CU Recruiting Class of 2021

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Colorado Recruiting Class of 2021

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CU Recruiting Class of 2021 … Nineteen commitments

Recruits by position … Quarterback: 1 … Wide receiver: 2 … Tight end: 1 … Offensive Line: 2 … Defensive Line: 4 … Linebacker: 2 … Defensive Backs: 5 … Specialists: 2

Recruits are from … Colorado: 4 … California: 5 … Texas: 3  … Oregon: 1 … Arizona: 1 … Florida: 1 … Nevada: 1 … North Carolina: 1 … Arkansas: 1 … Alabama: 1

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Cole Becker – K

Just the facts … Committed December 13th … Becker is a 6’3″, 215-pound kicker from Rocklin, California  Rivals bio  247 Sports bio

What others say about Becker … Becker is rated by Rivals as a two-star prospect (not unusual for kickers), but 247 Sports has Becker rated as a three-star player. 247 Sports has Becker as the No. 11 kicker in the nation, the No. 175 player overall out of California, and the No. 2115 player nationally.

Kohl’s Professional Camps rated Becker as the No. 1 kicker in the nation. Their evaluation: Becker recently attended Kohl’s National Scholarship Camp in July of 2020. He again proved why he is a D1 recruit. He has one of the fastest legs we have seen in the 2021 class. His kickoff score of was the best out of the 779 participants at camp. He also scored 35 out of 36 field goal points. Becker’s overall coordination is impressive on both field goals and punts. He is very good specialist and is able to do things on the football field that other good players cannot. Becker should be able to play early in college.

(The Buffs lost a commitment from Josh Bryan, rated by Chris Sailer as the No. 1 kicker in the nation, to Notre Dame. At ChrisSailerKicking.com, Becker is rated as the No. 4 kicker in the country).

Becker had other offers from … most notably, Iowa State. Becker had been committed to the Cyclones since October 16th, but was flipped at the last minute by the CU coaching staff.

In his own words … Becker’s tweet announcing his change of heart: “I want to say a huge thank you to Iowa State, and especially Coach Campbell and Coach Hoodjer, for recruiting me and the time they spent with me. After further consideration, it is best for me at this time to de-commit. I am excited to announce that I have committed to Colorado! I want to thank Coach Reinert and Coach Dorrell for this opportunity, and I can’t wait to play Pac-12 football closer to home!”

“Iowa State is definitely a special place and I loved what they had going on there but Colorado was just a better fit for me personally, being closer to the West Coast so my family would be able to easily get to all the games,” Becker told BuffStampede.com. “I also love the conditions in Colorado with the high altitude. The balls will fly farther. And then being close to Denver, with the sports teams, they get some more NFL looks. Overall, it just seemed to fit me better as a school and that is ultimately what led to my decision.

“We loved the whole feeling of Boulder. Even outside of the school, there was so much to do. It is just such a super setting with the mountains. And when we went there, everything was snow covered, which was pretty cool. Just walking around campus, it felt nice. It is a really, really pretty school.”

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Edgar Amaya – OL

Just the facts … Committed November 19th … Amaya is a 6’3″, 300-pound offensive lineman from Russellville, Alabama Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Amaya … Amaya is listed as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Amaya is considered to be the No. 51 overall prospect out of Alabama, while 247 Sports has him as the No. 57 prospect out of Alabama, the No. 65 offensive guard nationally, and the No. 1327 overall prospect in the country. Playing for his hometown team which made it to the third round of the state playoffs, Amaya was invited to participate in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game this December.

Amaya had other offers from … over two dozen other schools, though most of them were smaller programs. From the Power Five conferences, Amaya had offers from Kansas, Mississippi State and Illinois. Service academies, including both Air Force and Navy, also offered Amaya. Amaya committed to Kansas on May 1st, but de-committed October 20th.

In his own words … In his tweet announcing his commitment to CU, Amaya wrote that he is “67000% committed” … which might be troubling if not for the reassuring note that if Amaya is receiving offers from service academies, he’s no slouch in the classroom.

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

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Joshua Bryan – K

Decommitted – November 17th (Committed to Notre Dame) … “I felt like I had to do it because of what Notre Dame is as a school,” Bryan explained. “It wasn’t an easy decision; I enjoyed my visit to Colorado and it was a really nice campus. But academically, Notre Dame has such a valuable degree, and I can be very successful coming from a school like that. I’ve always been at small, private schools.

“They’re on a roll right now, and that makes things even more exciting for me.”

Just the facts … Committed August 3rd … Bryan is 6’0″, 179-pound placekicker from Chatsworth Canyon, California Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Bryan … Bryan is rated as a two-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports, which is usually what punters and kickers rate on the ratings scales. Bryan is considered by kicking guru Chris Sailer as the nation’s No. 1 kicker. While Bryan is being recruited as a kicker, he also plays linebacker for his high school team, collecting 40 tackles his junior year.

In a player review on his site, ChrisSailerkicking.com, Sailer wrote: “Josh is simply a phenomenal high school kicking prospect. He hits a pure ball on field goals off the ground. He gets big time lift on his ball and has 60-plus yard range. … He is a major competitor that thrives under pressure. Josh continues to prove that he is the best kicker in America in the class of 2021.”

Bryan had other offers from … All three service academies, as well as Yale, so his committing to CU was also a life choice.

In his own words … “I honestly couldn’t think of a reason why I shouldn’t go to Colorado. It just felt like home”, Bryan told BuffStampede.com. “I also have a lot of family there from my father’s side that lives in Colorado Springs, so we were able to meet up in Denver. That kind of sealed it. I like that they play in the Pac-12, so my mom and dad can come see the games. I feel relief knowing my hard work and effort into kicking and academics is paying off. To know I finally chose the school that was best for me and can carry me to success in the future, I feel overwhelming joy.”

Here is a YouTube video of Bryan and Chris Sailer Kicking Academy … 

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Zion Magalei – DL

Just the facts … Committed October 31st … Magalei is a 6’3″, 227-pound defensive end from Chandler, Arizona Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Magalei … Magalei is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Magalei is rated as the No. 21 player overall out of the state of Arizona this fall, the No. 112 outside linebacker in the nation, and the No. 1567 player overall nationally.

Magalei was credited with 51 total tackles, including 14 for a loss, in 13 games as a junior last season to help guide Chandler to its first-ever Arizona Open Division state championship. He has helped the Wolves to a 4-0 start his season, as they have outscored their opponents by a combined score of 226-17.

Magalei had other offers from … ten other schools, including his home state Arizona Wildcats. He also had an offer from Kansas State from the Big 12, from all three service academies (good note concerning his academics and integrity), along with Mountain West schools like San Diego State and Nevada.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights .

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T.J. Patu – LB

Just the facts … Committed October 1st … Patu is a 6’3″, 210-pound outside linebacker from La Habra, California Rivals bio 247 Sports

What others say about Patu … Patu is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. Rivals rates Patu as the No. 92 overall prospect out of the state of California. At 247 Sports, Patu is considered to be the No. 38 outside linebacker in the nation, the No. 50 overall prospect out of the state, and the No. 848 overall prospect in the nation.

Patu is following in the footsteps of his uncle, Okland Salave’a, who was a defensive tackle starter for the Buffs in 1988 and 1989.

Patu had other offers from … at least three Power-Five schools, including Utah and Washington State from the Pac-12 (the other coming from Kansas). There were a number of Mountain West offers, including ones from Utah State, Fresno State, UNLV, Nevada and San Jose State.

In his own words … “They said they think playing inside where I can shoot gaps, cover and play sideline to sideline fits my skill set,” Latu told BuffStampede.com. “I’m excited, I’ll play wherever I’m needed. I think I’m versatile enough to play a lot of different roles so I’m just thankful for the opportunity.

“Right now, I’m definitely relieved this process is over. It was stressful at times because I had some really good options and it was hard to tell some of these coaches that you’re not going to go to their school. That was really hard but end of the day, I had to follow my heart and I felt Colorado was the best overall fit for me.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Nikko Reed – CB/KR

Just the facts … Committed September 2nd … Reed is a 5’10”, 155-pound wide receiver from Hayward, California (Moreau Catholic) Rivals bio  247 Sports bio

What others say about Reed … Reed is considered to be a three-star prospect by 247 Sports, but was not rated by Rivals as of the date of his commitment. Reed is rated by 247 Sports as the No. 155 “athlete” in the nation, and the No. 207 overall prospect out of the state of California. While other schools recruited Reed as a wide receiver, he is projected as a cornerback at Colorado (though he could see the field earlier as a kick returner).

Reed was a game breaker on both sides of the ball last season. He caught 32 balls for 661 yards and 10 touchdowns, added 31 tackles and five interceptions on defense and scored touchdowns five different ways. Along with the receiving touchdowns, Reed, who runs a 4.5 40, had one rushing touchdown, one pick-six, a punt return for a touchdown and a kick return for a score as well.

On defense, he had 31 tackles and five interceptions.

Reed had other offers from … no other Power Five schools, but Reed did have offers from about half of the Mountain West, including Colorado State, Fresno State, Nevada, Air Force and Wyoming.

In his own words … “(Head coach Karl Dorrell) wants to build Colorado and he feels like I’m a factor in that and that I could play a part in that,” Reed told CUSportsNation.

Reed chose Wednesday as his commit date because it was the sixth anniversary of the death of his cousin. “Six years ago today, my cousin was taken away from me, so it’s only right i do it for him,” Reed wrote on Twitter. “I will be continuing my education/football career and COMMITTING to The University of Colorado!!”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Ashton Logan – P/K

Just the facts … Committed September 1st … Logan is 6’2″, 185-pound punter from Orange, California Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Logan … Logan is rated as a two-star prospect by Rivals, but is unrated by 247 Sports.

“Ashton is an outstanding high school punting prospect,” Chris Sailer wrote as an evaluation on his website. “He is a great looking athlete with a live leg. Ashton has an ideal frame for a D-1 college punter. He punts for a nice combination of distance and hang time and is one of the more consistent punters in the country. He is averaging 45-plus yards, with 4.4-plus hang time. (He) also shows the ability to hit 50-plus yard punts, with 5.0-plus hang time. There is great potential and upside here.”

Logan was the Trinity League punter of the year in 2019. ChrisSailerKicking.com ranks Logan No. 9 nationally among punters for the 2021 class. (CU commit Josh Bryan, who committed to the Buffs on August 3rd, is ranked No. 1 for kickers).

Logan had other offers from … no Power Five conference schools, but Logan did have offers from Air Force, Lake Erie College, Navy and Penn. He has also heard from coaches at Columbia, Fresno State, Temple and Yale … so qualifying academically does not appear to be an issue.

Logan may be a gray-shirt candidate, giving him the best opportunity to maximize his eligibility. “I talked to coach Reinert and coach Dorrell about that and they seem pretty confident in my abilities to start immediately with the program,” Logan told CUSportsNation. “Depending on the situation with what happens with (Watts) because he does have two years left, it will result in me either starting immediately or possibly grayshirting and starting the following 2022 fall … Either way, it sounds like I’ll be starting to take over at the program and gain playing time, which is definitely one of the aspects I love.”

In his own words … “Colorado has everything I want,” Logan told BuffStampede.com. “It is a great program: Power Five, Pac-12. They have great coaches there, specifically coach Reinert and (head) coach (Karl) Dorrell. They know what they are doing and their emphasis on special teams is just amazing. It was really awesome to get everything that I look for in a college from them.”

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Ty Robinson – WR

Just the facts … Committed August 24th … Robinson is a 6’4″, 185-pound wide receiver from Centennial, Colorado (Eaglecrest) Rivals bio  247 Sports bio 

What others say about Robinson … Robinson is listed as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Robinson is rated at 12th-best overall prospect out of the State of Colorado, and the No. 124 “athlete” in the nation, and the No. 1,509 player overall nationally.

Robinson had other offers from … most notably Utah and Kansas State, which were his finalists along with Colorado. Robinson had other offers from Power Five schools Oregon State and Kansas, along with Mountain West schools like Colorado State, Wyoming and UNLV.

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Robinson was credited with 35 receptions for 861 yards and a pair of touchdowns in nine games as a junior last season, averaging over 24 yards per catch. He is also a standout basketball player who has played at the varsity level all three years of high school and averaged 13.3 points per game this past season.

In his own words …  “Colorado still likes me at receiver and although I haven’t really talked much with their new head coach, I still keep in contact with coach Chev (Darrin Chiaverini) all the time,” Robinson told 247 Sports. “It’s one of those places I’m definitely hoping to get to and meet all the new staff and develop some of those relationships again.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

And a link to some basketball Hudl.com highlights

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Drew Carter – QB

Just the facts … Committed August 3rd … Carter is a 6’3″, 195-pound quarterback from Portland (Tigard), Oregon Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Carter … Carter is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Carter is considered to be the No. 41 dual-threat quarterback in the nation, the No. 7 overall prospect out of the state of Oregon, and the No. 1,450 overall prospect in the nation. Carter reportedly is also on Tad Boyle’s radar as a possible addition to the CU men’s basketball team.  Carter recently tweeted that after talking with Buffs’ basketball coach Tad Boyle, “I now have the opportunity to play both basketball and football at Colorado.”

Carter has started at quarterback for his high school since his freshman year in 2017. This past season, as a junior, he led the Tigers to a 10-1 record at the Oregon Class 6A level and threw for 2,767 yards. On top of that, he posted an impressive 23:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio and completed 66% of his attempted passes.

“Carter is currently a three-star prospect with an 83 Rating but in evaluating the other dual-threat quarterbacks ranked ahead of him, he’s definitely due for a rankings bump,” 247Sports recruiting analyst Greg Biggins wrote for 247 Sports. “He throws a really nice ball, is a plus athlete who can move around and extend plays or just take off and run for big yards as well.”

Carter had other offers from … about half of the Mountain West conference, including Boise State, Fresno State, Nevada, New Mexico State and Utah State. From the Pac-12, UCLA reportedly had interest in Carter.

In his own words … “I think I will bring great leadership,” Carter told BuffStampede.com. “I played early in my high school career. I started as a freshman and I was a four year starter so I think I have a lot of experience with that, playing at a high level, being under pressure early and I love to compete at the end of the day. I love to win so that competitive fire is there and overall I think I am just so versatile. You can do so many things with me.”

On playing basketball at CU … “The coaches at Colorado said they have a plan for me and they said they’ll figure it out when I get out there,” Carter said when asked about playing both football and basketball at CU. “I kind of thought (playing two sports in college) was an option. But I always said I am going to go where I am most wanted and feel most loved. And by them (offering me the opportunity to play both sports) showed me, no matter what, they wanted me at CU. They made me feel really wanted there.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Kaylin Moore – DB

Just the facts … Committed July 30th … Moore is a 6’0″, 180-pound defensive back from Westlake Village, California (Oak Christian) Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Moore … Moore is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Moore is considered to be the No. 88 “athlete” prospect in the nation, and the No. 117 overall prospect out of the state of California. Moore is a two-way standout who made plays on both sides of the ball last season. Defensively he totaled 50 tackles, with two interceptions and 16 deflections. As a wide receiver, Moore had 35 catches for 408 yards and two touchdowns

Moore had other offers from … over a dozen other schools, including Cal, Washington State and Oregon State from the Pac-12. Other offers came from schools  in the Mountain West, like Boise State, CSU, Nevada and Utah State.

In his own words … “That was with the old staff but I have a really good relationship with the new staff,” Moore told BuffStampede.com. “I talk with coach Meat (Demetrice Martin) just about every day and he’s a real good guy. He’s very outgoing and easy to talk with and (head) coach (Karl) Dorrell is really cool, too, and my comfort level is really strong there.”

Moore had greater than a dozen offers and a lot of schools were involved in his recruitment but the Colorado coaching staff plus his ability to just see the place – not exactly a luxury for all recruits during this time – really paid off.

“That was really important,” Moore told Rivals.com. “That was one of the only schools on my list I was able to go to so that was really big. I was able to see the whole campus. It wasn’t the same coaching staff but in terms of the facilities and the campus I was able to see everything and felt comfortable with that.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Trevor Woods – DB

Just the facts … Committed July 28th … Woods is a 6’1″, 190-pound defensive back from Katy, Texas Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Woods … Woods is rated as a three-star prospect by 247 Sports, but was not rated by Rivals as of the date of his commitment. Woods is rated by 247 Sports as the No. 88 safety prospect in the nation, and the No. 171 player overall out of the state of Texas. Woods posted 156 tackles and eight sacks as a junior for Taylor High, which is a 6-A school. He had four interceptions – all four returned for touchdowns, including two going for over 90 yards (check out his Hudl.com highlights).

Woods is traveling down a path paved by others in his family. His father, Ryan, lettered three times as a linebacker at Rice from 1994-96. His grandfather played football at a small school in Iowa and his uncle played at Texas State.

Woods had other offers from … over a dozen other schools, but only two other Power Five school, Arizona and Pittsburgh. Woods did carry offers from both Army and Navy, along with several Ivy League schools, so his academics will not be an issue. Other offers from within the state of Texas came from Rice, UTSA and Abilene Christian.

In his own words … “I have been talking with (Buffaloes safeties) coach (Brett) Maxie, building a relationship with him,” Woods said during a recent interview with BuffStampede.com. “Colorado is a Power Five school and it has good history. Colorado is a nice area with the mountains. I have family that lives there in the Denver area, so I know it has a lot to offer.”

“I’m going to be playing safety,” Woods told CUSportsNation. “There have been schools who have recruited me as an outside linebacker, whether it’s a 3-4 or 4-3 — I’ve been recruiting as a nickel back and a deep safety — it’s been a little of everything. But (Colorado) offered as a safety and honestly, I’m comfortable playing anywhere.”

… “Through one of the gates, you could see into (Folsom Field), we walked around the campus and it was amazing,” he said. “The area around Boulder is beautiful. When I got there, I just thought ‘this is where I want to go.’ When I was driving down Route 36, driving into Boulder, you can see over the campus and it just looked awesome.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Ryan Williams – DL

Just the facts … Committed July 24th … Williams is a 6’5″, 241-pound defensive lineman from Pearland, Texas Rivals bio  247 Sports bio

What others say about Williams … Williams is rated as a three-star prospect by 247 Sports, but was not rated by Rivals as of the date of his commitment (He was given a two-star ranking shortly after his commitment). Williams is considered by 247 Sports to be the No. 111 strongside defensive end in the nation, and the No. 297 player overall out of the state of Texas.

In 2019, Williams played nine games at defensive end and defensive tackle. He helped Shadow Creek to a 16-0 record and the Texas 5A D-I state championship.

Williams had other offers from … only Texas Southern. Considering that Williams plays for a high profile 5-A D-1 program in Texas, the lack of an offer sheet is troubling. Reportedly, Arkansas, Boise State, Incarnate Word and Oregon had also inquired about Williams.

In his own words … “(Defensive line) Coach (Chris)Wilson said he was just watching film one day and my film popped up. He said he fell in love with the film,” Williams told BuffStampede.com. “Coach Wilson said he had to get in contact and once he saw how many offers I had, he just felt like he could put his trust in me and felt like I could be a valuable asset to the Colorado defense.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Tyas Martin – DL

Just the facts … Committed July 17th … Martin is a 6’3″, 318-pound defensive lineman from Jacksonville, Arkansas Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Martin … Martin is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. Rivals rates Martin as the No. 22 defensive tackle in the nation, and the No. 1 overall prospect out of the state of Arkansas. At 247 Sports, Martin is ranked as the No. 39 defensive tackle in the country, the No. 3 prospect out of Arkansas, and the No. 635 player overall in the nation.

From Steve Wiltfong at BuffStampede.com … Martin is that big-bodied two-gapper on the interior, a true nose guard that uses his hands well, that is equally a factor in stuffing the run and as a pass rusher from the middle on the prep level. We see him split double teams and make hustle plays. Dorrell and Wilson also sold him on his NFL upside playing in their scheme.

Martin had other offers from … a dozen other schools, including five other Power Five conference schools: Mississippi, Virginia Tech, Kansas, Virginia, and Tennessee. From April 10th to June 23rd, Martin was a Virginia Tech commit.

In his own words … “The coaching staff is amazing,” Martin told 247Sports regarding his decision to play in Boulder. “I have a special relationship with Coach Wilson and Coach Dorrell, and I have a chance to come in and play early … The impact I think I can have is a very big impact. I’m coming in playing as a true freshman. I can play either nose or defensive tackle so I can move around if they need me to, and I’m playing for one of the best d-line coaches in the country.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Tyrin Taylor – DB

Just the facts … Committed July 16th … Taylor is a 6’2″, 175-pound defensive back from Cornelius, North Carolina Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Taylor … Taylor is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. Rivals rates Taylor as 52nd-best overall prospect out of the state of North Carolina, while 247 Sports has Taylor as the No. 66 player out of North Carolina, and the No. 120 safety in the nation.

From Greg Biggins at 247Sports … He’s fluid in his movement and shows enough speed to run with a receiver down the field and shows some physicality in run support as well. He’s currently rated a low-three star with an 80 Rating but looks better then that and will be re-evaluated later this summer for a rankings bump. 

Taylor had other offers from … over a dozen schools, including two Power-Five schools, Virginia Tech and Kansas. Most of Taylor’s G-Five offers came from the MAC, with offers from schools like Toledo, Bowling Green, Ohio and Kent State. Reportedly, Taylor’s primary contenders were UConn, Temple, Kansas and Colorado.

In his own words … “Most schools like me as a long corner right now,” Taylor told 247 Sports. “I can also play safety and nickel as well though and I’m comfortable playing any of those positions at the next level.”

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

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Trustin Oliver – DB

Official Class of 2019 Signing Day bio of Trustin Oliver can be found here

Just the facts … Committed January 23, 2019, then went the junior college route (Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa), and then re-committed to Colorado on July, 13, 2020 … Oliver is a 6’4″, 205-pound athlete from Parker, Colorado  Rivals bio  247 Sports bio

What others say about Oliver … Out of high school, Oliver was considered to be a three-star athlete by both Rivals and 247 Sports (he projects as a safety at Colorado). 247 Sports ranked 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 worked with Oliver at his Six Zero Strength facility. When Oliver first committed to CU, McChesney stated that he believed Oliver to be 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 could be a mid-year transfer, and could potentially have three years to play three, but, with junior colleges moving their 2020 season to the spring, eligibility becomes very blurry, so stay tuned …

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

In his own words ... From Oliver’s tweet, announcing his intention to once again sign with CU … “After going through 2 junior colleges and finding a home within Western Iowa Community College, I’ve learned a lot about myself as a player, as a young man, and many lessons about life along my journey. My family, friends and coaches have supported me throughout the entire process and I cannot express how much that has meant to me. With all that being said, I am blessed and excited to say I have committed to the University of Colorado.”

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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Erik Olsen – TE

Just the facts … Committed July 4th … Olsen is a 6’5″, 235-pound tight end from Littleton, Colorado (Heritage) Rivals bio 247 Sports bio 

What others say about Olsen … Olsen is rated as a four-star prospect by Rivals, and a three-star prospect by 247  Sports. Olsen is considered to be the No. 14 tight end prospect in the nation by Rivals, while at 247 Sports, Olsen is ranked as the No. 22 tight end in the country, and the No. 5 overall player out of the state of Colorado.

Last season, Olsen caught 28 passes for 533 yards and eight touchdowns for 8-4 Heritage.

Olsen had other offers from … a over dozen Power-Five schools, including Washington, Stanford, Arizona State, Cal, Oregon State, UCLA, and Utah. Other offers came from Notre Dame, Nebraska, Auburn, Arkansas, Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and Tennessee. On June 8th, Olsen posted that his final six schools of interest were Colorado, Notre Dame, Nebraska, UCLA, Stanford and Washington.

In his own words … “I feel like (Karl Dorrell) really wants to bring back Colorado to where it was when it was a powerhouse in the 1990’s”, Olsen told CUSportsNation. Coach Tucker said the exact same thing and obviously he took the job over at Michigan State. All that stuff aside, he said he wanted to bring back Colorado to the ‘90s but the difference between Dorrell and him is that Dorrell is not just saying that. He has a plan to do it and he wants to take more initiative rather than letting it come to him.”

“I feel pretty hopeful for the future of tight ends at Colorado and maybe I could be the first one to start that legacy”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Jackson Anderson – OL

Just the facts … Committed June 15th … Anderson is 6’4″, 290-pound offensive lineman from Mineola, Texas Rivals bio 247 Sports

What others say about Anderson … At the time of his commitment, Anderson was not rated by Rivals or 247 Sports, but picked up three-star status upon his commitment to CU from 247 Sports, and a two-star rating from Rivals. At 247 Sports, Anderson is listed as the No. 44 offensive guard in the nation, and the No. 174 overall prospect out of the state of Texas. Anderson is a two-sport athlete, also participating in track and field (shot put, discus).  Anderson was a First-team all-district selection as a junior. His two brothers, Riley and Austin Anderson, were both three-star prospects, and both signed with Texas A&M. Anderson’s father was coached by CU offensive line coach Mitch Rodrigue at Southern Miss back in the late 1980s.

Anderson had offers from … almost a dozen schools, but only one of those offers came from a Power Five conference school, and that was from perennial Big 12 doormat, Kansas. Other offers came from the likes of Nevada, New Mexico, North Texas, Southern Miss, and Colorado State.

In his own words … From Anderson’s tweet announcing his commitment … Extremely happy to announce my commitment to Colorado! @mrodrigue70 @k_dorrell  Thank you to everyone who has helped me through this process and to all the coaches who have given me a chance. I am very grateful. @coach_LB1 @Coaching4God

“My dad really loved Coach Rodrigue and he knows he has really good experience,” Anderson told BuffStampede.com. “Ever since I got the offer from Colorado, that had been my No. 1 school.

“The more I learned about Colorado, the more I liked it, so I just knew it was the right time to commit. I am excited to go take an official visit there next school year to see how beautiful it is and to see how nice all the facilities are with my own eyes.”

Anderson participated in a virtual visit with the Buffaloes in May. “All the facilities are really nice and they have a great Business school, which is what I am probably going to major in,” he said. “I also really like the coaches there and I like the mountains.”

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

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Zephaniah Maea – LB

Just the facts … Committed June 1st … Maea is 6’1″, 230-pound inside linebacker from Henderson, Nevada (Liberty) Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Maea … Maea is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Maea is considered to be the No. 6 overall prospect out of the state of Nevada, the No. 35 insider linebacker in the nation, and the nation’s 1144 overall prospect.

Evaluation from Blair Angulo, Mountain Region Recruiting Analyst for 247 Sports … Thickly built with bulky upper body and strong lower half. Filled out frame with not much room to add mass. Physical tackler who thrives in box. Does well to chase down ball carriers in flats, with ability to move from sideline to sideline. Charges forward to attack gaps at line of scrimmage. Could refine drop-back technique and overall fluidity in space. Must improve in coverage and sticking to tight ends down field. Potential multi-year starter at Power Five level with chance to get NFL Draft attention.

Maea had other offers from … both Utah and Washington State from the Pac-12. Other offers came mainly from Mountain West schools, including Boise State, San Diego State, both Nevada schools and Utah State. Maea’s final three were reported to be Colorado, Boise State, and San Diego State.

In his own words … From his tweet announcing his commitment: Lord thank you for every opportunity, please guide me into this next chapter. With that being said, I am … 100% committed to the University of … Colorado!

“I have been able to take a look at photos of the city and campus, and I really like everything about it,” Maea told 247Sports. “I definitely feel like I can make a home for myself up there. My cousin actually went to school at Colorado. He didn’t play football, so his experience was different, but just asking him about it, he had nothing but great things to say about what it was like for him.

“Everything he told me, I just jotted down. I’m excited just hearing about the environment up there.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Allan Baugh – DL

Just the facts … Committed April 28th … Baugh is a 6’3″, 250-pound defensive end from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (St. Thomas Aquinas) Rivals bio  247 Sports bio

What others say about Baugh … At the time of his commitment, Baugh had not been rated by either Rivals or 247 Sports. After his commitment, Baugh was given a two-star rating by Rivals; a three-star rating by 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Baugh was slotted as the No. 93 strong side defensive end in the nation; and the No. 202 overall prospect out of the state of Florida.

Baugh helped St. Thomas Aquinas to a perfect 15-0 record in 2019, including a victory over Honolulu (Hawaii) St. Louis in ESPN’s GEICO State Champions Bowl Series. It snapped St. Louis’ 38-game winning streak. Colleges have complimented Baugh on his “get off,” his hands and his grasp of the mental side of the game.

Baugh had offers from … about a dozen other schools, including Maryland and Boston College from the ACC. Baugh also had offers from most of the G-5 schools in the state, including UCF, Florida Atlantic and Florida International, as well as Air Force and Colorado State from the Mountain West.

In his own words … “Colorado sees me as a multiple down player,” Baugh told BuffStampede.com. “They see me as a guy they can put outside on first and second down, but then move me into the three-technique on third down so they can get some more pass rush in.

“Coach Dorrell was super excited when I committed, especially with him being a new coach at Colorado and getting one of his top players this early in the process,” Baugh said. “He (went to Colorado) from Florida so he knows my high school. His son and daughter went to St. Thomas Aquinas. We have that connection, so he was excited. Chris Wilson is a great defensive line coach. He is the one that originally offered me, and I can’t wait to start working with him.”

… “I feel like I’m talented but still have places I can grow,” Baugh told CUSportsNation. “It’s one of those things where a lot of people, they get to this point and they try to start coasting, but I want to keep growing as a player, especially for my team and how we have a chance to go back-to-back and win another state championship.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Chase Penry – WR

Just the facts … Committed January 29th … Penry is a 6’1, 185-pound wide receiver from Glennwood Village, Colorado (Cherry Creek) Rivals bio  247 Sports bio

What others say about Penry … Penry is considered by both Rivals and 247 Sports to be a three-star prospect. Penry is rated as the No. 7 overall prospect out of the state of Colorado, the No. 117 wide receiver in the nation, and the No. 761 overall prospect in the country. Through his junior season at Cherry Creek, Penry had posted 115 career catches, going for 1,447 yards and 18 touchdowns.

There are eight players from Cherry Creek on Colorado’s spring football roster. Jonathan Van Diest signed with CU in 2017, Dimitri Stanley signed in 2018, Alec Pell signed in 2019, Carson Lee joined the Buffs as an early enrollee earlier this month, and all-purpose back Jayle Stacks is expected to join the mix this summer. CU walk-ons Dante Sparaco, Dustin Johnson, Curtis Appleton and Mac Willis also played at Cherry Creek.

Penry had other offers from … only Colorado State and Northern Colorado, though a number of other schools – Nebraska, Iowa, Washington State, Cal and Boise State – reportedly expressed interest.

In his own words … After taking an unofficial visit to Boulder on January 25th-26th, Penry tweeted out: “The more I thought about, the more obvious the choice became… I’m ready for what’s next”. 

“I know Coach Chiaverini plays his guys everywhere but I see myself in the slot a lot because I am pretty good at making it a match-up issue for safeties and linebackers in the middle of the field,” Penry told BuffStampede.com. “I am able to catch the ball in traffic, go up and high-point it,” he said. “My whole skill set was improved my junior year. I feel like I really developed my speed so I am also able to be a vertical threat.”

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

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Braylen Nelson – OL

De-committed April 7th … Nelson’s tweet: “First off, I would like to thank the Buff community, coaches and staff for the amount of love that has been shown and been given. I am forever grateful to you all for that, but me and my family have decided it is in the best interest of me to open my recruitment back up to ensure the best decision is being made and all options are being explored. I haven’t had the time to establish a relationship between myself and the coaches in Boulder but in the future I hope to build a relationship with the new staff. CU will forever be on my list of colleges”. 

Just the facts … Committed January 26th … Nelson is a 6’5″, 310-pound offensive tackle from Aurora, Colorado (Vista Peak Prep) Rivals bio  247 Sports bio

What others say about Nelson … At the time of his commitment, Nelson was unrated by either Rivals or 247 Sports, but was later given a three-star rating by both Rivals and 247 Sports, listed as the No. 5 overall prospect out of the state of Colorado by 247 Sports. A first-team all-league selection as a defensive lineman during his sophomore campaign at Vista Peak, Nelson successfully transitioned into more of an offensive lineman as a junior. He was an all-state honoree.

Nelson had other offers from … only Colorado State and Wyoming. Nelson had taken a number of unofficial visits to Boulder last fall, and decided (at the time) to not to put off his commitment any longer.

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

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Kaden Dudley – Ath

De-committed March 23rd … Dudley’s tweet: “Due to recent circumstances beyond my control, I have decided to reopen my commitment at this time. The current situation with the COVID-19 and the recruiting dead period has unfortunately delayed my ability to get on campus and meet with the new coaching staff at CU. I still look forward to getting to know the new coaches and staff at CU, but I also need to pursue and explore all possible options in order to make the best decision for myself and my family. 

“I am thankful for the coaches and staff that gave me this opportunity, and the fans that have supported me and made Boulder feel like home. CU remains high on my list of schools and will always be special to me as my first offer to play football at the next level”.

Just the facts … Committed October 23rd … Dudley is a 6’0″, 189- pound athlete from Monument, Colorado (Palmer Ridge) Rivals bio  247 Sports bio

What others say about Dudley ... Dudley is considered by both Rivals and 247 Sports as a three-star prospect. At 247 Sports, Dudley is rated as the No. 51 athlete in the country, the No. 6 overall prospect in the state of Colorado, and the No. 530 player in the nation.

In his last 19 games at Palmer Ridge, Dudley has picked off 12 passes on defense. He is averaging 19.2 yards per reception this fall.

Dudley had other offers from … only Colorado and Colorado State as of the date of his commitment, but bear in mind, Dudley is a junior, committing 14 months before he can sign a Letter of Intent. If Dudley wanted to play the recruiting game, there would be numerous other offers. As an example, Dudley took an unofficial visit this past April … to Notre Dame.

While talking with BuffStampede.com, Matt McChesney of Six Zero Strength referred to Dudley as a leader on multiple occasions. Dudley did not feel the need to play out the recruiting process like most prospects.

“Recruiting is vanity these days because it is about posting pictures on Twitter,” said McChesney, a former Buff lineman. “Do you need 30 offers? Do you need to go on recruiting trips and spend a bunch of money and do the posting pictures B.S.? Or are you looking for an opportunity that is legitimate where they are going to invest in you and you are going to invest in them, and it is going to be real? That is what Dudley was looking for.”

In his own words … In his tweet announcing his commitment, Dudley posted: “Since I was little, I have always dreamed of playing college football. Today, I am humbled and grateful to announce that my dream will be fulfilled … I appreciate all of the schools who have shown interest in me and given me the opportunity to further my education and showcase my talent in my home state. With that being said, after talking with my family, I would like to announce my commitment to the University of Colorado!!”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Tags: Allan Baugh, Ashton Logan, Braylen Nelson, Chase Penry, Cole Becker, Drew Carter, Edgar Amaya, Erik Olsen, Jackson Anderson, Joshua Bryan, Kaden Dudley, Kaylin Moore, Nikko Reed, Ryan Williams, T.J. Patu, Trevor Woods, Trustin Oliver, Ty Robinson, Tyas Martin, Tyrin Taylor, Zephaniah Maea, Zion Magalei
This post, about the Recruiting Class of 2021 game, from the 2021 Season, is filed under Article.
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