Colorado State University Athletics
10/23/2026 2:00:00 PM | Football
Hejny looks back in form to his coach
In the moment, he didn't really know.
How good the catch actually was, the realization of the athleticism needed to make the play. What people watched with awe, Nadir Chirchi lived.
And didn't think much about it, either.
"It's just one of those things where after you do it, you realize I was kind of in a flow state," Chirchi said of his reaching, toe-tapping touchdown catch on the sideline in the end zone, his fourth scoring catch of the season. "But it was cool in the moment, you know, seeing the catch and all that, especially when we got to the sideline. We got to watch on the iPad. That's when I'm like, 'OK, yeah, that was kind of sick.'"
Chirchi, who was originally recruited to UConn with the idea he would be an offensive tackle, has slowly carved out a niche with this offensive staff through the years. The decision was made he would be a tight end, one they viewed as more of a blocker.
Then he proved he could do more than block. He can run routes, and he can snare a ball pretty well out of the air, and with his 6-foot-7 height and the reach which goes with it, he's been a heck of a red zone target.
"It's been a pretty big transition. But one of the reasons we left him at tight end is he had good hands, soft hands," CSU coach Jim Mora said. "He could go up and catch it. So I've seen him develop a lot as a blocker, and we thought he was going to be a good blocking tight end, but then he's developed into a good receiving tight end as well as someone who's very dependable and always has a great attitude and a great demeanor about him."
The type of player who, through his own efforts in practice and in games, has consistently carved out an expanded role. He has five catches this season for 46 yards, and just prior to his scoring catch against Texas State – on fourth down, no less – he had his first non-scoring catch.
Mora said the offensive staff does want to expand his role, especially when he's so adept at changing their thinking. Even in game.
"That throw the other night that he got his toes down, so you hear on the headphones .... I listened to (offensive coordinator) Pryce (Tracy) on the headset, and he's talking, not talking to anyone," Mora said. "I hear him say, 'K'saan (Farrar), no, no, no, no. Get rid of it. Oh, what a throw. Oh, what a catch. You know, one of those moments where it's like, no, no, no, no -- yes."
Which is what Chirchi and Farrar were thinking before the ball was snapped. Even with Chirchi feeling the effects of the catch before.
"The play before, I took a hit. So I got up and I'm just thinking, 'oh, like we're running the play. Let's do it," Chirchi said. "It's still got stars, you know? So, just executing when my number was called really.
"We practiced it so much as a group, we were ready for it. K'saan was smiling as he's calling the play, looking at me like, 'OK, we're scoring here.' So all of us, we were confident. We knew we were going to score. So that's really the main thing."
On the Run
San Diego State's offense has spent the season looking for consistent output, particularly when it comes to collecting points. The Aztecs took a step forward last week when running back Lucky Sutton returned to the lineup and surpassed 100 yards, giving the backfield depth as former Ram Javion Kinnard had filled in pretty well with 432 yards.
"They spread you out. They've got a darn good runner," Mora said. "I think both of their quarterbacks are guys that can move the ball with their legs as well, so I don't know who we'll see. The most important thing for us is just to be prepared for the scheme, more so than the players, to understand what we're doing."
Starting quarterback Jayden Denegel was injured in the win over Fresno State, with Stone Saunders filling in and guiding the final drive which led to the game-winning field goal. Stopping the run is paramount for Colorado State moving forward, coming off a week when the Rams yielded more than 500 in a game for the first time in program history.
Mora said he's liked the energy and intensity in practice, praising the scout team for the looks it is giving the defense.
"I saw it during the week last week, and now I'm seeing it at a higher level now," he said. "Now the whole thing is just putting in the play on game day. One of the reasons I love (Wednesday's) practice, and (Tuesday's) too, is it's ultra-competitive."
Looking Sharp
If anybody was curious how Hauss Hejny looked this week in practice, Mora kept it pretty simple.
"You know, he's Hauss," he said.
Hejny has missed the past three games entirely and most of the BYU game after injuring a hamstring the third week. At that point, he had completed 47-of-73 passes for 619 yards and 10 touchdowns against just one interception. Additionally, he had 13 rushes for 128 yards, much of it on a 75-yard scoring run.
In his absence, Farrar kept the offense productive, throwing for 931 yards and five scores. Mora said Hejny showed a bit of rust his first day back at practice, mostly being amped up and overthrowing a couple of targets. Since then, well, he's been himself.
That's all his coach wants to see Saturday.
"I just want him to see him play well, like Hauss can play. His confidence, his swagger," Mora said. "I've seen that in practice the last couple days. First day he was a little rusty. The last couple days he's been really good. It was nice that he had an extra day of practice. That helps him.
"He's felt really good in practice. He hasn't been restricted at all. You know, he's Hauss. If there's a way to run, he's going to run. No one's going to tell him to take it easy because that just doesn't exist in his mind."
How good the catch actually was, the realization of the athleticism needed to make the play. What people watched with awe, Nadir Chirchi lived.
And didn't think much about it, either.
"It's just one of those things where after you do it, you realize I was kind of in a flow state," Chirchi said of his reaching, toe-tapping touchdown catch on the sideline in the end zone, his fourth scoring catch of the season. "But it was cool in the moment, you know, seeing the catch and all that, especially when we got to the sideline. We got to watch on the iPad. That's when I'm like, 'OK, yeah, that was kind of sick.'"
Chirchi, who was originally recruited to UConn with the idea he would be an offensive tackle, has slowly carved out a niche with this offensive staff through the years. The decision was made he would be a tight end, one they viewed as more of a blocker.
Then he proved he could do more than block. He can run routes, and he can snare a ball pretty well out of the air, and with his 6-foot-7 height and the reach which goes with it, he's been a heck of a red zone target.
"It's been a pretty big transition. But one of the reasons we left him at tight end is he had good hands, soft hands," CSU coach Jim Mora said. "He could go up and catch it. So I've seen him develop a lot as a blocker, and we thought he was going to be a good blocking tight end, but then he's developed into a good receiving tight end as well as someone who's very dependable and always has a great attitude and a great demeanor about him."
The type of player who, through his own efforts in practice and in games, has consistently carved out an expanded role. He has five catches this season for 46 yards, and just prior to his scoring catch against Texas State – on fourth down, no less – he had his first non-scoring catch.
Mora said the offensive staff does want to expand his role, especially when he's so adept at changing their thinking. Even in game.
"That throw the other night that he got his toes down, so you hear on the headphones .... I listened to (offensive coordinator) Pryce (Tracy) on the headset, and he's talking, not talking to anyone," Mora said. "I hear him say, 'K'saan (Farrar), no, no, no, no. Get rid of it. Oh, what a throw. Oh, what a catch. You know, one of those moments where it's like, no, no, no, no -- yes."
Which is what Chirchi and Farrar were thinking before the ball was snapped. Even with Chirchi feeling the effects of the catch before.
"The play before, I took a hit. So I got up and I'm just thinking, 'oh, like we're running the play. Let's do it," Chirchi said. "It's still got stars, you know? So, just executing when my number was called really.
"We practiced it so much as a group, we were ready for it. K'saan was smiling as he's calling the play, looking at me like, 'OK, we're scoring here.' So all of us, we were confident. We knew we were going to score. So that's really the main thing."
On the Run
San Diego State's offense has spent the season looking for consistent output, particularly when it comes to collecting points. The Aztecs took a step forward last week when running back Lucky Sutton returned to the lineup and surpassed 100 yards, giving the backfield depth as former Ram Javion Kinnard had filled in pretty well with 432 yards.
"They spread you out. They've got a darn good runner," Mora said. "I think both of their quarterbacks are guys that can move the ball with their legs as well, so I don't know who we'll see. The most important thing for us is just to be prepared for the scheme, more so than the players, to understand what we're doing."
Starting quarterback Jayden Denegel was injured in the win over Fresno State, with Stone Saunders filling in and guiding the final drive which led to the game-winning field goal. Stopping the run is paramount for Colorado State moving forward, coming off a week when the Rams yielded more than 500 in a game for the first time in program history.
Mora said he's liked the energy and intensity in practice, praising the scout team for the looks it is giving the defense.
"I saw it during the week last week, and now I'm seeing it at a higher level now," he said. "Now the whole thing is just putting in the play on game day. One of the reasons I love (Wednesday's) practice, and (Tuesday's) too, is it's ultra-competitive."
Looking Sharp
If anybody was curious how Hauss Hejny looked this week in practice, Mora kept it pretty simple.
"You know, he's Hauss," he said.
Hejny has missed the past three games entirely and most of the BYU game after injuring a hamstring the third week. At that point, he had completed 47-of-73 passes for 619 yards and 10 touchdowns against just one interception. Additionally, he had 13 rushes for 128 yards, much of it on a 75-yard scoring run.
In his absence, Farrar kept the offense productive, throwing for 931 yards and five scores. Mora said Hejny showed a bit of rust his first day back at practice, mostly being amped up and overthrowing a couple of targets. Since then, well, he's been himself.
That's all his coach wants to see Saturday.
"I just want him to see him play well, like Hauss can play. His confidence, his swagger," Mora said. "I've seen that in practice the last couple days. First day he was a little rusty. The last couple days he's been really good. It was nice that he had an extra day of practice. That helps him.
"He's felt really good in practice. He hasn't been restricted at all. You know, he's Hauss. If there's a way to run, he's going to run. No one's going to tell him to take it easy because that just doesn't exist in his mind."
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
RB
/ FootballFriday, October 16
Friday, October 16
Saturday, October 03
Saturday, October 03