Despite Colorado State’s heart-breaking loss to Air Force Friday night, the Rams received some good news Saturday when it was announced that senior quarterback Garrett Grayson and senior offensive tackle Ty Sambrailo have accepted invitations to participate in the Reese’s Senior Bowl. Grayson, along with cornerback Bernard Blake, also accepted an invitation to participate in the East-West Shrine Bowl game.
The Senior Bowl is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015 in Mobile, Alabama, while the Shrine Game is Jan. 17, 2015 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
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“This is just a tremendous honor for these young men and for Colorado State University,” CSU head coach Jim McElwain said in a statement through the CSU athletic department. “It speaks to the kind of commitment, hard work and talent that has allowed this team to have such a successful season. Just as it is with every award and honor, they’d be the first to tell that it doesn’t happen without the guys around them, and that’s what makes this team, this family, so special.”
Sambrailo has not allowed a sack all season and has graded out above 90 percent in every game he has played, with 50 knockdown blocks entering the final regular season game.
Grayson, one of the most decorated players in school history, has captured every career record in Colorado State history this season, and has already broken his own single-season records for passing yards (3,779) and passing touchdowns (32) with a bowl game remaining to be played.
Blake, a three-year starter, has been a leader in the Rams’ defensive secondary with 37 tackles, including three tackles for lost yardage, and a team-leading 11 pass breakups.
Sambrailo and Grayson are the 14th and 15th Colorado State players to be selected for the Senior Bowl. After last year’s invitations of center Weston Richburg and tight end Crockett Gillmore, the Rams have had four Senior Bowl players in the past two.
Blake’s and Grayon’s positions in the East-West Shrine Game follow last year’s invitations of Gillmore and linebacker Shaquil Barrett to give CSU four Shrine Game invitees in the past two seasons after not having had one since 2009.
Collegian Sports Editor Keegan Pope can be reached at kpope@collegian.com and on Twitter @ByKeeganPope.