Less than a week into his tenure, Colorado State coach Jim Mora is living up to one of his key promises.

“I would like to build our program through high school recruiting,” Mora said Monday at his introductory press conference.

The veteran coach hit the ground running by securing signatures from more than 20 high school players Wednesday, national signing day. 

“Discipline, toughness, accountability,” Mora said, reciting the attributes he seeks in the Rams. “I want people that come to our games and our fans to be proud of what they see on the field — the effort, the intensity, the discipline with which we play.”

The Rams have the No. 2-rated class in the new Pac-12, according to 247 sports.

The headliner is safety Jermaine Santana-Diaz, a Missouri City, Texas, product who is rated as one of the top 100 players in his home state and committed to CSU over the likes of Baylor, Houston and Kansas in the Big 12.

Mora was able to bring in a few players that were committed to him at UConn, including three-star recruits offensive lineman Luke Van Auken, defensive back Xavier Wimbush, linebacker Jaylen King and defensive back Kallen Martinez.

CSU has signed two area players in three-star defensive back Atticus Tillman from Arvada West and three-star wide receiver Isaiah Watson from Vista Peak Prep.

“I would like to capture every great athlete in this state and make ‘em Colorado State Rams. That’s how you build a strong and sustainable culture,” Mora said.

While the hiring of Mora played a role in energizing the committed players, the new coach gave credit to general manager Alex Collins, who was hired by Jay Norvell last offseason, for keeping the class intact. Many of the signees committed to the program while Norvell was still in charge. 

It’s one small step toward Mora’s goal of winning the Pac-12 and making the College Football Playoff. The Rams will be heavily involved in bringing in talent from the transfer portal next month.

“We have the resources,” Mora said. “When I speak about resources, I’m not speaking about money. I’m speaking about the people and the vision and the commitment. We have the resources to ascend as high as we determine we want to ascend through the commitment that we make. That will determine how far we go. I’m very confident that we can do those things.”

2026 Colorado State Rams signing day roster

Three-star OL Packs Ahovelo (6-foot-5, 352 pounds, Kailua High School, Waimanalo, Hawaii)

Three-star LB Amare Bell (6-2, 263, Cesar Chavez High School, Laveen Village, Ariz.)

Three-star LB Ace Brown (6-1, 226, Archbishop Hoban High School, Youngstown, Ohio)

Three-star DB Thomas Cook Jr. (5-11, 165, North Crowley High School, Forest Hill, Texas)

Three-star DL Tyrone Fitten (6-2, 310, Callaway High School, Hogansville, Ga.)

Three-star WR Troy Foster (6-1, 202, Huntington Beach High School, Los Alamitos, Calif.)

Three-star LB Jaden Hernandez (6-3, 240, Long Beach Poly High School, Bellevue, Wash.)

Three-star WR Yasser Jackson (6-2, 171, Oakland (Calif.) High School)

Three-star QB Darnell Kelly (6-1, 184, Langston Hughes High School, Fairburn, Ga.)

Three-star LB Jaylen King (6-2, 192, Cleveland High School, Clayton, N.C.)

Three-star DB Justin Lewis (6-1, 159, Rancho Cucamonga High School, Fontana, Calif.)

Three-star DL Desman Manuel (6-0, 295, Cedar Hill (Texas) High School)

Three-star DB Kallen Martinez (6-2, 187, Armwood High School, Lutz, Fla.)

Three-star RB Damian Moore (6-0, 200, Edgewater High School, Altomont Spring, Fla.)

Three-star WR Ross Nickson III (6-2, 183, Riverside City College)

Three-star DL TaVeon Robinson (6-5, 308, Hutchinson Community College)

Three-star RB Cedric Ross (5-8, 173, Estacado High School, Lubbock, Texas)

Three-star DB Jermaine Santana-Diaz (5-11, 171, Ridge Point High School, Sienna, Texas)

Three-star OL Uluaki Tatafu (Kailua High School, Waimanalo, Hawaii)

Three-star DB Atticus Tillman (6-1, 167, Arvada West)

Three-star OL Luke Van Auken (6-6, 255, Delsea Regional High School, Franklinville, N.J.)

Three-star OL Max Vivier (6-5, 280, Saint James School, Hagerstown, Md.)

Three-star WR Isaiah Watson (6-0, 180, Vista Peak Prep, Aurora)

Three-star LB Mickey Williams (6-3, 220, Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep, San Francisco

Three-star DB Xavier Wimbush (6-0, 195, Stone Bridge High School, Ashburn, Va.)