Why former Washington QB commit Jackson Stratton landed at Colorado State: “We call him ‘Sunshine’”

Jackson Stratton spent 7 months committed to play shot for the University of Washington erstwhile the Huskies pulled the rug from nether his assistance offer.

The prima La Jolla (San Diego) High School backmost scrambled to prime a caller school. His options were constricted with conscionable 1 week near until the aboriginal signing play successful December arsenic the bulk of programs were already locked in.

“It was decidedly surprising. It came retired of nowhere,” Stratton said. “At the time, it was beauteous unsmooth due to the fact that I didn’t cognize what I was going to do. … But it each worked out. It’s perfect.”

Colorado State caput shot manager Jay Norvell surely agrees. The Huskies’ nonaccomplishment is the Rams’ gain.

Stratton volition enroll aboriginal astatine CSU aboriginal this period arsenic the astonishment backmost gem from Norvell’s archetypal signing class with a large limb and an awesome California travel of blonde hair.

“We telephone him ‘Sunshine,’” Norvell said, referencing the long-haired California-raised backmost from the movie “Remember the Titans.” “We emotion this guy.”

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound quarterback’s recruitment was hampered by a constricted inferior play amid the coronavirus pandemic. Stratton inactive finished his four-year prep vocation with 4,469 yards passing and 52 touchdowns. He brought La Jolla to its archetypal authorities title quality successful schoolhouse past arsenic a sophomore. Then Stratton went 5-0 successful a COVID-shortened inferior season.

“He perfectly lit things up,” La Jolla manager Tyler Roach said. “Some conscionable unthinkable numbers helium enactment up against immoderate bully competition. That’s erstwhile his recruiting truly got going.”

Norvell gave Stratton his archetypal FBS assistance connection to play astatine Nevada. Washington entered his recruitment speech 1 period later. Stratton committed to the programme nether caput manager Jimmy Lake and violative coordinator John Donovan. Then UW’s diversion enactment squad fired Lake adjacent the extremity of the 2021 play and hired Kalen DeBoer of Fresno State — who yet declined to grant Stratton’s anterior assistance offer.

But Norvell stuck with Stratton.

“We recruited him aboriginal and had a large narration with him and his family,” Norvell said. “It’s conscionable clip and circumstances that we were capable to get him here. … A big, gangly kid with a large arm. A existent competitor.”

CSU has lacked consistency astatine backmost implicit 4 consecutive seasons without a vessel appearance. Todd Centeio, a two-year starter under erstwhile caput manager Steve Addazio, transferred to FCS James Madison successful the offseason. It each sets up for an intriguing backmost conflict this outpouring with Norvell intent connected bringing the Air-Raid discourtesy to Fort Collins.

“How could you not beryllium excited? He’s talking astir throwing the shot and letting it go,” Stratton said. “That’s cleanable for me.”

Nevada backmost transportation Clay Millen, incoming freshman Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and Stratton volition each apt vie for the starting job. What mightiness acceptable Stratton apart?

“His grittiness,” Roach said. “He’s a pugnacious and scrappy dude. He’ll basal successful the pouch and instrumentality shots. When helium gets hit, helium ne'er erstwhile successful 4 years laid down connected the ground. It didn’t substance however atrocious helium was hit. He pulls himself disconnected the ground. … He’s a existent Southern California guy. Real laid backmost with the agelong hairsbreadth flowing. He lives close adjacent the beach.

“But erstwhile helium hits the field, it’s a antithetic beast.”