Class of 2020 – Signed LOI

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CU Recruiting Class of 2020 – Signed Letters of Intent

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Coach Tucker’s (February) Signing Day videos

On Rivals.com …

On the Pac-12 Networks …

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Video Coach Mel Tucker’s 2020 Recruiting Class (December) press conference (including a cool introductory video):

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CU Recruiting Class (Bold = Signed Letter of Intent)

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— Quarterback … Brendon Lewis

— Running Back … Jayle Stacks … Ashaad Clayton

— Wide Receiver … Montana Lemonius-Craig … Brenden Rice … Keith Miller III … Chris Carpenter …

— Tight end … Louis Passarello … Caleb Fauria …

— Offensive Line … Gerad Lichtenhan … Jake Wray … Carson Lee …

— Defensive Line … Jordan Berry … Devin Grant … Alvin Williams … Guy Thomas (JC) … Justin Jackson (JC) … Antonio Alfano … Jason Harris …

— Linebacker … Mister Williams … Toren Pittman …

— Defensive Back … Christian Gonzalez … Jaylen Striker (JC) … William Anglen

— Punter … Josh Watts …

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CU Recruiting Class of 2020 – biographies

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Ashaad Clayton – RB

Just the facts … Committed November 11th … Clayton is a 6’0″, 190-pound running back from New Orleans, Louisiana (Warren Easton) Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others have to say about Clayton … Clayton is rated as a four-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Clayton is considered to be the No. 12 running back in the nation, the No. 6 overall prospect out of the state of Louisiana. Clayton was considered the No. 97 player in the nation when he committed on November 11th, but then dropped out of the top 100 a few weeks later, and now is listed as the No. 153 overall prospect. At 247 Sports, Clayton is considered to be the No. 17 running back in the nation, the No. 6 overall prospect out of the state of Louisiana, and the No. 171 overall player in the country.

Despite the drop in his status (due to hypothetical injury issues), Clayton, in leading Warren Easton to the Louisiana 4A state title, rushed for 1,157 yards and 19 touchdowns … in the playoffs! (five games). In winning the MVP trophy for the championship game (a 35-34 loss), Clayton had 32 carries for 211 yards and three touchdowns. Clayton rushed for over 2,000 yards his senior year.

Evaluation from 247 Sports … Owns the requisite build for a three-down, high-volume back at the Power 5 level. Good height and bulk. Owns virtually college-ready size but will easily pack on more to reach 220-pound range. Showed more power as a runner in junior season. Continues to improve ability to run behind pads. Fairly quick-footed relative to size. Shows enough wiggle and hesitation to make first defender miss and can weave for extra yards. However, at his best as a north-south hole-puncher. Runs with good initial burst when going downhill. No verified testing numbers, but owns a promising 11-flat 100-meter time. Run strength is too much for arm tackles. Showing more and more run-finishing authority. Needs to improve pad level and run with a low center of gravity more consistently. Gears down at times when changing speeds. Unclear if field speed always matches track speed. Needs to get pads square to the LOS more consistently. High-major running back prospect who should become quality starter with long-term NFL Draft ceiling.

Clayton has other offers from … over a dozen other (high-profile Power-Five conference) schools. On the list of suitors are Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Georgia, Texas, Arkansas, Nebraska, Kansas and Texas A&M.

In his own words … “It was beautiful. The coaching staff, Coach Mel Tucker, he really cares about his kids. Colorado, in general, everything you need is there”, Clayton told Rivals. “They care about academics, about the athletic program — everyone from the ski team to the Zamboni team. Everyone is taken care of and they have all the resources you need. The coaches kept it real with me. They were straight up. Boulder is a beautiful city.”

“They told me about their plan for using me — the same way Easton uses me in the slot, at running back, and I know I can play for sure.”

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

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William Anglen – DB

CUBuffs.com official biography of William Anglen

Just the facts  … Anglen is a 6’2″, 190-pound athlete from Cleveland, Ohio … Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Anglen … Anglen is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and Scout. According to Rivals, Anglen is the No. 45 overall prospect out of the state of Ohio. At 247 Sports, Anglen is considered to be the No. 117 safety in the nation, the No. 59 overall prospect out of Ohio, and the No. 1515 overall player in the nation. Anglen played in the Blue-Grey All-America Game in Dallas and was singled out for making several “momentum-changing” plays in the contest. As an all-purpose player, he was named third-team All-Ohio. Anglen also plays on the basketball team and runs for the track and field team.

Anglen spent time playing quarterback, safety, kick returner and punt returner during his time at Glenville. Some colleges recruited him simply as an athlete, but the Buffaloes would like to bring him in to play safety.

From Bill Greene at 247 Sports … What is there to Like: If you are a fan of measurables and watching impressive athletes in a combine setting, William Anglen is your guy. This is a guy with size, speed, athletic ability, and high football IQ that fell through the cracks because he played so many different positions in his high school career. Had Anglen been strictly a safety his entire high school career and learned that position to the fullest, he might be signing with Alabama, Clemson, or Ohio State. He has NFL raw ability and now it’s up to Mel Tucker and the Colorado staff to turn the player from athlete with potential into a productive safety. There is no doubt that Anglen has the physical tools to play Power Five football at a high level and we have to see just where he fits in as a player from a positional standpoint. Is he a safety, a cornerback, a wide receiver, or a running back? 

Anglen has other offers from … most notably, Cincinnati, with the Bearcats being the strongest competitor for Anglen’s services. Other offers almost a dozen other schools, with most of the offers coming from nearby in-state schools like Bowling Green, Toledo, Akron, Ball State and Kent State.

In his own words … “I picked Colorado; I feel like it was home,” Anglen told Rivals.com. “I have a great relationship with the coaches. We built that relationship over the last couple months, so that was another part.”

The interest in Anglen originated because Glenville head coach Ted Ginn Sr. had a long-standing relationship with Colorado head coach Mel Tucker. As he got to know Tucker better, Anglen saw the Buffaloes’ head man as the right person to instruct his future.

“He is like another coach Ginn, so I already knew who he was and I know the standards and the expectations he has for me,” Anglen said. “They have some great coaches there who will help on the individual work I need to work on.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Jayle Stacks – RB

CUBuffs.com official biography of Jayle Stacks

Just the facts … Committed November 25th … Stacks is a 6’0″, 225-pound running back from Cherry Creek high school in Denver Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Stacks … Stacks is considered to be a three-star prospect by 247 Sports, but only a two-star prospect by Rivals. At 247, Stacks is rated as the No. 97 running back in the country, the No. 11 overall prospect out of the state of Colorado, and the No. 1582 player nationally. As a senior, Stacks rushed 123 times for 1,115 yards and 15 touchdowns to go along with 14 receptions for 196 yards and five touchdowns for 14-0 state champion Cherry Creek. For his efforts, Stacks was named the 5A Offensive Player of the Year. Stacks was named to the All-Midlands Region team by PrepStar, and finished his career at Cherry Creek High School as a four-time All-Centennial League player with 411 carries for 2,997 yards and 39 touchdowns playing for former CU All-American Dave Logan.

Stacks to be considered a “blue shirt” … Has been admitted to the University of Colorado but will defer enrollment to the fall of 2020. As a result, Stacks will count against the Class of 2021 (which will be a smaller Class), and not against the Class of 2020.

Stacks had other offers from … most notably, Air Force. Stacks was an Falcon commit from September 2nd to November 25th. Stacks also had offers from Wyoming and Colorado State, with interest expressed by schools like Utah and Kansas State.

In his own words … From his tweet announcing his change in commitment: “After deep thought and reflection, I’ve made the decision to decommit from the United States Air Force Academy … I had the opportunity to meet with Coach Tucker and his team at CU. It’s with great enthusiasm, honor, humility and gratitude that I announce my commitment to the University of Colorado, I’m beyond thrilled at the idea of me being a part of this elite team. I wholeheartedly believe that CU will focus on developing my goals individually, academically, professionally and athletically. Go Buffs!”

Here is a link to 247 Sports highlights

Here is a YouTube video from BuffStampede.com concerning Stacks after his announcement:

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Jason Harris – DE

Just the facts … Committed January 2, 2020 … Harris is a 6’7″, 230-pound weakside defensive end from Gilbert, Arizona Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others have to say about Harris … Harris is rated as a four-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Harris is rated as the No. 9 player end out of the state of Arizona, and the No. 13 overall weakside defensive end in the nation. At 247 Sports, Harris is the No. 8 player from Arizona, the No. 17 weakside defensive end in the country, and the No. 324 overall player in the nation.

He lettered four times in football for coach Eddy Zuby at Highley High School, helping the team to a 36-14 record his four seasons.  He played in 34 career games and had 109 tackles (68 solo stop) with 46 tackles for loss and 39.5 sacks, and added 44 quarterback hurries, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one interception, and two defensive touchdowns.

He had 24 sacks and 15 quarterback hurries as a senior, having at least one sack in 10 different games and five games with three-plus sacks.

“Jason is a tremendous young man,” CU coach Mel Tucker said. “Athletically, his ceiling is very high.  His ability to rush the passer is something that’s very difficult to find in recruiting.  I’m excited about his future as a Buff.”

Evaluation from Blair Angulo from 247 Sports … Tall, lanky frame with long limbs and narrow build. Plenty of room to add mass and strength. Very comfortable in stand-up role off the edge. Reach keeps blockers at arm’s length. Shows good burst off the snap, but takes time to reach top-end speed. Awareness to get hands up when he doesn’t reach the backfield. Athletic, but raw defender who needs to improve pass-rush moves. Lacks elite speed and explosiveness. Potential multi-year starter with upside as NFL Draft Day 2 selection.

Harris had other offers from … over two dozen schools. Harris had offers from two-thirds of the Pac-12, including both Arizona schools, both Oregon schools, and both Los Angeles schools. Other Power-Five offers came from schools like Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Brenden Rice – WR

CUBuffs.com biography of Brenden Rice

Just the facts … Committed October 15th … Rice is a 6’3″, 208- pound wide receiver from Chandler, Arizona Rivals bio  247 Sports bio

What others say about Rice ... Rice is considered by Rivals to be a four-star prospect, but only a high three-star prospect by 247 Sports. At Rivals, Rice is rated as the No. 50 wide receiver in the nation, and the No. 8 player overall out of the state of Arizona. At 247 Sports, Rice is considered to be the No. 75 wide receiver in the country, the No. 10 player out of Arizona, and the No. 413 overall prospect in the nation.

Rice is the son of NFL Hall-of-Famer Jerry Rice, and the brother of former Texas A&M defensive end Qualen Cunningham. Rice has been invited to play in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Bowl and the Under-Armor All-American game.

Evaluation, from Blair Angulo at 247 Sports … Muscular and solidly built frame. Good length and physical upside. Impressive straight-line speed. Can make defenders miss in the open field. Athleticism to high-point the football and body up defensive backs. Contributes as a run blocker and can be an asset on short-yardage situations. Could refine overall fluidity, particularly in getting out of his breaks. Decent hands, but room for improvement as consistent pass-catcher. Potential multi-year starter at Power Five level. Upside as NFL Draft Day 3 selection.

Career stats (through of 10/15/19): 102 receptions … 1,738 yards … 22 touchdowns … 2,119 All-purpose yards … 23 Total touchdowns.

Rice had other offers from … almost two dozen Power-Five conference schools. From the Pac-12, Rice had offers from both Arizona schools, Cal, both Oregon schools, USC, UCLA, Utah and Washington State. Outside of the conference, Rice had offers from schools like Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Michigan State and Ole Miss.

In his own words … If you are on Twitter, you can check out his announcement video at @BrendenRice (it’s about 90 seconds long – and worth your time!).

Why Colorado? Attending the Nebraska game at Folsom Field didn’t hurt. “Coach Tucker’s enthusiasm really stood out,” Rice told 247 Sports. “He is only loud when he needs to be and it was great to be able to see him in the locker room at that game against Nebraska. It was just different and it gave me goosebumps. I think I could run through a brick wall for that guy and it definitely makes me feel like that vision is something special.”

“It is always about competition,” Rice told BuffStampede.com. “I truly feel if I do everything within my power to step up and be a leader and be vocal, make sure I am doing the right things like making sure I stay healthy, I will put myself in a position to play and compete for a starting job next year.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Mister Williams – LB

CUBuffs.com biography of Mister Williams

Just the facts … Committed December 3rd … Williams is a 6’2″, 230-pound linebacker from Westlake Village, California  Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Williams … Williams is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. Rivals ranks Williams as the No. 70 overall prospect out of the state of California, while at 247 Sports, Williams is considered to be the No. 60 outside linebacker in the nation, the No. 77 overall player out of California, and the No. 797 player overall in the nation.

Williams had other offers from … a number of Power-Five conference schools, including Cal, UCLA, and Washington State from the Pac-12. Other offers came from national powers Ohio State and LSU, along with Wisconsin, Nebraska, Kansas State and Boise State.

In his own words … From Williams’ tweet announcing his decision: “I want to thank all of my coaches, especially Coach Collins, Coach Moore, and Coach Mendoza. They have helped me not only as a football player, but most importantly helped me become a better man, as well as everyone who helped me on my journey to get to this point. At the end of the day, for the next 4 years I am extremely proud to say I will continue my academic and athletic career at the UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO #SkoBuffs”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Montana Lemonious-Craig – WR

CUBuffs.com biography of Lemonius-Craig

Just the facts … Committed November 29th … Lemonious-Craig is a 6’2″, 185-pound wide receiver from Inglewood, California Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Lemonious-Craig … Lemonious-Craig is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Lemonious-Craig is listed as the No. 88 overall prospect out of the state of California this season. At 247 Sports, Lemonious-Craig is seen as the No. 53 athlete in the nation, the No. 82 overall prospect out of California, and the No. 800 overall prospect in the nation.

Lemonious-Craig had an impressive season on both sides of the ball. At wide receiver, he had 41 receptions for 1,227 yards (29.9 yards/catch) and 21 touchdowns. He added 60 tackles and six interceptions from his safety position. Lemonious-Craig is able to play on both sides of the ball, but is being recruited as a wide receiver.

“Coach Tucker explained there are three dudes that are heading to the NFL, so they are losing three big time receivers,” Lemonious-Craig said. “There is a lot of room to go in and make plays. He wants me to come in ready to work … he said to be ready to ball.”

Lemonious-Craig had other offers from … over a dozen schools, including Arizona from the Pac-12. Lemonious-Craig also had offers from Auburn and BYU, and a number of Mountain West schools, including Boise State, Colorado State, San Diego State and Utah State.

“(Coach Mel Tucker) keeps it real,” Lemonious-Craig told CUSportsNation. “He doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He wants to get you to the next level after college and that’s the goal. He wants to win — I want to win, too. Coach Tucker’s building that program up there and there’s just going to be great things happening up there at Colorado…the thing about coach Chev is that he knows what he’s talking about — he knows football.”

In his own words … Lemonius-Craig announced his commitment with a two-minute video on Twitter, which can be found here.

“It picked up fairly late for me and then I started to build a great relationship with (Buffaloes assistant head coach and receivers) coach (Darrin) Chiaverini,” Lemonious-Craig said. “Coach ‘Chev’ kept is real from the jump. He knows football, he knows what he is talking about. He produces guys to the next level, so that is something I wanted to be around. I can’t wait to move on to the next journey in my life and learn from him these next few years.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlight video.

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Brendon Lewis – QB

CUBuffs.com biography of Brendon Lewis

Just the facts … Committed May 10th … Lewis is a 6’3″, 209-pound dual-threat quarterback from Melissa, Texas  Rivals bio  247 Sports bio 

What others say about Lewis … Lewis is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Lewis is ranked as the No. 18 dual-threat quarterback in the nation, and the No. 54 overall prospect out of the state of Texas. 247 Sports, meanwhile, has Lewis rated as the No. 18 dual-threat quarterback from the Recruiting Class of 2020, the No. 95 prospect out of the state of Texas, and the No. 695 recruit in the nation.

In four seasons playing for the Melissa Cardinals (Lewis played briefly as a freshman), Lewis went 505-for-875 for 8,575 yards, 107 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. Lewis also had 412 rushing attempts in his career, going for 3,221 yards (7.8 yards/carry) and another 39 touchdowns.

Gabe Brooks at 247 Sports … “Good-sized dual-threat quarterback with adequate height and encouraging bulk for the position. Good testing numbers in the 40 and shuttle manifest in mobility on the field. Hurts defenses with legs, but prefers to buy time to find receivers. Bulk helps him drive ball to the perimeter when rolling to the right with his body. Consistently connects over the deep middle. Flashes encouraging velocity and drives the ball up the seam. Displays a smooth, natural delivery when there’s time to set and throw, whether from read action or dropping. Shows good touch in vertical game with ability to drop balls on receivers outside the numbers. Could stand to tighten delivery and quicken release. Arm angle varies at times. Produces big numbers at the high school level but can still improve accuracy and consistency. Footwork can be more consistent. Sturdily built, productive QB who possesses requisite tools to develop into a Power Five starter.”

Lewis had other offers from … over a dozen other schools, most from Power-Five conferences. Lewis had offers from Nebraska, TCU, Mississippi State, Missouri, Boston College, Syracuse, Texas Tech, Vanderbilt, Kansas and Houston. Lewis took an official visit to Colorado and Missouri before deciding.

In his own words … I really like their coaches,” Lewis told BuffZone.com. “Coach Tuck, he has a great staff with him. The reason I chose them over Mizzou is my opportunity to play early and just start early. I really like the coaches and players, and I love Boulder; it’s beautiful and a nice campus. The education is nice, too. I just feel like it’s the right fit and I can be successful there.”

From Rivals.com … “I like how diverse Colorado is and the style in all they do things there. I know they can teach me how to get to the next level and all of the schemes. That’s because of Coach Johnson and how smart he is. He’s a very smart coach and you can tell he knows what he’s doing. He made me a priority and he wants me to learn the offense. He always gives the keys to the offense to the quarterbacks to run the offense and even call plays from the line of scrimmage.”

“It was a pretty difficult decision, but Coach Johnson and the offense separated them (Colorado from other schools). It’s also the competition and the overall school, the education and all that. Coach Johnson and the offense, though, how multiple they’re gonna be, I can see myself succeeding in their offense.”

Here is a link to Lewis’ Hudl.com highlights.

Here is a link to Lewis’ highlights from The Opening Dallas regional camp in March, 2019.

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Jordan Berry – DL

CUBuffs.com biography of Jordan Berry

Just the facts … Committed November 24th … Berry is a 6’2″, 323-pound defensive lineman from Harbor City, California Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Berry … Berry is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Berry is rated as the No. 54 defensive tackle in the nation, and the No. 64 overall player out of the state of California. At 247 Sports, Berry is considered to be the No. 61 defensive tackle in the country, the No. 68 player overall out of California, and the No. 745 overall player in the nation.

Berry had other offers from … almost a dozen Power-Five conference schools, including over half of the Pac-12. Berry had offers from Oregon, USC, Arizona, Utah, UCLA, and Oregon State. Other offers came from schools like Georgia, LSU, Florida and Boston College. Berry committed to LSU on February 16th, and kept that commitment until October 10th. Berry took his official visit to Colorado on November 8th for the Stanford game.

In his own words … “Coach Tucker is a cool, cool dude,” Berry told CUSportsNation after his official visit to Colorado. “He said he’s been recruiting me ever since he came to Colorado. I spent time with him over the weekend, me and my mom and my uncle — I felt at home with him and the whole staff. I felt loved. It felt like a bond, like I was supposed to be there.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Louis Passarello – TE

CUBuffs.com biography of Louis Passarello

Just the facts … Committed October 6th … Passarello is a 6’5″, 247-pound tight end from Palo Alto, California Rivals bio 247 Sports bio 

What others say about Passarello … Passarello is rated with a three-star prospect by 247 Sports, but only a two-star prospect by Rivals. At 247 Sports, Passarello is considered to be the No. 109 tight end in the nation, the No. 262 overall prospect out of the state of California, and the No. 2,278 overall prospect in the nation.

Passarello starts on both sides of the ball for Palo Alto, at tight end and defensive end. He projects as a tight end for college.

Passarello had other offers from … only Air Force, though there was reported interest from Oregon State. At least, with an offer from the Falcons, qualifying will not be an issue for this prospect.

In his own words … “The minute I received the Colorado offer, I knew that is where I wanted to go and the rest of the schools that were talking to me were kind of an afterthought,” Passarello told BuffStampede.com. “My heart has always been into Colorado, even before this recruiting process. They play in the Pac-12, a great conference to play in, and they offer great academics. Colorado has a great reputation. It also has great football because they are on the rise to what they once where. That is something I wanted to be part of.”

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

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Antonio Alfano – DL

CUBuffs.co biography of Antonio Alfano

Just the facts … Committed November 4th … Alfano is a 6’4″, 285-pound defensive lineman from Colonia, New Jersey Rivals bio 247 Sports bio 

What others say about Alfano … Alfano may be the highest-rated recruit in the history of the program. A member of the Recruiting Class of 2019, Alfano was rated as a five-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Alfano was ranked as the No. 1 defensive end prospect in the country, the No. 1 overall recruit out of the state of New Jersey, and the No. 5 overall prospect in the nation. At 247 Sports, Alfano received similar marks – the No. 1 strongside defensive end in the country, the No. 1 player out of New Jersey, and the No. 1 overall prospect in the entire country.

Alfano enrolled early at Alabama (last January), but did not play a down for the Crimson Tide. He was with the team in September, but left in October due to a family issue. “Antonio’s grandmother recently fell very ill and is still fighting on life support,” his father Frankie Alfano explained on Twitter on Sept. 13. “He is very close with her. Since this illness took effect, Antonio has taken it very hard. He has not attended classes and practices.”

Alabama head coach Nick Saban didn’t mince words about Alfano’s actions. “I just know that the guy basically quit,” Saban said in mid-September to AL.com. “He quit going to class. He quit coming here. We tried to encourage him. We tried to help him. We had tried to set up counseling sessions with him to help him every way we could. … But he didn’t respond to any of the things, so until he responds, you just have to assume the guy quit.”

Before his tribulations in Tuscaloosa, Alfano was expected to have an impact as a true freshman for Alabama. 247 Sports director of scouting Barton Simmons had this to say about Alfano:

There aren’t many pass rushers who play as true freshmen on Nick Saban’s defense, but there aren’t many five-stars with a college-ready frame and skill set quite like Alfano, either. At a position of need, the Crimson Tide landed the nation’s top overall player this cycle per the 247Sports rankings.

“I actually compare Antonio Alfano in some ways to Nick Bosa, who played nose guard for his high school,” Simmons said. “Quinnen Williams played nose for Alabama. I don’t know that Antonio Alfano steps in right away and is Quinnen Williams, but he certainly steps in right away and gives Alabama much-needed depth on the defensive front.

“Antonio Alfano is 6-foot-5, 285 pounds. The guy is a beast. He is on campus already. He can factor in on that defensive front right away. Whether he starts or not I don’t know, but he will be in the rotation is my expectation given how talented he is from a physical standpoint.”

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Alfano has signed a financial aid agreement with Colorado, which is good, but not the final word. A Financial Aid Agreement is different from a Letter of Intent, as it binds the school, but not the player. Until Alfano actually enrolls at CU in January, he remains free to explore other options.

Coming to CU by way of the transfer portal, Alfano may have to sit out the 2020 season. Since he never played a down for the Crimson Tide, however, he may well receive a waiver from the NCAA, which would not only allow him to play in the 2020 season, but have four years to play four in Boulder.

Alfano had other offers from … pretty much every school in the country. Out of the Pac-12, Alfano had offers from Oregon, USC, Arizona State, UCLA, and Stanford. He also had offers from top programs such as Georgia, LSU, Penn State, Clemson, Ohio State, LSU, and Wisconsin … and, of course, Alabama, where he signed. Georgia, along with Penn State and Alabama, were his final three choices … which means he was being recruited by Mel Tucker, then the defensive coordinator at Georgia.

Another connection … CU’s athletics academics mentor, Sarah E. Weaver, Ph.D., tweeted out in response to Alfano’s announcement: “SO excited to and happy to work with you again! This time in Boulder!!”

In his own words … From a tweet from Alfano: “I was honored to be recruited by Alabama and Nick Saban and have nothing but positive things to say about them. I want to be successful today and tomorrow and I believe what Coach Tucker is building at Colorado gives me the best opportunity to do that.”

Antonio Alfano All-Access … 

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Christian Gonzalez – DB

CUBuffs.com biography of Christian Gonzalez

Just the facts … Committed November 18th … Gonzalez is a 6’1″, 180-pound defensive back from The Colony, Texas Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Gonzalez … Gonzalez is considered to be a four-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Gonzalez is rated as the No. 26 cornerback in the nation, and the No. 33 overall player out of the state of Texas. At 247 Sports, Gonzalez is considered to be the No. 28 safety in the country, the No. 42 player overall out of Texas, and the No. 307 overall player in the nation.

In 2019, Gonzalez, while playing both ways, has posted 17 tackles, 8 passes broken up, and two interceptions, while rushing for 119 yards in 11 attempts, and collecting 43 receptions for 650 yards and 10 touchdowns.

His evaluation, by Gabe Brooks at 247 Sports … Big-bodied two-way standout with position versatility and value in multiple personnel packages. As a DB, owns great height and build for a corner and on the bigger end of the safety spectrum. Easily a 200-pounder in college. Disruptive at the catch point thanks to size and length. Three-phase playmaker with terrific ball skills. Has played tons of snaps at receiver and could play there at the P5 level. Plays instinctive and diagnoses quickly from the secondary. Dangerous in short-to-intermediate range thanks to reactive quickness and closing speed. Ample snaps on the outside and the slot. Not afraid to get his hands on receivers. Plays fast with long-striding top-end speed, as evidenced by 21.65 PR in 200 meters. However, combine-verified testing numbers (4.74 40, 4.58 shuttle) suggest room to improve explosiveness and lateral fluidity. More of a speed-builder than a speed-burster. Appears to be a capable tackler, but has limited tape in that department. Plays with corner mentality but long-term home may be safety because of build and athletic traits. Should provide special teams value, potentially as a return man or a gunner. Legitimate high-major DB prospect with personnel flexibility who could become multi-year starter with all-league potential.

Gonzalez had other offers from … over two dozen schools, most notably Purdue. Gonzalez had been committed to the Boilermakers since August, but switched his commitment after taking an official visit to Boulder for the Stanford game. Other offers came from at least three Pac-12 schools – Arizona State, Utah, and Washington State – while holding Power-Five school offers from the likes of Alabama, Notre Dame, Florida, Miami, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Minnesota.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Keith Miller III – WR

CUBuffs.com biography of Keith Miller

Just the facts … Committed June 15th … Miller is a 6’5″, 215-pound wide receiver from The Colony, Texas Rivals bio  247 Sports bio

What others say about Miller … Miller is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. Rivals has Miller rated as the No. 122 overall prospect out of the state of Texas, while at 247 Sports, Miller is considered to be the No. 159 wide receiver prospect in the country, the No. 143 overall prospect out of the state of Texas, and the No. 1082 overall prospect in the nation. Miller also made the Dallas News list of top prospects from the Dallas metro area, coming in at No. 37.

This fall, Miller had 58 receptions for 824 yards and nine touchdowns.

Evaluation from Gabe Brooks at 247 Sports … On the taller end of the receiver spectrum with good size and frame length. Already at the 200-pound plateau as a junior but owns enough frame space to continue adding size. Looks a bit bigger on the hoof than listed size. That size manifests on the field. Shows ability to post up smaller defenders. Possesses a high ceiling as a red-zone target. Lot of potential in the back-shoulder game. Long-striding speed-builder with above average long speed in the open. Not gonna make many defenders miss, but flashes enough top-end speed to provide big-play ability as a straight-line run-after-catch threat. Has played outside and in the slot. Willing to work the middle of the field in traffic. Shows encouraging hands-catching ability. Needs to improve lateral mobility and overall twitchiness, which will aid in sharpening route-running. Not a sudden short-area athlete. Does not always leverage DB’s into breaks. Shows some high-pointing inconsistency despite size. Raw but high-ceiling wideout thanks to physical tools and on-field long speed. Owns the ceiling to become a strong Power Five contributor and possible multi-year starter with proper development.

Miller had other offers from … over two dozen schools. had offers from a number of Power-Five conference schools, including Washington State, Utah, Purdue, Texas Tech, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Wake Forest, and Kansas State. Colorado is Miller’s third commitment since the fall of his junior season. Miller committed to Texas Tech last fall, but de-committed last December. Miller then committed to Kansas in April before switching his commitment to Colorado.

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

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Guy Thomas – LB – Junior College

CUBuffs.com biography of Guy Thomas

Just the facts … Committed July 20th … Thomas is a 6’3″, 232-pound outside linebacker from Miami, Florida Rivals 2017 bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Thomas  … Thomas is rated as three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Thomas is rated as the No. 37 overall junior college prospect in the nation. 247 Sports, meanwhile, has Thomas as the No. 4 junior college outside linebacker prospect, the No. 16 overall player out of Florida, and the No. 75 overall junior college prospect nationally.

As a member of the Recruiting Class of 2017, Thomas was rated as a four-star prospect by Rivals and a three-star prospect by 247 Sports. At Rivals, Parker was considered to be the No. 16 outside linebacker prospect in the nation, and the No. 49 overall player out of the state of Florida. At 247 Sports, Thomas was considered to be the No. 27 outside linebacker in the country, the No. 59 overall player out of the state of Florida, and the No. 452 overall prospect in the country.

Thomas used his red-shirt year in 2017, then played sparingly for the Cornhuskers in 2018 as a red-shirt freshman. Thomas played for Coahoma Community College in Mississippi this fall as a redshirt sophomore, and will transfer to Colorado in January. Thomas will then be eligible to play in the 2020 season, with two seasons to play two.

Out of high school, Thomas had other offers from … almost two dozen schools. From Power Five schools, Thomas had offers from Alabama, Auburn, Colorado, Florida State, Iowa State, Kentucky, LSU, Louisville, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and TCU.

So, what happened? How did Thomas go from a Miami recruit with offers from some of the heaviest hitters in the nation to a transfer coming out of junior college?

From the Omaha-World Herald: Thomas played in four games this season as a redshirt freshman. He recorded four tackles, with a season-high three coming against FCS foe Bethune-Cookman.

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Toren Pittman – LB/S

CUBuffs.com biography of Toren Pittman

Just the facts … Committed November 11th … Pittman is a 6’3″, 179-pound outside linebacker/defensive back from Frisco, Texas Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Pittman … Pittman is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. Rivals has Pittman as the No. 131 overall player out of Texas, while Pittman is rated at 247 Sports as the No. 43 outside linebacker in the nation, the No. 80 overall prospect out of the state of Texas, and the No. 601 player in the nation.

This fall, Pittman had 69 tackles, including ten tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and an interception.

Pittman runs a verified 4.63 in the 40, and is a track and field star for his high school, competing in the 110-meter hurdles, 4×100-meter relay, 4×400-meter relay, long jump, and triple jump. With his size and speed, Pittman is likely being recruited for the “Star” linebacker position at Colorado.

Pittman’s father, Kavika Pittman, played defensive end with the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers. His grandfather, Drew Pearson, was a three-time All-Pro receiver with the Dallas Cowboys.

Pittman had other offers from … most notably, Baylor. Pittman also had offers from Arkansas, Nevada, Tulsa, UTSA, and Arkansas State.

In his own words … from his tweet announcing his commitment: “I would like to thank Coach Chiaverini for giving me the opportunity to play at the next level. After my amazing visit I would like to announce that I will be attending the University of Colorado. Sko Buffs!!!”

Here is a link to Pittman’s highlight video.

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Justin Jackson – DL – Junior College

CUBuffs.com biography of Justin Jackson

Just the facts … Committed June 18th … Jackson is a 6’3″, 285-pound defensive end from Olive Branch, Mississippi Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Jackson … Jackson was unranked by either Rivals or 247 Sports at the time of his commitment in June, but later was given three star status by both rating services. At 247 Sports, Jackson is considered to be the No. 19 strongside defensive end in the nation, the No. 24 player out of Mississippi, and the No. 112 overall junior college prospect in the nation.

Jackson graduated from Center Hill High School in Olive Branch, Miss., before enrolling at Northwest C.C. in Mississippi. He will have three years to play two after competing as a sophomore for the Rangers.

Jackson had others from … a handful of other schools, with West Virginia and Auburn being the only other Power-Five school offers. Out of high school, Jackson also had limited options, mostly due to the fact that he didn’t start playing football until four years ago.

While Jackson committed to Colorado in June, he kept his options open, visiting West Virginia, Auburn, and Florida. “I mean, I’m not really locked in (with Colorado),” Jackson told 247 Sports on November 1st. “I mainly committed to Colorado because of their academics. That was the reason. My mom really wants me to go to a top school.”

In his own words … “I quickly fell in love with football and since I got kind of a late start, I always have a chip on my shoulder,” Jackson told BuffStampede.com. “My younger brother just started to play football and he wants to be just like me, so that motivates me. And I let him know, no matter where you go, you can be one of the best players if you just work hard.”

“The way that they play their defense fits my style,” Jackson told the Daily Camera. “I think it’s very fast and up-tempo and that’s what we kind of do at Northwest; we’re fast and up-tempo. It’ll fit my style and I’m really excited to be a part of it … My mother really loved their coaching staff, as well, because they really helped me change myself as a person and academically. They have a great academic staff, as well, and that’s the reason I went to Northwest. The coaches there are really strong about their academics. They get on us about that.”

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

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Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan – OL

CUBuffs.com biography of Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan

Just the facts … Committed June 18th … Christian-Lichtenhan is a 6’8″, 345-pound offensive lineman from Davis, California Rivals bio  247 Sports bio

What others say about Christian-Lichtenhan … At the time of his commitment, Christian-Lichtenhan was unrated by Rivals, but was later upgraded to a three-star prospect. At 247 Sports, Christian-Lichtenhan was rated as a two-star prospect in June, but also received an upgrade to three stars. According to Rivals, Christian-Lichtenhan is the No. 89 overall player out of the state of California, while at 247 Sports, he was listed as the No. 209 offensive tackle nationally, the No. 333 overall prospect out of the state of California, and the No. 2726 prospect in the nation.

Christian-Lichtenhan had other offers from … only a handful of schools, including Nevada, San Jose State, and Portland State.

In his own words … From Lichtenhan’s tweet announcing his commitment: “I would like to give a huge thanks to @CoachCKap and @Coach_mtucker for making me feel welcomed and part of the family. With that being said I am 100% committed to University of Colorado! #GoBuffs #CUBuffs”.

“What I was told by Colorado’s coaches is they don’t really care about stars, they like to do their own evaluations and they like what I do, on and off the field,” Lichtenhan told BuffStampede.com. “They contacted my coach before they got in contact with me so they got a feel for who I am and what I do. And then when they started talking with me, they got more in-depth and liked my personality and my style of play even more.”

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

Here is a YouTube video of Lichtenhan at spring practices, courtesy of BuffStampede.com:

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Devin Grant – DL/OLB

CUBuffs.com biography of Devin Grant

Just the facts … Committed June 24th … Grant is a 6’2″, 230-pound defensive lineman from San Antonio, Texas Rivals bio 247 Sports bio 

What others say about Grant … Grant is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Grant is considered to be the No. 32 weakside defensive end in the nation and the No. 95 overall player out of the state of Texas. At 247 Sports, Grant is rated as the No. 48 weakside defensive end in the country, the No. 151 overall player out of the state of Texas, and the No. 1121 overall player nationally. Grant projects to either play defensive end or outside linebacker at Colorado. A two-sport star, Grant averaged almost a double-double for Antonian’s basketball program last season, averaging 11.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game last season.

Grant is listed as a weakside defensive end prospect  by the recruiting sites, but projects as an outside linebacker in the Buffaloes’ defensive scheme. Grant was selected to play in the All-American Bowl in early January, to represent his hometown of San Antonio, where the game is played.

Grant had other offers from … almost two dozen schools. From Power-Five Conferences teams, Grant reported offers from Boston College, Duke, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, West Virginia and Utah.

In his own words … From Grant’s tweet announcing his commitment: “I want to thank all the schools that have been recruiting me. I want to thank my Mom, teammates, and all of the coaches that gave me the support. With that being said, I’m proud to announce that I’m verbally committing to the University of Colorado.”

Grant committed in June, and stuck with his commitment, despite hearing from other schools throughout his senior season. “Colorado) showed me the most love and were very consistent about it,” Grant said. “When I went to go visit (unofficially) I fell in love with the campus and coaches and I feel it’s the best program for me to go chase my dreams.”

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

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Chris Carpenter – WR

CUBuffs.com biography of Chris Carpenter

Just the facts … Committed June 2nd … Carpenter is a 5’11”, 170-pound wide receiver/defensive back from Jacksonville, Texas  Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Carpenter … Carpenter is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. Carpenter is considered by Rivals to be the No. 143 overall player out of talent-rich Texas this season. At 247 Sports, Carpenter is listed as the No. 140 wide receiver in the nation, the No. 122 player overall in Texas, and the No. 912 player overall in the nation. Carpenter is expected to be a defensive back for the Buffs.

This past season, Carpenter had 47 receptions for 657 yards and six touchdowns. He also had ten tackles and an interception playing cornerback on defense.

Carpenter had other offers from … almost two dozen schools, including Power-Five conference schools like Oregon, Arizona State, Arkansas, Oklahoma State, and Virginia. Carpenter had been a commit to North Texas, but re-opened his recruitment in March.

In his own words … Carpenter’s tweet announcing his commitment: “After sitting down and having a great conversation with Coach Tucker I have come to the conclusion that I will be taking my talents to the University of Colorado. And I thank all of the other schools that took the time out to recruit me. I just feel home and it’s my choice. So therefore Chris Carp out CU!”

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

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Carson Lee – OL

CUBuffs.com biography of Carson Lee

Just the facts … Committed February 2nd … Lee is a 6’3″, 320-pound offensive lineman from Cherry Creek high school in Greenwood Village, Colorado Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

 What others say about Lee … Lee is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. Rivals has Lee listed as the No. 27 offensive guard in the nation, while 247 Sports has Lee as the No. 27 offensive guard nationally, the No. 8 prospect overall out of the state of Colorado, and the No. 960 player in the country. Lee is listed as a guard, but spent his senior season playing center for highly rated Cherry Creek high.

“I’ve just tried to continually get better in all phases of the game but I think the one area I’ve taken my game further is my leadership,” Lee said. “I was voted captain and in a leadership role as a team. I’ve been trying to lead by example and showing the younger guys behind me the read way to do things.”

Like his grandfather and father, Lee was able to end his high school football career on top. In fact, all three never lost a game during their final prep season. His grandfather Greg won a state championship at Laramie High School in 1968, his father Shane won the title at Grand Junction High School in 1988, and Carson accomplished the feat as Cherry Creek defeated Columbine, 35-10, in the 5A championship game.

Lee had other offers from … over a dozen other Power Five conferences schools. From the Pac-12, Lee had offers from both Arizona schools, Washington State and Utah, with other offers from schools like Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Missouri.

In his own words … From his commitment tweet: “I would like to thank all of the coaches who believed in my abilities. With that being said, I am proud to announce that I will be representing my home state and playing college ball at the University of Colorado. I can’t wait to live out my life long dream of being a Buff!”

“I am going to be the biggest recruiter at the University of Colorado,” Lee told BuffStampede.com. “I am going to do my best to bring in the top guys in the state … I feel like I am going to bring an attitude to Boulder that they have been missing. When I line up from the guy across from me, I want to leave him thinking he never wants to play this game again.”

Committing to CU so early, Lee became an advocate for CU’s Recruiting Class of 2020, going so far as to picking up recruits at the airport for the official and unofficial visits.

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

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Jaylen Striker – DB

CUBuffs.com biography of Jaylen Striker

Just the facts … Committed September 8th … Striker is a 6’2″, 195-pound cornerback from Tampa, Florida, by way of Independence Community College in Kansas Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Striker … Striker is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Stricker is considered to be the No. 18 junior college cornerback in the nation in his Recruiting Class, as well as No. 33 player overall out of Florida, and the No. 126 overall junior college player.

Striker was academically ineligible out of high school, but is now on track to graduate in December. He will have three years to play two at Colorado.

Striker had other offers from … only one other school, Illinois. “Some other schools tried to talk me, some others backed off when I committed to Colorado,” Striker told BuffStampede.com. “That wasn’t important to me. I just focused on my team this season, I wasn’t really focused on the recruiting process. I already had it set in stone that I was going to Colorado.”

In his own words … From his tweet announcing his commitment: “I am a diamond in the rough; and I have worked for every opportunity that has been brought upon me, and I will continue to for everything coming in the near future … I love Colorado and everything about it! It doesn’t get better than Boulder at all; that’s why I am blessed to announce that I am 100% committed to the University of Colorado!!”.

“Their program is going in the right direction even though they had some injuries and didn’t make it to a bowl game this year”, Striker told BuffStampede.com. “The program is going to be one of the best in the nation as they continue to get it going. And coming out of a Junior College, it was important for me to feel at home, and Colorado is where I feel at home.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Caleb Fauria – TE/WR

CUBuffs.com biography of Caleb Fauria

Just the facts … Committed June 17th … Fauria is a 6’5, 216-pound receiver from Attleboro, Massachusetts Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Fauria … Fauria is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Fauria is rated as the No. 9 overall prospect out of the state of Massachusetts. At 247 Sports, however, Fauria is listed as the No. 18 tight end prospect in the nation (down from No. 13 when he committed to CU in June), the No. 4 overall player out of Massachusetts, and the No. 434 player overall in the country.

“The (football) season didn’t go the way I wanted it to, a lot of teams put two defenders on me most of the time, but it helped our other guys get going. It helped me be more of a team player and understand my role. I also did a better job of knowing what the defense was going to do. The experience helped.”

Fauria’s father is Christian Fauria, who attended CU in the mid-1990’s. Christian Fauria caught 98 passes for 1,458 yards (14.87 yards per rec.), and 12 touchdowns in a successful partnership with quarterback Kordell Stewart. He set (and will forever hold) the Big Eight Conference record for pass receptions by a tight end. As a senior in 1994, he was the team captain on the 11-1 Buffs which finished No. 3 in the nation. Fauria was a first team All-Big 8 choice, a third team Associated Press All-American choice, and he won the Derek Singleton Award, which is given to the University of Colorado football player who displays the most enthusiasm, dedication, and spirit. 

Fauria was drafted in the second round of the 1995 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks (No. 39 pick overall). Fauria spent seven years with the Seahawks before playing for the New England Patriots (2002-05), picking up two Super Bowl rings. 

Fauria had other offers from … over a dozen other Power-Five conference schools from all over the country. The list includes: Iowa; LSU; Wisconsin; Syracuse; West Virginia; TCU; Pitt; Ole Miss; Maryland; Boston College; Louisville; and Georgia Tech. Fauria took visits to Iowa, Boston College, Connecticut and Massachusetts before taking an official visit to CU on June 14th.

Utah made a late push for Fauria, but the CU legacy was having none of it. “Yeah, Utah has been talking to me,” Fauria told 247 Sports a few weeks before Signing Day. “But I don’t see myself going there or taking any visits.”

In his own words … Fauria was to the point in his tweet announcing his commitment: “Boulder, I’m home!!! #Committed #GoBuffs”.

“I’m fired up,” Fauria told the Daily Camera in June when he committed. “It’s just the people and the way that coach (Mel) Tucker is going to bring this program up. He has a great group of coaches with him – coach (Darrin Chiaverini), (Al) Pupunu and coach (Jay) Johnson. I just believe that this program is on the rise.”

“Obviously they want me to be ready to go right away,” Fauria told 247 Sports. “I talked to Coach Pupunu Sunday about the fact there is a spot for me, I just have to come in and work hard.

“I enjoyed watching CU this season, looking at their offense and how they use their tight end. I can see myself doing great things in Boulder. I can be a true tight end that can do everything; someone that can block but can also run good routes and catch passes.”

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

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Alvin Williams – DL

CUBuffs.com biography of Alvin Williams

Just the facts … Committed June 22nd … Williams is a 6’3″, 225-pound defensive lineman from Ellenwood, Georgia  Rivals bio  247 Sports bio

What others say about Williams … Williams is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Williams came in as the No. 96 overall prospect out of the talent-rich state of Georgia. At 247 Sports, Williams is considered to be the No. 55 weakside defensive end in the nation, the No. 111 overall prospect from Georgia, and the No. 1,215 player in the nation. (down from 890 when he committed to CU in June).

This fall, Williams helped Ellenwood win its third state 3A title in the past four seasons.

From Rivals analyst Chad Simmons: If Colorado fans have not seen Buffalo commit Alvin Williams in action yet, let me tell you, you have a lot to be excited about. This young man has that dog in him. He is a nightmare off the edge, and it was not just me that was impressed. There were many college coaches in Atlanta watching games this weekend and his name was a hot topic.

He only finished with one tackle in the title game, but he constantly pressured the quarterback, he was held numerous times and he flashed speed, a great burst, the ability to dip that shoulder and strength. In Boulder he will need to add weight and become better against the run as a smaller edge rusher, but when he is allowed to pin his ears back and go after the quarterback, he will be one Colorado fans are instantly talking about.

Williams had other offers from … almost two dozen schools. From Power-Five conferences, Williams had offers from Baylor, Kansas State, Kentucky, Kansas, Louisville, Michigan State, and Wake Forest.

In his own words … From the Williams tweet announcing his commitment: “I would like to thank all of the coaches through this entire recruiting process, but for the next three to four years my home will be the University of Colorado #Relentless #Savage Sea2on”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Jake Wray – OL

CUBuffs.com biography of Jake Wray

Just the facts … Committed May 22nd … Wray is a 6’5″, 290-pound offensive lineman from Marietta, Georgia Rivals bio  247 Sports bio

What others say about Wray … Wray is rated as three-star prospect by Rivals and 247 Sports (though Wray was a four-star prospect on Rivals when he committed, and had a composite four-star at 247 Sports). At Rivals, Wray was seem as the No. 36 offensive tackle in the nation when he committed, but fell out of the top 50 after committing to CU. Rivals also had Wray as the No. 31 overall player out of the talent-rich state of Georgia (now down to No. 98). At 247 Sports, Wray was in May considered to be the No. 36 offensive tackle in the country (now No. 100), the No. 44 player out of Georgia (now No. 109), and the No. 1210 overall prospect in the nation (down from 456).

Wray helped lead his hometown Marietta high school to the 7A Georgia title, the first state title for the school since 1967.

(If you want to vent on these downgrades, check out my “Recruiting Rankings Rant“, posted last Friday).

Wray had other offers from … almost three dozen Power-Five schools, including a “who’s who” of college football elite. Wray had offers from Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, LSU, Florida, Texas, Miami, Texas A&M, Oregon and Florida State … to name a few. Wray visited CU in early April and has also taken visits to Auburn and Oregon. Wray was originally committed to Ohio State and coach Urban Meyer, but de-committed in December after Meyer retired. Wray’s brother, Max, is a lineman for the Buckeyes.

In addition to the Buckeyes, Wray had big name programs like Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Michigan and Notre Dame after him early in the process. He has had other schools reach out since he committed to the Buffs in May.

“But once I committed to Colorado, nothing you could say would change my mind,” Wray said. “Colorado is the place of my dreams, the place I am going to be going to college. Being able to cut out the distracting part of the recruiting process allowed me to put it all in the background as I finished out my senior season.”

In his own words … Wray’s tweet announcing his commitment: “Thank you to everyone who has helped me throughout this process. Specifically my teammates, my coaches and my family. I am committed to The University of Colorado #GoBuffs”.

“I’m not going to go looking for a logo or a place that looks like the best on the outside, but once you get on the inside, it’s not exactly how you want to be treated, or the life that you want,” Wray told BuffZone.com about his decision. “This is one of the only times I can decide what I want to do in my life and I’m going to take advantage of that. I’m going to find the best place for me.”

… “Not a lot of people think about Colorado as a football place, but it really is a huge, huge university with tons of support,” He said. “The alumni is all over it. There’s a lot of rabid Buffs fans out there. There’s so much vision for this program and where it needs to go. Everybody is excited, on the same page and ready to get to work.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Josh Watts – P

CUBuffs.com biography of Josh Watts

Just the facts … Committed August 29th … Watts is a 6’4″, 163-pound punter from Australia Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Watts … Rivals did not rate Watts, while 247 Sports did give Watts a three-star rating. According to 247 Sports, Watts is the No. 3 punter prospect out of the Recruiting Class of 2020, and the No. 1 punter prospect out of Australia.

Watts had other offers from … no other reported schools. He comes to CU from ProKick Australia, the website for which states that: “Prokick Australia was developed in 2007 to help guide and transition Australian athletes to perform at the College/ NFL level, and with our natural Aussie instinct of kicking a ball, we have focused on that area.” The website claims to have produced a number of NFL and NCAA kickers, including Utah’s Ray Guy Award winner, Tom Hackett.

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Nigel Bethel – CB – (Transfer)

Just the facts … Committed August 29th … Bethel is a 6’0″, 170-pound defensive back from Miami, Florida by way of the Miami Hurricanes Rivals 2018 bio 247 Sports 2018 bio

What others said about Bethel … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2018, Bethel was rated by both Rivals and 247 Sports as a three-star prospect. In the opinion of 247 Sports, Bethel was the No. 113 cornerback prospect in the nation, the No. 201 player out of the talent-rich state of Florida, and the No. 1286 player overall in the nation.

Bethel had other offers from … over a dozen schools, including Georgia (which makes Bethel’s move to CU understandable), Florida, Louisville, Pitt, Purdue Rutgers, and, of course, Miami, where he signed in February, 2018. Bethel took his red-shirt year in 2018. Bethel will be enrolled at Colorado this fall, and can practice with the team, but will not be eligible to participate in games. He is listed as “inactive” on the CU roster, with four years remaining to play three.

In his own words … “Sometimes things don’t work out,” Bethel said of his time at Miami. “I put my name in the portal and I got in contact with Coach Tucker. We started talking and I felt like this would be the best opportunity for me, so we made it happen.”

“It’s a challenge,” Bethel said of playing cornerback . “I like it because it’s hard. If you are doing good at it, you’re doing something right. I like man-to-man because it’s me and the other guy.”

Bethel also said a redshirt year will have its benefits. “It will give me a chance to learn the playbook and get comfortable,” he said. “I can get in the weight room and put on a few pounds.”

Here is a link to some of Bethel’s Hudl.com high school highlights.

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Tags: Alvin Williams, Ashaad Clayton, Brenden Rice, Brendon Lewis, Caleb Fauria, Carson Lee, Chris Carpenter, Christian Gonzalez, Devin Grant, Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan, Gerad Lichtenhan, Guy Thomas, Jake Wray, Jason Harris, Jayle Stacks, Jaylen Striker, Jordan Berry, Josh Watts, Justin Jackson, Keith Miller III, Louis Passarello, Mister Williams, Montana Lemonious-Craig, Nigel Bethel, Toren Pittman, William Anglen
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