More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Amare Gomez carries the ball during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Amare Gomez carries the ball during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Antoine Martin Jr. catches the ball during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Brock Camp runs with the ball during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Cedric Ross runs with the ball during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Damian Moore Jr. runs with the ball during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Darnell Kelly throws the ball during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Dominic Toy carries the ball during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player K’saan Farrar runs through a drill during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Hauss Hejny throws the ball during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Hauss Hejny throws the ball during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Jayden Tuia, left, goes through a drill during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football coach Jim Mora signals during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Jordan Mosley makes a catch during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Makih Johnson makes a catch during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Malichi Greaves runs with the ball during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Matt Mitchell during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Max Vivier, left, goes through a drill during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Mel Brown carries the ball during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football coach Jim Mora during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Phillip Ocon, middle, during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Phillip Ocon snaps the ball to Hauss Hejny during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Quinton Harris, left, goes through a drill during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player RJ Vick makes a catch during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Sione Netane, left, goes through a drill during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Terrence Smith Jr. makes a catch during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Troy Foster makes a catch during spring practice on March 24, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Tre-Shawn Moore during spring practice on March 26, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player D’Angelo Hagans Jr. during spring practice on March 26, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Kallen Martinez during spring practice on March 26, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Ace Brown makes a catch during spring practice on March 26, 2026.
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What to know about Colorado State football ‘Spring Spotlight’ event
Colorado State football player Mel Brown, right, carries the ball during spring practice on March 26, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Trey Vincent during spring practice on March 26, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Justin Lewis during spring practice on March 26, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Elijah Brown during spring practice on March 26, 2026.
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Get to know Appalachian State transfer Elijah Mc-Cantos
Colorado State football player Elijah Mc-Cantos lines up a tackle during spring practice on March 26, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Richard Mosley III reaches for an interception during spring practice on March 26, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Antarron Turner makes a catch during spring practice on March 26, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player D’Angelo Hagans Jr., left, goes through a drill during spring practice on March 26, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Marc Pretto goes through a drill during spring practice on March 26, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player CJ Blocker goes through a drill while coach Jim Mora looks on during spring practice on March 26, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Caleb Otlewski goes through a drill during spring practice on March 26, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Marc Pretto jumps for the ball during spring practice on March 26, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Xavier Wimbush, left, goes through a drill during spring practice on March 26, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Hauss Hejny throws a pass during spring practice on March 26, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Elijah Brown celebrates a play during a spring practice March 8, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Dominic Toy makes a catch during a spring practice March 8, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football defensive players Elijah Mc-Cantos (13) and Richard Mosley III (1) celebrate a play during a spring practice March 8, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Hauss Hejny throws a pass during a spring practice March 8, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football coach Jim Mora during a spring practice March 8, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Malichi Greaves runs the ball during a spring practice March 8, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player K’saan Farrar throws a pass during a spring practice March 8, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Oliver Lundberg makes a catch during a spring practice March 8, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Oliver Lundberg celebrates a play during a spring practice March 8, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player K’saan Farrar, left, throws a pass during a spring practice March 8, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State football player Troy Foster makes a catch during a spring practice March 8, 2026.
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More than 50 photos of new-look CSU football team in spring practices
Colorado State punter Cavan Craig punts during a spring practice March 8, 2026.
A do-it-all veteran with plenty of college football experience.
That’s what the Colorado State football team hopes it added in the form of transfer defensive back Elijah Mc-Cantos.
Mc-Cantos played at Appalachian State the last two seasons after spending two years at Illinois.
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He is expected to be a key member of CSU’s 2026 secondary. Get to know the new DB:
Why Colorado State?
It’s the final season of college eligibility for Mc-Cantos and he wanted to win before pursuing a pro career.
CSU went 2-10 last season but Mc-Cantos believed in the vision from new coach Jim Mora of a quick turnaround.
“One thing about it that really stands out is Coach Mora telling me how dedicated he is to going to the Pac-12 championship for this year,” Mc-Cantos said. “That’s one thing I just needed to hear. For my last year, I wanted to come to a team that can win a championship.”
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What Elijah Mc-Cantos brings to CSU
Mc-Cantos, who was listed at 6-foot, 190 pounds at Appalachian State, says he can play anywhere in the secondary.
“Very versatile. I’m a guy that can play anywhere. Corner, safety, nickel,” Mc-Cantos said. “Name it, man.”
He describes himself as a fast, athletic defensive back who can tackle and make plays on the ball. He’s likely to line up at safety for CSU.
Hear from Elijah Mc-Cantos
Watch the video below to hear from Mc-Cantos himself on why he chose CSU and what he hopes to bring to the Rams.
Elijah Mc-Cantos bio
Previous school: Appalachian State (2024-25)
Prior to that: Illinois (2022-23)
2025 stats: 12 games played, 56 tackles, two interceptions, two passes defensed.
As a recruit: Three-star prospect out of Florida, picked Illinois over reported offers from LSU, Arizona State, Michigan, Penn State, Washington State, Kansas and others.
Sports reporter Kevin Lytle can be found on social media on X, Instagram and Threads @Kevin_Lytle and on Bluesky.
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This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: What to know about Colorado State defensive back Elijah Mc-Cantos
