for over 700 total yards with five touchdowns. That helped Briar Cliff have its first winning record (6-5) in seven years. A big year for the former Wizard could be in store again.
- Jones Thomas, Wyoming defensive back (Poudre): The former Impala standout has steadily become a reliable defensive starter up in Laramie. Thomas is the Cowboys' top returning tackler after posting 57 stops with two interceptions and four pass break-ups in 11 starts last year. He'll get a homecoming to open his redshirt junior season when Wyoming visits CSU on Sept. 5.
- Ethan Thomason, BYU offensive line (Rocky Mountain): This is a wild card, but a talented one. Like many BYU players, Thomason spent his first two seasons on LDS missions. Now, the former four-star recruit from Rocky could contribute on the offensive line for a likely preseason top-20 Cougars sqaud.