Trey McBride would return to Colorado State, intent on becoming a better player.

He nailed the task. And the best version of McBride just happens to make him the best tight end in the country, trumpeted by his selection as the 2021 John Mackey Award winner. He becomes just the second Ram to win a major individual award, joining the 1995 Jim Thorpe selection of Greg Myers.

“It’s special. Coming back, I could have never dreamed or thought this would happen,” McBride said through tears. “It’s very special, and there are so many people I can thank and go down the list. I just wanted to come back and be the best Trey I could possibly be. I had no clue that would mean I was the best in the country, but that’s very special.”

While the world found out Thursday night during The Home Depot College Football Awards show, Jerry Mackey, the nephew and godson of John Mackey who oversees the committee, wanted to make the moment very special for McBride. 

So Wednesday night in the team room at Canvas Stadium, McBride sat down in front of cameras and lights to talk about his career. At the third question, a door opened up behind him, and when he turned around, his family and a few members of the coaching staff were approaching him. Shocked, his mother, Kate, added more.

“Trey, you’re the Mackey Award winner,” she said.

He bowed his head and started to cry. The next few minutes were a blur of applause, hugs and congratulations. Even more tears, which is how Jerry Mackey found McBride when he came on screen for a Zoom call.

Trey apologized to Jerry, who said he expected nothing less than the emotions on display.

“It is my responsibility to make sure the committee selects the right person,” Jerry started. “It’s not just playing on the football field, it’s also what you do off the field and all you do when the ball is not coming your way. We looked at all those things, and you checked all the boxes.”

It all became possible because Trey had boxes of his own.

In a shortened, 2020 season, he was simply a menace. He was a physical blocker at the point of attack, and smooth as a receiver. He led Colorado State with 22 receptions for 330 yards and four touchdowns. There is no question had he wanted to, Trey could have declared early for the NFL Draft and be playing on Sundays in 2021, but he also would have been a second- or third-day selection.

What that told him was he could be better. So he came back and went to work.

He worked with coaches in Fort Collins. He worked with former CSU and NFL tight end Joel Dreessen, another Fort Morgan success story. He lifted and ran to become bigger and stronger. He did everything he was asked, then he did some more.