Loyal to The Soil: Pueblo Native Jace Bellah Enters Fifth Season as CSU Ram
Former South Colt standout credits family, coaches, and hometown roots for his rise at Colorado State
In today’s era of college football–where the transfer portal and NIL opportunities have made player movement more common than ever–loyalty can be hard to find.
For Pueblo native Jace Bellah, loyalty has never been a question.
The former Pueblo South High School standout has taken an unconventional path to becoming a key contributor at the Division 1 level. Bellah had multiple opportunities at the collegiate level after an outstanding prep career for the South Colts, but decided to bet on himself, walking on at Colorado State University with nothing guaranteed except an opportunity to show up and compete.
Belief and a relentless work ethic, instilled in him at an early age, helped Bellah transform into an impact player under interim Head Coach Tyson Summers in Fort Collins during the 2025-26 season as a redshirt junior. His blue-collar mentality earned him an athletic scholarship in the fall of 2025, and Bellah proved that it was the right decision. He rewarded the Rams’ faithful with a breakout season playing safety for a ‘ball hawking’ defense.
Bellah appeared in 10 games during the 2025 season and it didn’t take him long to establish himself as a difference-maker in the defensive secondary. He finished the year with 58 total tackles, including 42 solo tackles, while leading the team with four interceptions.
Over a five-week stretch, Bellah forced a stifling six turnovers. He was a continuous disruption for opposing offenses and his name needed to be circled on the scouting report across the Mountain West Conference.
One of his most memorable performances came on November 22nd against Boise State. Bellah recorded a season-high 17 tackles. A week prior, his defensive instincts were again on display forcing two fumbles in a pivotal matchup against New Mexico.
Perhaps his most explosive output of the season came against Fresno State, when Bellah intercepted two passes adding up a total of 53 return yards. His consistency roaming the secondary and getting downhill to make crucial tackles became something CSU and Coach Summers could rely on when the lights came on.
For Jace Bellah, however, the statistics only tell part of the story. Behind all of the highlight plays and critical 3rd down stops lies a journey shaped by family, coaches, and a hometown community that helped him from the first day he put pads on.
Strong as Steel
Bellah credits his growth–not just as a football player, but as a person–to the values instilled in him growing up in Pueblo.
“I credit that jump to the way I was raised, the people around me, and the work I put in when no one was watching,” Bellah said, in regards to earning his athletic scholarship after starting as a walk-on. “My parents taught me early that nothing is given, everything is earned, and that confidence comes from preparation and work ethic.”
That mindset is what fueled his college career thus far. With one more year left to play, Bellah understands that every practice, meeting, and opportunity is a chance to prove himself even more.
The values he gained from his roots in Southern Colorado helped keep him grounded through the constant grind of Division 1 football.
“I am beyond blessed to have family, friends, and coaches in Pueblo that have helped me along the way,” Bellah said. “I couldn’t have earned my scholarship without each and every one of those relationships.”
Before becoming a standout at CSU, Bellah built an impressive prep career at Pueblo South, where he competed in football, basketball, and track and field. Bellah highlights two coaches who made a lasting impact on his development–Coach Shannan Lane and Coach Ryan Goddard.
It was always apparent that he had the physical attributes to be a superb athlete, but Coach Lane (Basketball) helped him realize as a player how much more value he could bring to the table other than physical attributes. Coach Lane was able to bring out the best in him in terms of competitiveness and leadership.
Coach Ryan Goddard, who coached Bellah for four years in football, played an equally important role.
“Throughout those four important years of growth as a young teenager, I couldn’t have asked for a better person to be mentored by,” Bellah said. “He was able to teach me so much more about myself than I could have imagined.”
In closing thoughts when talking about the impact Goddard had on his football journey, Bellah stated, “I wouldn’t have made it to CSU without him.”
Loyal to the Soil
Now entering his fifth season at CSU, he is only one of three players on the entire roster who has remained with the program since his freshman year.
Even in the midst of constant change in the NCAA landscape, Bellah takes pride in staying true to the program that gave him his opportunity.
In a world of NIL, with booster clubs pouring in money to build million dollar rosters–Bellah keeps things simple. “Loyal to the soil, go Rams!”
As Bellah enters what could be his final year putting on his pads, his goals extend beyond statistics and accolades. His focus lies in “soaking it all in” and enjoying each moment with his teammates and coaches. While goals such as a winning season, and potentially having an opportunity to play at the next level remain on his radar, Bellah says he wants to stay grounded in the experience.
For the kid from Pueblo who arrived in Fort Collins as a walk-on with everything to prove, Bellah’s journey has become a story of loyalty, perseverance, and gratitude—built by family and shaped by coaches.
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