DENVER – Let’s add Georgia and USC to the conversation. BFN is a big deal. Last September, at least 9.3 million people watched Colorado and Colorado State battle in the Rocky Mountain Showdown. Do you think Lincoln Riley was among them? “His DMs were blowing up in December,” said Rich Nicolosi, father of Rams quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, on Friday. “Everyone from USC to Georgia, and many in Texas. Most offers were just noise, but some were genuine.”
“The K-State one is absolutely legitimate,” Rich confirmed about the Wildcats’ alleged NIL push. “And there were several others.” This raises the question: What kind of dad lets his kid turn down $600,000, as Rams coach Jay Norvell claimed the Wildcats offered, for the allure of the Mountain West? A dad who raised his kid right. A dad whose kid would make the same choice again. No regrets.
“Brayden never took it seriously,” Rich explained. “He was always committed to (CSU coach) Jay Norvell, who believed in him and gave him a chance. Brayden is extremely loyal to Jay. He loves CSU and everything about it, from hunting to fishing.”
As a redshirt freshman, BFN led the Mountain West in total offense per game (286.1 yards) and passing yards per game (288.3). Heading into his sophomore year, he’s improved his 40-yard dash time to 4.6 seconds and his 20-yard shuttle to 4.19 seconds, faster than the 2024 combine times of Michigan’s JJ McCarthy and South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler. He’s also squatting 460 to 480 pounds, aiming to top 500 soon.
“It’s funny to see some social media posts,” Rich laughed. “Like, ‘They offered $600K for a QB2? Really?’ Maybe they’re not seeing what the NFL scouts see.” Scouts see BFN, CSU’s Big Freakin’ Deal, as a 6-foot-4 RPG with guts, vision, a fast processor, and a photographic memory. Despite throwing 16 interceptions last fall, Brayden and Rich reviewed them: some were end-of-half or end-of-game heaves, others on third-and-long situations.
“Probably half were mental mistakes from being a freshman,” Rich said. “But he won’t change his gunslinger mentality, similar to how Jordan Love played for Green Bay.”
BFN has never shied away from the stage or a challenge. Rich never let his kids, including Brayden, win anything easily. Victories were earned. They even created a “Champion Of The Garage” medal, which Brayden won at age 14 after beating Rich in table tennis, then did a victory lap around the neighborhood.
Brayden, a 5-foot-8 underclassman at San Diego’s Torrey Pines High School, faced 300-pound linemen. When COVID-19 halted prep football in California, the family moved to Texas. At Aledo High, Brayden quickly advanced from JV to QB1 and won a state championship within months.
“Get him on a board game like Rummikub, and he locks into ‘kill’ mode,” Rich said. “He’s just like his mom—he won’t let anyone win.”
BFN grew up around Rich’s practices and games, learning to dissect defenses at age 9 and throwing 72 mph fastballs at 12. By 15, he was throwing so hard that Rich decided to let others run routes. Despite the tempting $600,000, Brayden just bought a $3,000 therapy mattress.
“He doesn’t care about that stuff,” Rich said. “Our brand manager always advised us not to try to get rich playing college football. The real money is in the NFL.”
“I’ve seen his accountability and responsibility increase,” Rich added. “He won the (CSU) locker room before last season even started. People love him. Except for some CU Buffs fans.”
