CU Recruiting Class of 2014
While most of the CU Recruiting Class of 2014 will not officially become Buffs until Signing Day – Wednesday, February 5th – for mid-year junior college transfers, Signing Day was Wednesday, December 18th.
As a result, the Colorado football roster grew by two members a little early, with cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon and long-snapper Wyatt Smith becoming Buffs Wednesday morning.
“Congratulations to the two new Buffs Ahkello Witherspoon and Tucker Smith. Go Buff Nation”, tweeted CU coach Mike MacIntyre Wednesday morning.
Congratulations, indeed … and welcome to the Buff Nation!
CU Press Release on two newest Buffs
From Dave Plati, CU Sports Information Director:
BOULDER — University of Colorado head football coach Mike MacIntyre announced Thursday the signing of two junior college prospects to letters-of-intent.
Wyatt Tucker Smith, a long snapper from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and Ahkello Witherspoon, a cornerback from Sacramento City College are the first two signees in CU’s 2014 recruiting class.
Witherspoon, 6-3, 180, played one season at SCC and will be a sophomore in eligibility, with four years to play three in eligibility. He had 21 tackles this past season (15 solo), and tied for third in the Mid-Empire Conference in interceptions with three. He also had seven pass deflections and forced a fumble. He played his high school ball for Christian Brothers in Sacramento, where he not only was a cornerback his senior season, but also the team’s placekicker.
“He is a big athletic corner who is smart and has very good range and speed,” MacIntyre said. “He’s unique because over the last 16 months or so, he’s really sprouted, growing almost seven inches to 6-foot-3, and he still has the same speed and quickness.” Witherspoon, who was highly sought after by several schools in the west after being what many called a late bloomer, will enroll for the spring semester.
Smith, 6-2, 230 with three years to play two in eligibility, will also join the team in the spring semester. He handled all 60 punt and 122 placement snaps over the last two years at MGCCC, centering for junior college All-American kicker Stephen Brauchle as a freshman in 2012 and for second-team All-American punter Kevin Phillips this past fall. He had nary a bad snap in the 182, and forced an estimated 25-30 fair catches over the two seasons combined on coverage duty.
He played his prep ball at Gulfport (Miss.) High School, where he served as his team’s long snapper his junior and senior years, along with playing tackle, guard and tight end at various junctures of his career.
“He is an excellent long snapper, and like Ryan Iverson (CU’s snapper the last four years), he has very good speed and can get down and cover,” MacIntyre said. “He’s very bright, and is very consistent and can handle all snaps, punt and placements.”
MacIntyre indicated the Buffaloes were still courting one other junior college recruit, otherwise the next round of new players will be introduced on national letter-of-intent day, which is February 5.
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AHKELLO WITHERSPOON – DB (Junior College)
Just the facts … has signed a Letter of Intent, will report in January … Witherspoon is a 6’3″, 182-pound cornerback prospect from Sacramento City Community College. Rivals bio Scout bio
What others say about Witherspoon … Witherspoon is not rated by Rivals, but is rated as a two-star cornerback by Scout. He is a mid-year transfer, and will be eligible to participate in spring drills. Witherspoon will have four years to play three at Colorado.
Witherspoon has other offers from … no one of record. Witherspoon reported offers from Washington (before the coaching change), Fresno State, UNLV, Utah State and Idaho State. Adam at BuffStampede.com reports that Witherspoon also had late interest from Oregon State and Washington State.
Here are some highlights from Witherspoon’s 2013 season at Sacramento City Community College.
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WYATT “Tucker” SMITH – LS (Junior College)
Just the facts … has signed a Letter of Intent, will report in January … Smith is a long-snapper from Perkinston, Mississippi. Smith is 6’3″, 200-pounds. Rivals bio Scout bio
What others say about Smith … Smith is rated as a two-star prospect by both Rivals and Scout. Smith comes to CU as a long-snapper specialist. Smith played center at Gulf Coast Community College in Mississippi. For what it’s worth, Smith was rated by a service as the No. 2 long-snapper available, and Colorado needs a long-snapper, as the Buffs lose Ryan Iverson, who has been the long-snapper for the Buffs for the past four years. This past spring, four walk-ons were brought in to audition for the job, with Blake Allen, a freshman, winning the role as backup to Iverson this fall.
He (Smith) is an outstanding player and a great student,” MGCCC coach Steve Campbell said. “He should do well at Colorado.”
Smith had other offers from … Troy, though Smith did report interest from Arizona State and Florida. A junior college transfer, Smith will have three years to play two as a Buff.
In his own words … “It is an incredible place,” Smith told the Buloxi-Gulfport Sun Herald after his official visit to Boulder on November 24th. “When I stepped off the plane, everything was perfect about it. It feels like Southern hospitality. I think the coaching staff has the program going in the right direction and the players are buying into it. There was nothing I didn’t like … Who doesn’t want to play in the Coliseum (in Los Angeles)? Colorado is in a BCS conference and the teams in the conference have a chance to compete for a national championship every year. It is the right fit for me.”
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2 Replies to “CU Recruiting Class of 2014”
I hope they are getting a kicker for extra points!!!!
Stuart,
This Witherspoon kid demonstrates completely why CU has the right coach in Mike MacIntyre. Mac kept tabs on the kid even though the dumbass recruiting services were not impressed by a 5’8″ corner when he was a junior in high school. Now he is 7 inches taller and ready to come to Colorado. Neither Scout nor Rivals dug deep enough to find out that Witherspoon had not not had his late teen growth spurt yet. It’s great for Colorado because Mac and his staff are on top of this stuff. You’d think people would quit doubting our coaches ability to evaluate talent after seeing Gillam, Adkins and Awuzie on the field. I can’t wait to see the redshirts from this year get on the field this spring to show what a year of training under Forman did for their bodies.
As an aside, early in the season I pointed out that CSU was a much better team that CU fans were giving them credit for. Now, as the Rams get ready to play in a bowl game, Buff players, coaches and fans know that CU beat a bowl team this year, and have the opportunity to beat them again next season.
MacIntyre will indeed get this program righted.
Mark
Boulderdevil