Ex-Hillsborough star Lovett shining for Colorado State

Posted Oct 17, 2011 by Bill Ward

Updated Oct 17, 2011 at 10:09 PM

He’s now playing his football more than 1,500 miles from Tampa and doing it in a totally different climate as a true freshman, but former Hillsborough High wide receiver Charles Lovett always was the type of guy who was up for any challenge.

The 5-foot, 8-inch Lovett has worked his way on to the field in every game for the Rams this fall and just like he did his senior year at Hillsborough, he’s even seen duty throwing the ball. In fact, Lovett has thrown two touchdown passes, the latest coming in last week’s loss to nationally-ranked Boise State.

Considering Lovett is playing so far from home and at altitude, which physically takes some geting used to for someone who has lived near sea level their entire life.

“It’s been a good experience at Colorado State University and playing as a true freshman has been awesome,” Lovett said. “It was definitely hard to breath here when I first arrived. It took a couple of weeks to adjust.

“Playing so far from home gets to me sometimes because that’s where all my friends and family are. Overall, I’m having a fun time out but there’s nothing like at Hillsborough on Friday nights!”

It didn’t take Lovett long after arriving in Fort Collins, Colo., to make an impression on Rams head coach Steve Fairchild. By early August, Fairchild announced Lovett and fellow freshman receiver Lee Clubb of Texas would play as true freshmen. Since then, Lovett has seen action in each game for CSU, which is now 3-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

Lovett graduated Hillsborough as the school’s all-time leading receiver in total yards with nearly 2,300, along with 33 TDs.