Signing Day II

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Signing Day II 

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CU Class of 2019 … Expected to sign on February 6th:

(bold denotes Letter of Intent received by CU)

Wide receivers … La’Vontae Shenault … Tarik Luckett

Offensive linemen … Nikko Pohahau

Defensive linemen … Jayden Simon … Lloyd Murray

Linebackers … Quinn Perry … Jamar Montgomery

Defensive backs … D.J. Oats … Trustin Oliver

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CU Class of 2019 … Twenty-six commitments

Recruits by position … Quarterbacks: 0 … Running backs: 2 … Wide receivers: 4 … Tight ends: 1 … Offensive linemen: 5 … Defensive linemen: 6 … Linebackers: 4 … Defensive backs: 4 …

Recruits are from … Colorado: 5 … California: 7 … Texas: 3  … Michigan: 2 … Alabama: 2 … Austria: 1 … American Samoa: 1 … Oregon: 1 … Mississippi: 1 … Virginia: 1 … … Washington: 1 … Georgia: 1

December high school signees: 

DAVIS, Joe* … RB
HAM II, Marvin … LB
HUFFMAN-DIXON, Braedin… WR
JOHNSON, Austin* … OL
MANGHAM, Jaren* … RB
PELL, Alec* … LB
PERRY, Mark … DB
RODMAN, Na’im … DL
SENN, Valentin … OL
TRUJILLO, K.J.* … DB
WILEY, Jake … OL
WILLIAMS, Austin … DL

Junior college transfers: 

ALLEN, Jash … LB
DOSS, Jeremiah* … DL
JORDAN, Janaz … DL
SAUVAO, Va’atofu* … OL

Graduate transfer:

HARRIS, Jalen* … TE

Greyshirt (From the Class of 2018): 

GUSTAV, Joshka* … LB

*Denotes January enrollee – will be available for spring practices

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Full transcript of Mel Tucker’s Signing Day press conference

From CUBuffs.com …

Opening Statement

“It has been a fast and furious recruiting season. I think we have done a good job. I really want to think our
coaches. They are guys that have worked really, really hard out on the road. They have done a great job
identifying players and selling our program. I think that our organization and our efficiency has really paid off
for us with [Director of Player Personnel] Geoff Martzen, [Director of Recruiting] Cymone George, and their
staff. The way we have gone about the process of recruiting players identifying players and evaluating players
has really helped us get to where we want to go. I am really excited about these guys. These young men we have
signed are great players, great people, and I am really fired up about them.”

On Signing Several Off The Radar Prospects

“I think we have to trust our process. We have great coaches and great recruiters here that know how to
evaluate talent. From a philosophical standpoint, I think it’s important not to worry about what other people
are doing in recruiting. If we look at a player and we evaluate him, we watch his tape, we do his background
check and we feel like he’s a player for us, it doesn’t matter who else is recruiting him and it doesn’t matter how
many stars he has. We trust our process. I’ve coached 10 years in the NFL and the NFL is full of guys who were
undrafted free agent or were 2-stars or 3-stars coming out (of high school) and now they’re playing in the NFL,
making a living playing football. I’m not worried about how many stars guys have. Whether they’re a 1-star or
a 5-star, when they get here, all those stars go away. It’s not going to be about that. It’s going to be about – what
can you do to help our football team – become part of our program, learn our culture, learn how to work, learn
how to compete, become a team player. I don’t care anything about the stars at all.”

On Emphasis On Trenches In This Class

“I thought it was a need. We’re always going to have big guys in the trenches, on offense and defense. We’re
never going to be short in that department. I thought we needed to get bigger, we needed to gain depth, so that
was a point of emphasis. All of the guys that we’ve signed are big men, and I think football is a game for big
people. Big, strong, physical guys – that’s how we’re going to play football. In order to play like that, you got to
have guys that can get it done.”

On Contributions Holdovers From Previous Staff

“It was important. The coaches that we retained, they were very passionate about CU. That’s important. The
coaches that we hired and brought in all really wanted to be here. If you’re passionate about the university and
the team, you’re going to do a great job of selling the program. Our coaches, they’re great X and O guys, they’re
great scheme guys, but they’re also great recruiters. You can’t really be on this staff if you’re not committed to
recruiting, because recruiting at the end of the day, is the name of the game. We’ve got to have players that fit
what we want to do. All of our coaches are all hands on deck recruiting. Our recruiting department does a great
job. We recruit all day, every day and that’s the way it’s going to be.”

On Gaining Commit From DB Trustin Oliver Late In Cycle

“There are always talented guys that come onto the radar late in recruiting. I believe you recruit every day and
you recruit all the way up until the end. We’re always looking for players. He’s one of those guys that if you
look, he’s got the height, he’s got the weight, he’s got the speed, he has excellent ball skills, he competes on both
sides of the ball, he plays great on special teams. There’s nothing on his film that says he shouldn’t be recruited.
There’s nothing about him that says he shouldn’t be recruited, so we offered him, we recruited him and we
signed him. We feel like we got an outstanding player. Again, we can’t be concerned with what everyone else is
doing. I’m not going to call my buddy back in Cleveland, Ohio and ask him if he’s going to make his house
payment this month and then decide if I’m going to make mine. I know what I have to do.”

On How Many Signees He Expects To Be Immediate Contributors

“We’ll see. They’ll come in and they’ll get what they deserve. I would love for all of these guys to be able to play
right away and have some type of role, whether it’s a starting role, as a rotational guy, or somewhere on special
teams. The more guys that have a role, the better chemistry you have on your team and the better morale you
have on your team and the more depth you have on your team. Everyone has a clean slate. We’re going to play
the best players and they’re going to compete to earn that playing time.”

On Finding Best Place On Field For Athletic Two-Way Players In High School

“We figured out where they’re going to start and they’re going to master that position. If they can help us on
the other side of the ball, then we’re going to do that.”

On His Attitude Towards Having A Guy Play Both Sides

“I had a guy Chris Gamble that played both sides of the ball at Ohio State. He was a receiver, we converted him
to a defensive back, he played both ways his sophomore year, then he primarily played as a corner his junior
year. He came out early and was a first-round pick. It’s been done before. It takes a special guy to do that, but
he was a versatile athlete, long, fast and physical just like these guys.”

On Whether Vontae Shenault Could Help Out The CU Basketball Team

“I don’t know that. That remains to be seen but we know he can help us on the football field. That’s where our
focus is right now.”

On Not Signing A Quarterback This Cycle And Whether That’s A Selling Point To 2020 QBs

“We have good quarterbacks on our roster now. We’ll see how all of that shakes out. We will be in the market
for a quarterback in the 2020 class. We’ll just see how it goes. The players that we recruit, they’re going to
evaluate our roster and our depth chart, but it’s going to be more about our coaching staff, the university, the
academics, the atmosphere, the campus, the flatirons, because no matter where you go, you’re going to have to
compete. Whether it’s at the quarterback position, offensive or defensive line, defensive backs, whatever, we
have a great product to sell here, regardless of what our depth chart looks like.”

On What Comes Next

“We’re recruiting. We’ve been on the phone all day offering guys, primarily in the 2020 class. We’ll do scheme
evaluation starting next week. We’ve already been doing installs with some of our players per the NCAA
regulations. We start our offseason fourth quarter program with strength and conditioning. It never stops. You
can’t take a break. There’s no such as an offseason, it’s really an out-of-season. That’s the way we approach it.”

On His Impressions Of Current Team

“Eager. Eager and willing. That’s what sticks out to me the most. They want to learn, they want to know about
the schemes, they want to get to know the coaches. This is a great time right now because we’re off the road,
the contact period is over, all the coaches are in the building, so we’ll be able to attend the workouts, have more
meetings with them, more team-building activities, get to know our guys and get ready for spring ball.

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Jamar Montgomery – LB – Junior College

Official CU Signing Day bio of Jamar Montgomery can be found here

Just the facts … Committed January 21st … Montgomery is a 6’3″, 225-pound linebacker, who comes to Boulder from Birmingham, Alabama, by way of Independence Community College in Independence, Kansas  Rivals bio  247 Sports bio

What others say about Montgomery … Montgomery was not rated by either Rivals or 247 Sports at the time of his commitment. Montgomery recorded 24 tackles, six sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in eight games last season.

Although not heavily recruited, Montgomery fills a need for CU, which was looking to add another outside linebacker to this recruiting class. Although Montgomery played inside linebacker this past season at ICC, he was a defensive end in high school.

“They saw that I was really a speed rusher, outside linebacker type of body,” Montgomery told the Daily Camera. “That’s definitely what I feel like I’m best at. I’m definitely excited to get back to my normal position. That’s somewhere I feel like I can make my money getting to the quarterback.”

He comes to CU, as a true junior, with three years to play two. He will enroll this summer.

Montgomery had other offers from … New Mexico and Utah State, though there was reported interest from Oregon.

In his own words … “It was definitely a positive experience for me taking (the junior college) route,” he said. “It’s not an easy thing for certain people. My motto coming in was just: ‘it can either make you or break you’. I stood tall on that. I was a firm believer and kept pushing and kept going.”

“I have done a lot of traveling and I would say Colorado’s facilities are the best I have ever seen” told BuffStampede.com. “Besides the facilities, I loved the coaching staff and how they make you feel like you are at home. It definitely felt like a second home, and a place where I am both wanted and needed. … Coach Tucker is my guy. He emphasized how he loved my speed on the edge and my ability, with my quick hands of getting around the tackle, to get to the quarterback.”

Mel Tucker on Jamar Montgomery … “This kid is a very explosive and instinctive linebacker. He can play inside and outside. He is very aggressive down hill, quick to key and diagnose, and is a sideline to sideline type of player. He is very good in block destruction. He meets the ball carrier with mean intentions. He is very good in coverage. I am very excited about him because he has the combination of height, weight, and speed that we are looking for at that position. He has excellent ball skills, good block protection, and everything we want out of a linebacker. We will start him on the outside. Off the ball as a stack linebacker, he can do that as well. He is a great addition to our staff and a guy I think can help us right away.”

Here is a link to Montgomery’s Hudl.com highlights.

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Tarik Luckett – WR

Official CU Signing Day bio of Tarik Luckett can be found here

Just the facts … Committed September 13th … Luckett is a 6’3″, 185-pound receiver from San Juan Capistrano, California … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio

What others say about Luckett … Luckett is considered by 247 Sports and Rivals to be a three-star receiver. When he committed in September, Luckett was rated as a four-star prospect by 247 Sports, but fell off after a mediocre senior season (at least in terms of production).

At 247 Sports, Luckett is rated as the No. 89 wide receiver in the nation, the No. 75 player overall out of the state of California this fall, and the No. 664 player overall in the country. At Rivals, Luckett is listed as the No. 94 player overall out of the state of California. As a junior in 2017, Luckett caught 53 passes for 923 yards and eight touchdowns, but had only 25 receptions for 487 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior. Luckett also played defensive back for J Serra Catholic (considered by Max Preps to be the 17th-best high school football program in the nation), with seven tackles and an interception.

Lucket has been timed at a 4.69 in the 40-yard dash.

“Luckett is a big outside receiver with length who can go up and beat smaller cornerbacks for a lot of 50/50 balls. When I saw him during the spring, he had some breakout moments but needs to show more consistent domination to dramatically move up the rankings. But Colorado is getting a good one. He has size, athleticism and play-making ability so in the Buffaloes’ offense, he should be a big asset on the outside.” – Rivals.com West Coast Analyst Adam Gorney”

“Luckett is one of the state’s most versatile players. He entered this year regarded as one of the region’s best receiver prospects but also emerged as a promising corner prospect as well. At 6-2, with long arms, quick feet and better top end speed than given credit for, Luckett has all the measurable’s to play corner at the next level. He has a little bit of an edge to his game as well and when you throw in his ball skills, which are very good from his days playing receiver, it’s easy to see he’s a legitimate two-way player.” – Greg Biggins at 247 Sports

Luckett had other offers from … at least ten schools. From the Pac-12, Luckett had offers from Oregon, Arizona State, Washington State and Oregon State. From the Mountain West, Luckett was pursued by Colorado State, Nevada, Fresno State, and Utah State.

In his own words … “This is what I’ve been dreaming of ever since I was a kid!”, Luckett wrote on Twitter. Luckett committed to Colorado sight unseen, but took his official visit to Boulder in November.

“After the coaching change at Colorado, I didn’t know if Coach ‘Chev’ (receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini) was going to stay or not so I started to look at other schools to see what was going on with them”, Luckett told BuffStampede.com. “But when Coach (Mel) Tucker came in and kept ‘Chev,’ it was a great thing. I went up there again for another official (visit) and it felt like home, felt like where I should be, just like it felt the first time I visited. There was no reason to keep looking around. So I shut down my recruiting.”

Mel Tucker on Tarik Luckett … “This guy is a very versatile athlete. He can play receiver. He can play corner. We really like him as a receiver. He has very good long speed. He has excellent ball skills. He is a strong competitor. He can pretty much do everything that we need him to do as a receiver. He runs great routes. He is productive going across the middle. He is productive on the deep ball. He can pluck it. He uses his hands well. He is an excellent blocker. In my mind, he is a blue chip type guy that is going to be able to make plays for us. He’ll have the opportunity to play right away because he has the ability and he wants to do that. If he were to play corner, he would be able to help us fairly quickly as well. These guys are hard to find. He goes up, high points the ball, and snatches it. He is an
outstanding athlete for us.”

Here is a link to Luckett’s Hudl.com highlights.

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Jayden Simon – DL

Official CU Signing Day bio of Jayden Simon can be found here

Just the facts … Committed January 27th … Simon is a 6’3″, 279-pound defensive tackle from Tacoma, Washington  Rivals bio  247 Sports bio

What others say about Simon … Simon is considered to be a two-star prospect by Rivals, but is rated as a three-star prospect by 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Simon was ranked as the No. 108 defensive tackle in the nation, and the No. 21 player overall out of the state of Washington. This past season, Simon had 54 tackles, nine sacks, one interception (which he returned for a touchdown) and one forced fumble.

Simon had other offers from … only a handful of other schools. Colorado beat out three Big Sky Conference schools – Montana State; Sacramento State; and Portland State … It may be nothing, but Simon’s younger brother, 2021 athlete recruit Julien Simon is already considered to be a four-star prospect on 247Sports with a long list of offers, including Colorado, Florida, Oregon, USC and Wisconsin.

In his own words … (on whether he was an under-the-radar recruit): “Yeah. I had injuries my whole high school career, so I missed quite a few games,” told the Daily Camera. “And, Washington has never really been recruited like that. It’s been a basketball state. But, this year I went to USC and got MVP at their camp with a bunch of schools. I definitely proved myself that I can play at the top.”

“One thing that stuck with me is (Buffs defensive line) coach (Jimmy) Brumbaugh said I remind him of himself when he was younger”, Simon told BuffStampede.com. “I thought that was pretty cool for him to say, especially coming from a guy that has been in there and had his chance in the league. Coach Brumbaugh said he isn’t scared to play freshmen. He said, ‘If you are ready to go, you’ll play right away.’ I liked hearing that he will actually give you a chance to prove yourself instead of just redshirting you right off the bat.”

Mel Tucker on Jayden Simon … “Another big guy. He’s got a media guide cover face. I love the guy. The guy came in and he’s so excited to have the opportunity to play here because he knows that we’re building something special. He knows that it’s important to have strong players in our trenches on both sides of the ball and he is that. When you look at the tight copy of some of his film, you cannot see the offensive lineman across from him because he’s just that big and wide. He’s got great lower body structure. He’s a second and third effort pass rushers and is stout in the trenches in the run game. He’s going to command double-teams. He loves football.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Nikko Pohahau – OL

Official CU Signing Day bio of Nikko Pohahau can be found here

Just the facts … Committed January 28th … Pohahau is a 6’5″, 270-pound offensive lineman from Mountain View, California Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

 What others say about Pohahau … Pohahau was not rated by Rivals at the time of his commitment, but was given a two-star rating after he committed. Pohahau was rated, however as a three-star prospect by 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Pohahau was rated as the No. 166 offensive tackle in the nation, and the No. 222 player out of the state of California from the Class of 2019.

Pohahau had other offers from … at least three other Power Five conference schools Arizona State, Oregon State and Washington State. Other offers were a few Mountain West schools, like Fresno State and San Jose State.

In his own words … “The coaching staff there is very determined to win,” Pohahau told BuffStampede.com. “I come from a great, winning program at St. Francis so it was really good to see that. My coaches are very old school and I could see that there. I loved the snow. It is a great college town. The facilities are amazing. They have an MRI machine in their facilities, which is connected to the stadium. Where else in college football can you find that?”

“(Buffs offensive line) coach (Chris) Kapilovic told me as soon as he got hired, he watched through film of literally hundreds of offensive linemen and he said mine popped out”, Pohahau told BuffStampede.com. “He said I have a nastiness to me that he really likes. He said he loves the way I finish. He really wanted me to be part of their program. He can tell I love the game of football, which is 125 percent true. I love run blocking, pass protection, and I love to hitting people. It is kind of my outlet.”

Mel Tucker on Nikko Pohahau … “Nikko is exactly what we are looking for. He has great initial quickness. He has a flat back. He has good hat speed. He comes off the ball and he is nasty. He is a finisher. We want guys that like to get on guys, move guys, finish them to the ground. He is going to finish with one violent shove at the end every single play. He is good at the point of attack. He is good on the second level. His initial quickness is outstanding. In pass pro, he has great awareness and really good feet. This guy can range from 280 to 310 pounds. He has that type of weight flexibility. He has length. He loves to finish. That is what sticks out most about him.”

Here is a link to Pohahau’s Hudl.com highlights.

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Quinn Perry – LB – Junior College

Official CU Signing Day bio of Quinn Perry can be found here

Just the facts … Committed January 14th … Perry is a 6’1″, 240-pound linebacker from Pacific Palisades, California, by way of El Camino Junior College  Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Perry … Perry was not rated by either Rivals or 247 Sports at the time of his commitment. Later, Perry was given a three-star rating by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Perry is listed as the No. 8 inside linebacker in the nation, the No. 46 junior college prospect out of California, and the No. 213 overall junior college prospect in the nation.

A former rugby star, Perry shifted his focus to football last off-season and it paid off. He earned team MVP honors at El Camino College as a sophomore in 2018 after recording 71 tackles, six sacks and a pick six.

Perry will enroll this summer, and have three years to play two at Colorado.

Perry had other offers from … no Power Five conference schools, though he did have offers from a number of Group of Five conference schools, including Hawai’i, New Mexico, Akron and UTSA.

In his own words … “Colorado’s coaches said they are big on character: being kind, polite, having proper manners, and treating people the way they deserve to be treated,” Perry told BuffStampede.com. “And in football, they want physical players that can run around the field and be very vocal. They called it the Colorado way. They want us to play football perfectly to their standards, and they see that potential in me, on and off the field. I am real happy they believe in me for who I am. I didn’t have to put on an act for them. They really know me as a person and as a player.”

Mel Tucker on Quinn Perry … “This kid is a special guy. He is very, very instinctive. He is very good in pass coverage. He is quick to key and diagnose. He has excellent ball skills. He is a very, very tough player. He is a gym rat. He always wants to talk football and get better. I talked to him earlier today. He says, ‘Coach, I am going to enjoy it but I am still going to get my workout in because I need to get better. I can’t wait to get there.’ You can’t go wrong with players like this. This is a position of need for us. We need to build some depth at this position. He is a guy we feel can help us right away. He will be a core special teams player for us. He is very instinctive with great ball disruption, taking the ball away. He is a guy that fits right into everything we want to do in our program here.”

Here is a link to Perry’s 2018 Hudl.com highlights.

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Trustin Oliver – DB

Official Signing Day bio of Trustin Oliver can be found here

Just the facts … Committed January 23rd … Oliver is a 6’4″, 205-pound athlete from Parker, Colorado  Rivals bio  247 Sports bio

What others say about Oliver … Oliver is considered to be a three-star athlete by both Rivals and 247 Sports (he projects as a safety at Colorado). 247 Sports ranks Oliver as the No. 109 athlete in the country, and the No. 10 overall prospect out of the Colorado for the Recruiting Class of 2019.

For Legend high in Parker as a senior, Oliver had 30 carries for 216 yards (a 7.2 yards/carry average) and two touchdowns, with 45 receptions for 450 yards and three touchdowns receiving. Oliver also had 151 yards in kickoff returns, 110 yards in punt returns, and 99 yards on two interception returns. On defense, Oliver posted 25 tackles (21 solo) for the 5-6 Titans.

Former Buff and former NFL lineman Matt McChesney has worked with Oliver at his Six Zero Strength facility the last year-and-a-half. He believes Oliver is the best skill player in Colorado.

“And I don’t even think it is close,” McChesney told BuffStampede.com. “He is from Compton and has Southern California wheels and he shows them off. He is as great kid, humble, works his butt off on a daily basis. Trustin is a weight room monster. He lifts with the linemen in this room.”

Oliver had other offers from … Utah, BYU, and Colorado State, with interest from other schools, including Oregon, Louisville, and Nebraska.

Mel Tucker on Trustin Oliver … “Trustin is a unique athlete. He in my opinion, can be an NFL receiver – he can also be an NFL safety. He has excellent ball skills. He is extremely physical. He is a relentless competitor on both sides of the ball. He loves to block. He loves to hit. He will return punts. He will return kickoffs. He will be on all of the core special teams. When you meet the kid, he is the nicest kid in the world. When he steps on the field, he is a totally different guy. The theme is long guys that can run, that are versatile, play both sides of the ball, will be affective on special teams. These are usually the type of kids that usually play for you early because they can do so many things for you. He has the size and speed already. He is an excellent worker. He comes from a great family here in the state. We are very fortunate to have him.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Vontae Shenault – WR

Official CU Signing Day bio of Vontae Shenault can be found here

Just the facts … Committed February 4th … Shenault is a 6’1″, 186-pound wide receiver from Desoto, Texas Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Shenault … Shenault is rated as a four-star prospect by Rivals, but a three-star prospect by 247 Sports. At Rivals, Shenault is considered to be the No. 29 wide receiver in the nation, the No. 24 overall prospect out of the state of Texas from the Recruiting Class of 2019, and the No. 198 overall player in the nation. At 247 Sports, Shenault is rated as the No. 47 wide receiver in the nation, the No. 49 player out of the state of Texas, and the No. 400 player nationally.

This past year, Shenault hauled in 73 passes, accounted for 1,421 all-purpose yards, and scored eight touchdowns in 12 games at DeSoto.

Evaluation from Gabe Brooks from 247 Sports … Shenault is a long, lean receiver prospect who can stretch the field in the vertical passing game. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Shenault shows above average top-end speed in the deep portion of the field and can hit the home run over the top of the defense.

Overall, Shenault is a great pickup for Colorado. He is definitely a Power Five-caliber receiver prospect with what should be a high physical ceiling. He has faced outstanding competition relative to the high school level in practice and games and knows what it’s like to play in high-leverage contests.

Shenault had other offers from … over a dozen other schools, including Arizona State and Utah from the Pac-12. Other Power-Five conference offers came from Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Illinois, TCU, West Virginia and Purdue. Shenault was a Texas Tech commit from June to December, 2018, but de-committed when head coach Kliff Klingsbury was fired.

In his own words … From his commitment tweet: “I would like to thank all of the coaches and programs who have invested their time in me and consideration you have given. Thank you to the new Colorado coaching staff for continuing to believe in me throughout the entire recruiting process. All that to say … I will be joining my brothers Laviska and KD. I am proudly committing to the University of Colorado. Go Buffs!”

Mel Tucker on Vontae Shenault … “This guy is a rare athlete. Huge competitor. He’s the type of guy that’s just a football player. He loves to compete, has great size, his ball skills are incredible. This guy does it all. He wanted to play with his brother, he wanted to be here at CU, it’s important to him. He’s got a chance to play early. He’s another versatile athlete that’s big and long and physical. I love him as a competitor and as a kid. His mom has done a great job, she is to be commended. He’s just a special guy that said, ‘I want to come play with my brother,’ and knows he’s not going to be in his shadow because he’s going to create a legacy of his own.”

Here is a link to Shenault’s Hudl.com highlights

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Daniel (D.J.) Oats – CB

CU’s official Signing Day bio of D.J. Oats can be found here

Just the facts ... Committed January 13th … Oats is a 6’0″, 190-athlete from Arlington, Texas who projects as a cornerback  Rivals bio  247 Sports

What others say about Oats … Despite playing in Texas, rushing for over 1,000 yards as a senior, and running a reported 4.25 in the 40, Oats was not rated by either Rivals or 247 Sports at the time of his commitment. Later, Oats received a three-star rating from 247 Sports, but only a two-star rating by Rivals. According to 247 Sports, Oats is considered the No. 136 athlete in the nation, the No. 208 overall prospect out of the state of Texas, and the No. 1,612 player overall in the nation.

As a senior, Oats rushed 127 times for 1,155 yards and 14 touchdowns with another 11 receptions for 130 yards and a score.

“I am just so proud of D.J.”, Elite Football Talent Coach Mill told BuffStampede.com. “His grandma, aunt and uncle took him in but he lost both of his parents. The kid is a success story. He is driven by angels. The kid can fly and he is a super hard worker.”

Oats had other offers from ... wait for it … Toledo and Trinity International (that’s in Illinois, folks).

In his own words … Oats’ tweet announcing his commitment: “After a great official visit and talk with the coaches, I am announcing my commitment to the University of Colorado! I want to thank my family and my coaches for helping me achieve my dreams to play college football at the next level. This has been a long and emotional process, but with that being said, I will now be a part of the tradition. Go Buffs!”

Mel Tucker on Daniel (D.J.) Oats … “He is the fastest man in the country, in his class. That is what I read. This guys is extremely explosive. He will play defense for us but he can also play offense. He is a dynamic playmaker. He is a sub 4.4 40 guy all day and every day. He is elusive. He has very good long speed. He can catch the ball. He can be a wildcat guy. He can be a bubble screen guy. He can be a deep threat guy. Defensively, he can run with anybody in the country. He is another versatile athlete for us that can do a lot. It is very rare to find a guy with this type of speed. When you have a guy with this type of speed who can actually play football, I feel like you have to recruit him and you have to try to sign him. We were very fortunate that we did that. He has a great story. He is a special young man.”

Here is a link to the Hudl.com highlights from his senior year.

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Lloyd Murray, Jr. – DL

Official CU Signing Day bio of Lloyd Murray, Jr., can be found here

Just the facts … Committed February 3rd … Murray is a 6’2″, 310-pound defensive tackle from Wichita Falls, Texas Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What other say about Murray … Murray is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports.  At 247 Sports, Murray is considered to be the No. 93 defensive tackle in the nation, the No. 180 overall player out of Texas, and the No. 1,419 prospect in the nation. As a three-year letterman at Hirschi, Murray racked up a total of 98 tackles, 38 hurries, seven sacks and he had 10 fumble involvements.

From Gabe Brooks at 247 Sports … Murray is a bull-rusher who relies on his girth and strength to overwhelm high school opponents. With that in mind, he will need to add nuance to his game to transition to the Pac-12 level. He has shown an occasional swim move, but has been limited from a pass-rush arsenal standpoint. Murray will need to improve his hand violence and arm extension to help him disengage from college blockers. He also must maintain his weight and conditioning as his build could lead to getting out of shape.

Murray had other offers from … seemingly half the nation. While some prospects over-report their offer sheet, if even half of Murray’s list is accurate, he was a sought after recruit. Committed to Ole Miss for about a month last spring, Murray had offers from the Arizona schools, USC and Oregon from the Pac-12, as well as national powers Alabama, Auburn, Notre Dame, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, Georgia … and about two dozen other schools.

Mel Tucker on Lloyd Murray, Jr. … “I like the way he fills up his uniform. He has good initial quickness. He already knows how to use his hands. As a pass rusher, he is a pocket push guy – which you have to have. He gives you effort sideline to sideline. He is a second and third effort guy. He has really good size, really good stoutness. He can control the A gap. In the run game, he is a guy you are not going to be able to move. He is going to command a double team which is very important for inside guys. This is a kid that really wanted to be here. He wanted to be a Buff. He loved everything about place. He loved our coaches. When you start to talk football with him, he lights up. I am really excited to have him.”

Judge for yourself … Here is a link to Murray’s Hudl.com senior year highlights.

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Tags: D.J. Oats, Jamar Montgomery, Jayden Simon, Lloyd Murray, Mel Tucker, Nikko Pohahau, Quinn Perry, Tarik Luckett, Trustin Oliver, Vontae Shenault
This post, about the Recruiting - Class of 2019 game, from the 2019 Season, is filed under Article.
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