FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Bernard Blake is settling in with college life.
The former Bastrop cornerback made his arrival Sunday at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo. and began summer classes on Monday.
In a telephone interview Tuesday, the defensive back said he’s pretty excited and his first day wasn’t as much of a shock as he thought it would be.
“It’s all coming together,” Blake said. “All the freshmen are here already and I met some kids that came from Florida and we instantly clicked.”
Blake has a couple of weeks to make the adjustment before football training camp begins on Aug. 4 for the Rams.
Blake does have some feel of home to help with his adjustment to college life.
Former Austin High wide receiver Thomas Coffman, who will also play football for Colorado State in the fall, is Blake’s roommate.
Until training camp begins for Colorado State, Blake is participating in freshmen workouts at 7 a.m. every day before his summer classes.
He said the one thing that has helped him adjust in the short time he’s been in Colorado is how instantaneously he has “clicked” with the other incoming freshmen on the Rams football team.
“There is a lot of guys coming from all over the place and we all live in the same (dorm),” Blake said. “This has been a lot easier than I thought it would be.”
Blake said that the coaches are looking to play him as a true freshman.
Blake was the 2009 Bastrop County Defensive Player of the Year after recording 49 tackles, including 25 solo tackles, three interceptions and three blocked field goals.
Colorado State opens the season with rival Colorado on Sept. 4 in Denver at 11 a.m.

CLASS OF 2010
Here is a list of athletes from Bastrop County getting ready to enter their freshman season of college sports:

SYDNEY WILHELM (Bastrop)
Texas State, volleyball

MEGAN MOORE (Elgin)
Southeastern University, softball

KATTIE PATTERSON (Bastrop)
Prairie View A&M, soccer

PETE RODRIGUEZ (Bastrop)
Harding University, football

KARA EDWARDS (Bastrop)
Angelo State University, soccer

AUSTON SHIPLEY (Bastrop)
Blinn Junior College, football

CADE STATON (Bastrop)
Alvin Junior College, baseball

KAYLYN BUTLER (Bastrop)
Schreiner University, soccer

JORDAN MUNDINE (Bastrop)
Texas Lutheran, softball

AMANDA SORENSON (Elgin)
Schreiner University, volleyball

HILARY CONN (Smithville)
LeTourneau University, volleyball