CU Recruiting Class of 2022

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Colorado Recruiting Class of 2022

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Late additions to the Class of 2022 … 

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CU adds a walk-on punter Trent Carrizosa (18th-ranked punter in the nation)

Chris Sailer evaluation: Trent is a big time high school punting prospect. He is big, tall, strong and athletic. Trent has an ideal frame for a D1 level Punter. He easily averages 40+ yards, with 4.5+ hang time. His best balls measure 50+ yards, with 4.8+ hang time. A competitor that thrives under pressure. There is big time D1 talent here. Trent is a fine young man who is always a great pleasure to work with. He is going to make a huge addition to any college football program.

Tweet from Trent Carrizosa … “I am very excited to announce that I will be committing to the University of Colorado to further my academic and football career!!”

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Anthony Hankerson happy to be enrolling: “I finally got that answer I was looking for. I’m ready to get started”

From the Daily Camera … At the time that Anthony Hankerson committed to Colorado on Feb. 1, the Buffaloes didn’t have a roster spot to bring him in for the 2022 season.

Instead, CU asked him to grayshirt and delay his enrollment until January of 2023. Hankerson agreed, but always held hope that he could join the Buffs sooner.

Earlier this month, the standout running back from St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) High School got the call from the CU staff to get ready. CU is now planning to bring Hankerson to Boulder next month and have him on the roster for this season.

“That’s always been a possibility,” he said. “I just continued praying and just waited it out. I finally got that answer I was looking for. I’m ready to get started.”

CU has three returning running backs on scholarship: senior Alex Fontenot, junior Deion Smith and sophomore Jayle Stacks. They added Victor Venn, from Buford (Ga.) High School, as a prep signee in December, and also have redshirt freshman walk-on Charlie Offerdahl, who could play a role this season.

Then, on Jan. 31, FCS All-American Ramon Jefferson, from Sam Houston, announced his intention to transfer to CU. That gave CU five projected scholarship backs. A day later, Hankerson, who graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas this month, committed to the Buffs, but they asked him to grayshirt.

“As an athlete, that’s kind of hard to do, especially when you love the game of football and having to wait a couple of months before you actually touch the field,” he said.

… Continue reading story here …

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… Note … May 22nd update … With transfer Ramon Jefferson de-committing, Anthony Hankerson, who had previously agreed to grey-shirt, will be coming to Boulder in June, and enrolling at the University of Colorado. As with every other member of the CU Recruiting Class of 2022, Hankerson will have five years to play for in Boulder … 

Anthony Hankerson – RB

Just the facts .. Committed February 1st … Hankerson is 5’9″, 190-pound running back from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (St. Thomas Aquinas) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Hankerson … Hankerson is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. Under 247 Sports composite rating, Hankerson is listed as the No. 57 running back in the country, the No. 97 overall prospect out of Florida, and the No. 689 prospect overall in the nation (which makes him the third-highest rated prospect from the Recruiting Class of 2022, behind only safety Dylan Dixson (No. 598) and linebacker Aubrey Smith (No. 632).

This past season, as St. Thomas Aquinas cruised to a 14-1 record and its third straight Florida Class 7A state championship, he rushed for 1,057 yards on 165 carries. In the state title game vs. Tampa Bay Tech, he scored three touchdowns, rushing for 117 yards on 11 carries.

In only nine games in 2020 as a junior, Hankerson was no less dominant, as he ran the ball 178 times for 1,178 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Hankerson had other offers from … a total of 20 schools, including Florida State, Florida, Miami, Texas A&M, Georgia, LSU, Minnesota, Michigan State, Pittsburgh and Arizona.

In his own words … “One of the main things that stood out is how they are so into the tradition aspect of the school at Colorado,” Hankerson told BuffStampede.com. “And I love what (head) coach (Karl) Dorrell has going on. I feel like I can trust him. They feel like I can be a great help to the program, especially as a leader being from a winning program in St. Thomas Aquinas.

“I knew I wanted to commit when I talked to the running backs coach, coach (Darian) Hagan. For someone that has that much experience coaching running backs, he definitely knows what he’s talking about. I feel like I can trust him, too.”

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

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Van Wells – OL

Just the facts … Committed January 16th … Wells is a 6’2″, 300-pound offensive lineman from Houston, Texas … Rivals bio … 247Sports bio …

What others say about Wells … Wells is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Wells is rated as the No. 71 interior lineman in the nation, the No. 178 player out of Texas, and the No. 1241 overall payer in the nation.

Wells had other offers from … a total of 19 schools, though Wells had only one other offer from another Power Five school (Maryland). Wells was a Louisiana commit for most of the fall, but decommitted in November with hopes of gaining a Power Five offer. Wells did have offers from schools like Air Force, Houston, Navy and Nevada.

In his own words … “I know that you can get to the NFL from anywhere basically, but I also want to go up against the highest competition I can,” Wells told BuffStampede.com. “I want to play against who other people may think are the best.”

“My coaches thought that I would be a good center after I played tight end for two years so when COVID hit, it really helped me. I just focused on the gym,” Wells told CUSportsNation. “I was 250 but by the time my junior season started, I was 290-pounds. I was able to add 40 pounds of muscle, and I was still able to move very well. I got adjusted to being a center pretty quickly.

“My job is to go 100 percent of the time and make minimal mistakes. And I take pride in helping others. This season we had two guards that were young and they got to be good players eventually. Basically I am the quarterback of the offensive line so if you see me in the game, you will see me pointing out stuff, making sure I am putting my guys in the best situation.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Jason Oliver – DB

Just the facts … Committed January 14th … Sowell is a 6’0″, 160-pound defensive back from Bakersfield, California (Liberty) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Oliver … Oliver is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Oliver is ranked as the No. 66 player overall in the state. At 247 Sports, Oliver is ranked as the No. 95 cornerback in the nation, the No. 78 player overall out of California, and the No. 1049 prospect in the nation.

He accounted for 1,281 all-purpose yards, 11 touchdowns, eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery as a senior while helping Liberty to a Southwest Yosemite League title and 11 wins.

Oliver had other offers from … at least three Pac-12 schools: Utah; California; and Oregon State. Oliver also had offers from Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Jose State, and UNLV.

In his own words … “Colorado just seemed like an awesome place to go and play football, and further my education, so that was really the biggest thing for me,” Oliver Jr. said in an article on Bakersfield.com.

“Going to Colorado it’s a unique situation,” he added. “They had a whole bunch of transfers at the position. Their (cornerbacks) coach left and went to Oregon and a couple of their guys transferred out to other schools. So for me to go in early and start learning the defense and get my name out to the coaches early and start playing in front of them is really an opportunity for me to fight for some playing time. As a freshman, that would be an awesome thing to do.”

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

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23 Commitments (including grey-shirt punter Ashton Logan)

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23 Commitments, by Position 

Quarterbacks … Owen McCown …

Running Backs … Victor Venn … Anthony Hankerson

Wide Receivers … Jordyn Tyson … Chase Sowell …

Tight Ends … Zach Courtney …

Offensive Linemen … Travis Gray … Carter Edwards … Van Wells

Defensive Linemen … Aaron Austin …

Linebackers … Eoghan Kerry … Aubrey Smith … Shakaun Bowser … Kenny Soares … Kaden Ludwick …

Defensive Backs … Simeon Harris … Joshua Wiggins … Keyshon Mills … Dylan Dixson … Xavier Smith … Oakie Salave’a … Jason Oliver … 

Specialists … Ashton Logan …

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Recruits are from … Texas: 8 … California: 4 … Georgia: 3  … Colorado: 1 …  Oregon: 1 … Connecticut: 1 … Arizona: 1 … Mississippi: 1 … Florida: 1 …

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Chase Sowell – WR

Just the facts … Committed December 14th … Sowell is a 6’1″, 185-pound wide receiver from Humble, Texas (Asascoctia) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Sowell … Committing the day before Signing Day, Sowell remained an unrated prospect by 247 Sports. At Rivals, however, Sowell was rated as a three-star player. Sowell was Texas District 21-6A first-team selection as a junior. Sowell is a standout baseball player, and he has considered a future on the diamond, as well.

Sowell had roughly 1,400 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior, prompting Colorado to extend an offer on Dec. 4th. The Buffs have complimented him on his football IQ and his ability to make plays downfield.

Sowell had other offers from … only a handful of schools. The only other Power Five school expressing interest was Indiana (and that was for baseball), with offers from Northern Iowa, UT-San Antonio, Sam Houston and Incarnate Word. If you are looking for solace, the sentiment is that Sowell wasn’t actively pursued as he was looking more at pursuing a baseball career, but a breakout senior year turned some heads and changed some minds.

In his own words … “I am still deciding what I want to do,” Sowell told 247 Sports two days before he committed to Colorado. “I don’t really have an answer but I will continue talking with my family and I think I should be making a decision soon. But I am not planning to sign Dec. 15. I am actually waiting until February.”

Two days later … “The coaches at Colorado like my film and know what ‘m capable of,” Sowell told CUSportsNation. “I’ll always have to prove myself but I don’t think I really have to put on too much. The coaches at Colorado, coach Dorrell, coach (Reggie) Moore, they trust me and they believe in me.”

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

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Oakie Salave’a – Ath

Just the facts … Committed December 13th … Salave’a is a 6’2″, 185-pound athlete from Pago Pago, American Samoa … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Salave’a … Smith was rated as a three-star athlete by 247 Sports, but a two-star quarterback by Rivals. At 247 Sports, Salave’a was considered to be the No. 1 overall prospect out of American Samoa, the No. 129 “athlete” in the nation, and the No. 1529 overall prospect.

Salave’a was a do-it-all type of player at Tafuna High School in American Samoa, affectionally known as ‘Motu o Fiafiaga’ or the island of paradise and happiness. He made the biggest impact at quarterback while leading the Warriors to back-to-back championships and winning ASHSAA Most Valuable Player honors in 2020 and 2021.

Salave’a is a CU legacy. His father, Okland Salave’a, Sr., played defensive tackle for Colorado from 1987-89 and was a close friend of former CU quarterback Sal Aunese.

Salave’a had other offers from … San Diego State and Hawai’i. Salave’a was a San Diego State commit from June 20th until his commitment to Colorado on December 13th.

In his own words … “(My had has) been telling me that Colorado’s coaches are really great,” Salave’a previously told CUSportsNation. “The campus is really good, Boulder is really nice and he told me that it was like a family when he went there. He got really close to his teammates and that they’ve been like another family to him besides his real family.”

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Xavier Smith – Ath

Just the facts … Committed December 9th … Smith is a 6’2″, 185-pound athlete from Fairburn, Georgia … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Smith … Well, you’re not gonna like it. Despite Smith’s late-in-the-process commitment, Smith was an unrated prospect by 247 Sports at the time of his commitment, and only a two-star prospect by Rivals.

Smith spent time playing safety, nickel back, quarterback, running back, and kickoff returner this fall. Some good news: Smith was named his region’s Player of the Year for his performance as a senior. He is fast: Smith broke three school records in track last year, and qualified for the 6A state meet in both the 200-meter and 400-meter dash.

Smith had other offers from … Well, you’re not gonna like this, either. Smith had an offer from Army, but, after that … Middle Tennessee, Charlotte, Liberty, Tennessee State … you get the idea.

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

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Eoghan Kerry – LB

Just the facts … Committed December 1st … Kerry is a 6’3″, 225-pound linebacker from Santa Ana, California (and recruiting hotbed Mater Dei) .. Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Kerry … Kerry is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Kerry is listed as the No. 48 outside linebacker in the nation, and the No. 40 overall prospect out of the state of California. At 247 Sports, Kerry is rated as the No. 66 linebacker nationally, the No. 54 prospect out of California, and the No. 684 player in the nation.

Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Adam Gorney describes Eoghan Kerry as a physical player that flies around and makes plays all over the field.

“I’ve always been surprised that Kerry has not seen his recruitment take off even more because he can move well, he’s physical and Kerry flies around the field to make plays all the time,” said Gorney last summer, before Kerry’s senior season. “Maybe it’s because Kerry has only played football for a few years or because of the Covid shutdown but once coaches see him in person, they become interested.”

Kerry had other offers from … from five other Power Five schools, most notably Texas, which was seen as CU’s greatest competition. Kerry was a Texas commit from August until November 27th, when he de-committed. From the Pac-12, Kerry had offers from UCLA, Utah and Arizona, with other offers from schools like Boston College, Colorado State, and Nevada. Kerry also had offers from the likes of Yale and Penn – so we know academics won’t be an issue.

In his own words … “Colorado was amazing, even better then I expected,” Kerry told 247Sports in the summer. “Boulder is Beautiful, the Flatirons, the mountains and just the overall environment there was incredible and I really had a good time.

“The coaches are awesome and have created a great culture there. That’s a big thing there, the coaches are really focusing on the culture of the program and bringing in guys that fit that and that’s something that’s important to me too.”

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

A You Tube video: A day in the life of Eoghan Kerry

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Erick Conley – DL

Decommitted … November 26th … “First I would like to thank the CU Boulder staff. Thank you to the fans for showing love, but after talks with Coach Wilson I will be trusting God to lead me in the right direction as I will be reopening my recruitment 110%. Thank you CU!”

Just the facts … Committed July 13th … Conley is a 6’4″, 250-pound defensive tackle from Houston, Texas (Alief Taylor) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Conley … Conley is rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals, but, on the date of his commitment in July, was not rated by 247 Sports. The owner of a 4.45 grade point average, Conley wants to study to become a Neuroscientist. “Colleges love that I am a versatile player but they also like that I am a good person,” Conley said. “Every college coach I’ve spoken to has mentioned my grades.”

“Coach Wilson was talking about putting me on the edge and even sometimes on the inside of the line,” he said. “Wherever he wants me to play, I am going to play and I am going to be my best at it.”

Conley had other offers from … only one other Power Five school, South Carolina. Conley also had offers from Colorado State, Nevada, New Mexico, and Navy.

In his own words … “It was amazing,” Conley told BuffStampede.com of his official visit to CU in June. “The environment of the town, the stadium, the people, and the coaches there all stood out to me. I got to hang out with (defensive coordinator and defensive line) coach (Chris) Wilson and it was great because we didn’t just talk about football. He talked about life. His main message to me was to check the boxes and be happy. He likes that I am a versatile player.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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McKale Boley – OL

Decommitted … November 23rd … Tweet from Boley: “I want to start by thanking all of the coaches at the University of Colorado for believing in me and giving me the chance to play football at the next level. Now after rethinking and having a conversation with my family, I have decided it is best for me to decommit from the University of Colorado and reopen my recruitment 100%”

Note … the decommitment should not be considered a surprise, as this was a recruit from Mississippi who was recruited by fired offensive line coach Mitch Rodrigue. Since his commitment to CU in July, Boley has picked up offers from … no other schools …

Just the facts … Committed July 31st … Boley is a 6’6″, 286-pound offensive lineman from Hattiesburg, Mississippi … Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Boley … You’re not gonna like this … Boley was not rated by 247 Sports as of the date of his commitment, and didn’t even show up in the database at Rivals. CU now has two offensive line commits from the Class of 2022, and both are from Hattiesburg. The other, Carter Edwards, committed on June 21st (see bio, below).

McKale Boley played as a defensive lineman early during his junior season at Oak Grove, then he suffered an injury. So, despite being 6-foot-6, 286-pounds, Boley did not stand out because he did not have any film as an offensive lineman to send to colleges.

“It was really hard… but I knew my time would come,” he said. “I just had to be patient.”

Boley had other offers from … no one else. Boley received an offer from CU on July 28th, and committed three days later. Boley was only able to play in two games as a junior at Oak Grove, so he has flown more under-the-radar as a recruit. In addition to Colorado, he has five Junior College options.

In his own words … “I came out to Boulder with my dad, had a workout and an unofficial visit,” Boley told BuffStampede.com. “It was a good workout. They liked my footwork and offered me a scholarship. I have good feet because from when I was in second grade up until last year, I played soccer.”

The elder Boley played collegiately at Southern Mississippi where he was a Conference USA Defensive Most Valuable Player and a three-time all-conference selection. He played there at the same time Mitch Rodrigue was an assistant on the Golden Eagles’ staff.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Aubrey Smith – LB

Just the facts … Committed October 22nd … Smith is a 6’2″, 210-pound linebacker from Buford, Georgia … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Smith … Smith is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Aubrey is rated as the No. 17 inside linebacker in the nation, and the No. 47 player in the talent-rich state of Georgia.  he No. 59 player out of Georgia, and the No. 596 player overall in the nation.  Smith recorded 34 tackles, one sack, one caused fumble and a pass deflection through the first six games of his senior season at Buford. The Wolves improved to 6-1 with a dominating 37-0 victory over Shiloh last Friday.

Smith had other offers from … an impressive list of schools, including Alabama, Georgia, Auburn and Mississippi from the SEC. There were also offers from Florida State, Michigan State (and Mel Tucker), Nebraska, Arizona State, Baylor, Georgia Tech and Indiana. A teammate of CU tailback commit Victor Venn, Smith took an official visit to Boulder earlier in October.

In his own words … “Knowing the coaches has been a great experience,” he told CUSportsNation after his official visit. “The relationships with the coaches have been good so far. My vibe (with Smith) is A1 — I have a good relationship with him.”

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Shakaun Bowser – LB

Just the facts … Committed September 20th … Bowser is 6’4″, 225-pound linebacker from Gilbert, Arizona … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Bowser … Bowser is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Bowser is considered to be the 44th-best outside linebacker in the nation, and the No. 10 player out of the state of Arizona. According to 247 Sports, Bowser is rated as the No. 94 linebacker in the nation, the No. 15 player out of Arizona, and the No. 977 player overall in the country. Bowser recorded 77 tackles, 11 sacks, and 12 total tackles for loss in his 2020-2021 season.

Bowser had other offers from … a good number of Power Five schools. From the Pac-12, Bowser had offers from both Arizona schools, Utah and Oregon State. Other offers came in from Michigan, Iowa State, and both Kansas schools. Bowser’s final three came down to Colorado, Kansas State and Oregon State.

In his own words … “So my family and I sat down and talked about it,” Bowser told BuffStampede.com. “We told my coach the pros and cons of every program. One of the main things we mentioned about the programs is that we love the coach. He said, ‘Don’t make a decision off a coach because coaches come and go. College football is a business.’ He asked, ‘What school is going to better you no matter what the situation is?’ And it was Colorado.

“Altogether, Colorado and Boulder is just best for me to grow not only as a football player but as a person and man because that is what college is also about. It is not just about football.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Jordyn Tyson – WR

Just the facts … Committed August 12th … Tyson is a 6’2″, 170-pound wide receiver from Allen, Texas … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Tyson … Tyson wasn’t rated by Rivals at the time of his commitment, but was considered to be a three-star prospect by 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Tyson was listed as the No. 196 overall prospect out of Texas, and the No. 194 wide receiver nationally.

Tyson had other offers from … seven other schools, though none of them being Power Five conference schools. The best other offers came from schools like Tulsa, New Mexico and Colorado State.

In his own words … “The way Colorado believed in my talent and how they brought me into the family really stood out,” Tyson told BuffStampede.com. “How nice the facilities and campus are stood out also. We got a chance to look around Boulder quite a bit because we were out there for three or four days. Really, everything is nice out there.

“(Offensive coordinator and receivers) coach (Darrin) Chiaverini said he likes everything about my game, especially my ball skills and my route running.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Kenny Soares – Ath

Just the facts … Committed August 7th … Soares is a 6’3″, 200-pound athlete from Avon, Connecticut … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Soares … Soares is rated as a three-star athlete by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Soares is considered to be the No. 30 “athlete” in the nation, and the No. 1 overall prospect out of the state of Connecticut. At 247 Sports, Soares is rated as the No. 94 athlete in the nation, the No. 9 overall prospect from Connecticut, and the No. 1132 overall prospect nationally.

It is reported that Soares would likely come to Colorado as a linebacker, being compared to Oklahoma transfer Robert Barnes.

Soares did not have a junior season at Avon Old Farms due to the pandemic, but he had a standout performance at a Clemson camp earlier this summer. Colorado began evaluating him closer, and brought him out on an unofficial visit in late July.

Rivals’ own Adam Friedman had a chance to check out Soares back in May, noting his versatility:

“Soares is one of the most interesting prospects in the northeast’s 2022 recruiting class. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound athlete can play running back, tight end, H-back, or linebacker.

“On Sunday Soares focused on linebacker and ended up winning the MVP award because of his impressive combination of athleticism and ball skills, but he also took one on one reps at running back. Soares won those reps, too.”

Soares had other offers from … over a dozen other schools, but only a few from Power Five conference schools. Soares had offers from Indiana and Maryland, with other offers from schools like Army, Navy, Buffalo, and Central Michigan, with interest from schools like Penn State and West Virginia.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Ronald “Champ” Lewis – DB

Decommitted … August 4th … Tweet announcing his decommitment … “First off, I would like to thank the man above. I would also like to thank the coaches at CU for all of the love and support. After praying and discussing with my family, I have decided to decommit from the University of Colorado and reopen my recruitment. Please respect my decision” 

Just the facts … Committed June 7th … Lewis is a 6’2″, 175-pound defensive back from New Orleans, Louisiana … 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 247 Sports, Lewis is considered to be the No. 34 player overall out of the state of Louisiana, the No. 71 cornerback in the nation, and the No. 947 prospect nationally.

As a junior last fall, he earned first-team all-state honors and also was a member of Warren Easton’s track and field team, competing in the 100 and 300-meter hurdles.

Lewis had other offers from …  over a dozen other schools, including a number of Power Five schools. Lewis had offers from Oregon State from the Pac-12, along with offers from Purdue, Virginia, West Virginia and Kansas. Lewis also had offers from the likes of Memphis, Louisiana Tech, Marshall and Utah State. Lewis was scheduled to take an official visit to Oregon State, but ended his recruitment after visiting Boulder.

In his own words … Lewis was hosted in Boulder by former Warren Easton teammate Ashaad Clayton. “‘Shaad showed me around the city and I got a chance to spend a lot of time with him while I was out there,” Lewis told BuffStampede.com. “Hanging out with him and just seeing the relationship he has with the guys on the team showed me a lot. I see him being in school with people from all over the country. He is from Louisiana but he has friends on the team from Texas and California and all over, but it is a still a great brotherhood. The team carried itself well.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Travis Gray – OL

Just the facts … Committed August 4th … Gray is a 6’6″, 300-pound offensive lineman from Aurora, Colorado (Cherokee Trail) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio

What others say about Gray … Gray is rated as three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Gray is listed as the No. 8 overall prospect out of the state of Colorado, the No. 111 offensive tackle in the nation, and the No. 1195 overall prospect in the country.

Gray had other offers from … at least four other Power Five conference schools, including both of the Arizona schools from the Pac-12, along with Kansas and Maryland. Gray was also being recruited by schools like Nebraska, Missouri, Utah and Oregon State.

In his own words … “I worked on my footwork a lot… I didn’t feel my footwork wasn’t as good last season because I was still growing into my body. I am still getting used to it,” Gray told BuffStampede.com. “Footwork is a huge thing, and I feel I improved on my run game and my pass game, and I will be more violent at the line of scrimmage as a senior. Colleges like my length and my ability to recognize defenses. They think I can be a really good team player at tackle.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Simeon Harris – DB

Just the facts … Committed July 21st … Harris is a 6’0″, 170-pound defensive back from Benicia, California (near San Francisco) Rivals bio  247 Sports bio

What others say about Harris … Harris is rated as a three-star prospect by 247 Sports, but only a two-star prospect by Rivals. At 247 Sports, Harris is considered to be the No. 123 “athlete” prospect in the nation, the No. 123 overall prospect out of the state of California, and the No. 1423 prospect nationally.

Harris had other offers from … four Mountain West schools: Colorado State; Fresno State; Utah State and Air Force. Reportedly, however, Harris’ stock has gone up considerably this summer, as he has been hitting the summer camps (including the one at CU). Harris had been a Fresno State commit since February, but decommitted shortly after receiving CU’s offer. Several Pac-12 schools, including Washington and Oregon State, had interest. Due to issues related to his transferring schools last fall, Harris was only allowed to play in two games, which may have cut down on the number of schools willing to make him an offer before the start of his senior year in high school.

In his own words … When Harris committed to Fresno State, he was asked what he brought to the table. “They can expect a long, tall, corner/safety/nickel who can cover ground, get from the hash to the sideline or the middle of the field to the sideline”, Harris told 247 Sports. “I can make plays on the ball when it’s thrown in the air. Expect a lot of turnovers.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Aaron Austin – DE

Just the facts … Committed July 6th … Austin is 6’3″, 255-pound defensive lineman from Ft. Worth, Texas (North Crowley) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Austin … Austin is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Austin is considered to be the No. 119 defensive lineman in the country, the No. 144 overall prospect out of Texas, and the No. 1045 player in the country. Last season, Austin helped the North Crowley Panthers to a 7-4 record. He was named all-district after recording 48 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, nine sacks, three forced fumbles and four pass breakups.

Austin had other offers from … some 20 schools nationally, including a number of Power Five schools. From the Pac-12, Austin had offers from Washington State and Arizona. Austin had other offers from Boston College, Illinois, Kansas, Kansas State, Minnesota and Nebraska.

In his own words … “I had been out of the (Dallas-Fort Worth) metroplex before but I had never been that far,” Austin told BuffStampede.com. “Na’im Rodman showed me the ropes, how it is like living out there in Boulder and other things like coach. I met with (defensive coordinator and defensive line) coach (Chris) Wilson and (recruiting assistant) D.J. Bryant and their message was that I can be there and be successful and I can be part of a family.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Joshua Wiggins – DB

Just the facts … Committed June 27th … Wiggins is a 6’1″, 178-pound defensive back from Spring, Texas … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Wiggins … Wiggins is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. Rivals has Wiggins listed as the No. 96 overall prospect out of the state of Texas, while 247 Sports has the No. 92 cornerback in the nation, the No. 140 player out of Texas, and the No. 989 overall prospect in the country.

Wiggins had other offers from … two SEC schools – Kentucky and Mississippi. In addition, Wiggins had offers from Group of Five schools like Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Monroe (where his brother played), and Toledo.

In his own words … “The culture, the coaches and whole staff, the family part of it, the players… I just liked everything about it,” Wiggins told BuffStampede.com. “(Running back) Jarek Broussard was my player host and he showed me it is a place that can feel like home. It is a very good place to be at. They are trying to build the program back up to where it needs to be. It was a good reaction when I committed. Everybody was happy. It is a blessing.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Carter Edwards – OL

Just the facts … Committed June 21st … Edwards is a 6’6″, 275-pound offensive lineman from Hattiesburg, Mississippi … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Edwards … Edwards is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Edwards is listed as the No. 25 overall prospect out of the state of Mississippi, the No. 73 offensive tackle in the nation, and the No. 997 overall prospect in the country. Edwards was an All-State selection for both the 2019 and 2020 seasons for 6A Presbyterian Christian high school, which runs an almost exclusively run-based offense. Edwards helped clear the way for Louisiana Tech bound running back Marquis Crosby, who broke the single-season Mississippi rushing record with 3,678 yards. Colleges have complimented Edwards the most on his “flexibility and quick feet.”

Edwards had other offers from … several other Power Five conference schools, including both of his home state SEC schools – Mississippi and Mississippi State. Edwards also had offers from Kansas State and Louisville, as well as schools like UCF, UAB, Southern Miss and Princeton. Edwards took official visits to Kansas State and Louisville before committing to Colorado.

In his own words … “When I saw the Aerospace Engineering building, they have a great Aerospace Engineering program, I knew I wanted to commit,” Edwards told BuffStampede.com. “And I just love all the coaches. (Offensive line) coach (Mitch) Rod(rigue) and (head) coach (Karl) Dorrell… I really like them, and I like their strength program (which is led by Shannon Turley).

“We flew in (for my official visit) and the first thing they took us to, we got to meet with one of the Aerospace Engineering professors and he showed us around the building. …  I am going to miss the whole (recruiting) process, but I am kind of relieved.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Carlton Madden – DL

De-committed June 21st … Four days after receiving a scholarship offer from Georgia, Madden decided to decommit from Colorado. Madden was mostly under-the-radar early on due to the fact he was not allowed to play on varsity as a junior, because of a transfer ruling. He has seen his stock rise after performing well at a handful of camps this summer.  Madden has also added Georgia Tech, Ole Miss and Washington State as Power 5 options this month, with interest from Florida and Louisville.

“After discussion and prayer with my family, I will be decommitting from the University of Colorado,” Madden tweeted. “I made the decision to commit back in February and many things have changed along the way. I’m looking to explore a few more options and making sure I make the right choice. I want to thank the whole recruiting staff for all the love and support.”

Update … September 16th … Committed to home-state Georgia …

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Just the facts … Committed February 20th … Madden is a 6’4″, 227-pound defensive end from Ellenwood, Georgia Rivals bio 247 Sports bio 

What others say about Madden … Madden is rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals, but, as of the date of his commitment, was unrated by 247 Sports (Madden picked up a three-star designation later).

Part of the reason Madden wasn’t getting much attention was that he had to sit out his junior season. “Sadly my recruiting process slowed down because I wasn’t able to play my junior year (due to transfer rule)”, Madden told CUSportsNation.com. “But Colorado was still showing love”.

Madden had other offers from … at the time of his commitment in February, there was only CU and Kent State.

In his own words … From Madden’s tweet announcing his commitment: “Colorado has been my top school since they offered. The coaches give off a good vibe and energy.

“I feel like I can come in and make an impact early at Colorado,” said Madden. “They build their defense around players like myself … I feel excited and can’t wait to visit as soon as the dead period is lifted”.

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

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Kaden Ludwick – LB

Just the facts … Committed June 16th … Ludwick is a 6’4″, 200-pound linebacker from Clackamas, Oregon … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Ludwick … Ludwick is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Ludwick is considered to be the No. 93 outside linebacker in the nation, and the No. 8 overall prospect out of the state of Oregon. Ludwick has reported gaining 45 pounds in the last year or so, and, while he is currently listed as a linebacker prospect, he may be a defensive end by the time he gets to Boulder.

“I also added explosiveness,” Ludwick told BuffStampede.com. “It helped me when we were finally able to get out there for a short spring season. Opposing teams had two guys blocking me at all times, and quarterbacks rolling out the opposite way, but I was still able to do my thing and make plays. Adding the strength and speed definitely helped a lot.”

Ludwick had other offers from … four other schools, including Washington State from the Pac-12. Other offers were from Air Force, Nevada and Idaho.

In his own words … “It was my first time to Colorado and it was an amazing place,” Ludwick told 247 Sports about his unofficial visit to Boulder earlier in June. “The coaches were great and the mountain views are something else.  Meeting all the coaches and the support staff was a highlight. They all had great facilities and you can see they really care about their players.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Zach Courtney – TE

Just the facts … Committed June 7th … Courtney is a 6’7″, 235-pound tight end from Post, Texas … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Courtney … Courtney is rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals, but, as of the date of his commitment, was not yet rated by 247 Sports. Courtney helped Post High to a 30-2 record and back-to-back district titles the past two seasons, while earning All-District honors on both sides of the ball (tight end and defensive end). Courtney was not used often as a receiver last year. In his junior year (16 games), he had nine receptions for 103 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 82 tackles, with 17 tackles for loss and five sacks.

Courtney is a three-sport athlete who competes in basketball and track and field (200 meters, 300 hurdles, shot put, discus).

Courtney had other offers from … five other schools, with BYU the only other “Power Five” offer. Other offers were from Fresno State, Texas State, Northern Arizona and Western Kentucky.

In his own words … “The scenery is amazing,” Courtney told CUSportsNation. “The coaches are just super nice and it really sounds like they want to build a family instead of a bunch of meatheads.”

Courtney travelled to Boulder with his parents, who were impressed with what Dorrell had to say.

“He was super great,” Courtney said of Dorrell. “He made my parents super happy in that if I went there, they wouldn’t be scared for me. He made it seem like I’d be safe (in Boulder) and that we’d be a family.”

“(Colorado’s coaches) were saying how they think I am a great player and really like what I can do, also what I could accomplish at their school,” Courtney told BuffStampede.com. “(Tight ends) coach (Bryan) Cook likes that I can block pretty much everybody and I can catch really well for how big I am. They like my physicality and my size.”

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

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Keyshon Mills – DB

Just the facts … Committed March 27th … Mills is a 6’1″, 190-pound defensive back from Little Elm, Texas (a suburb of Dallas) Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Mills … Mills is rated as a three-star wide receiver prospect by Rivals, while, on the date of his commitment, was an unrated cornerback on the 247 Sports website. After his commitment, Mills was evaluated by 247 Sports, and was given a three-star rating.  The industry-generated 247Sports Composite puts him at No. 100 among 2022 cornerbacks and in the top 150 overall in Texas for this class.

From Gabe Brooks at 247 Sports … Mills can get a little grabby at times, but that also falls in line with the more physical style of cornerback he plays like at this point in his development. Along those same lines, Mills is a willing participant against the perimeter run game. His technique consistency in that department can improve, but he will stick his nose in there vs. the run, an encouraging trait for a young corner.

Right now, Mills looks like a boundary type of corner who can mix it up at the line of scrimmage with bigger receivers, while also being able to keep you out of trouble in the perimeter run game. He gets his hands on a good number of throws and if he can develop his ball skills that will aid his playmaking ability.

Mills had other offers from … only Kansas and Liberty, while there was interest from schools like UCLA, TCU, Minnesota and Wyoming.

In his own words … “Colorado is a very good school and they play in the Pac-12, which I like”, Mills told BuffStampede.com. “I did research on the school and looked at their roster. They don’t have any defensive back commits (for 2022) yet, so I was really looking at that. (CU defensive backs coach Demetrice) Martin really wants me up there. He told me he needs another lockdown corner for the future to be on the other side of Christian Gonzalez.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Victor Venn – RB

Just the facts … Committed March 19th … Venn is a 5’10”, 170-pound running back from Buford, Georgia … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Venn … Venn is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Venn is considered to be the No. 13 all-purpose back in the nation, and the No. 65 player out of the talent-rich state of Georgia. At 247 Sports, Venn is rated as the No. 52 running back in the country, the No. 64 player out of Georgia, and the No. 682 overall prospect in the nation.

Venn, who helped Buford to a Georgia 6A state championship in 2020, is noted for his speed. He is part of a 4×2 relay team that is ranked No. 3 in the nation early on during track season and he aspires to run a 10.8 in the 100-meter dash this spring.

“I love how they see me in their offense”, Venn told Rivals.com. They want to use me at running back, move me out to the slot, and really move me around to make me more valuable. I love their offense, I love the style of play in the Pac 12, and I love that fit”.

“I am being recruited mostly as an all-purpose back, so I can do more things like catch the ball out of the backfield or even go out to the slot sometimes”, Venn told BuffStampede.com. “That is what Coach Chev was telling me from Colorado. He wants me to play a little of both.”

Venn had other offers from .. over two dozen schools. From Power Five conferences, Venn had offers from USC, Arizona State, Florida State, Michigan State, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Mississippi, Rutgers, Duke, Boston College, Pittsburgh and Virginia.

In his own words … “This is a great feeling to be committing to Colorado, and to think about my future in the Pac 12,” Venn told Rivals.com. “I play for great coaches that push us hard every day, and all the time and effort I have put in makes this possible.

“A lot to make this day possible happens behind the scenes, so for everyone to see this make me very happy. I know going to Colorado is going to set me up for life. It is very exciting.”

From his tween announcing his commitment … “Since I was a kid, it has always been my dream to play Division I College football. I am proud to announce that for the next 3-4 years I will be continuing my education and football career at The University of Colorado! … Thank you for the opportunity to be apart of such a Cultured and Prestigious Program!”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Owen McCown – QB

Just the facts … Committed March 17th … McCown is a 6’1″, 165-pound quarterback from Rusk, Texas … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about McCown … McCown is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and Scout. At Rivals, McCown, who is a lefty, is considered to be the No. 21 pro-style quarterback in the nation, and the No. 61 overall player out of Texas. At 247 Sports, McCown is considered to be the No. 17 dual-threat quarterback in the country, the No. 101 player out of Texas, and the No. 738 player overall in the nation.

After transferring from Myers Park High School in North Carolina to Rusk, McCown threw for 1,080 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions in eight games at Rusk this past season – his first as a starter. He added 270 yards and eight touchdowns on 79 rushing attempts.

McCown is the son of longtime NFL quarterback Josh McCown. His uncle Luke McCown was a fourth-round pick in the 2004 draft, playing 14 years. Another uncle, Randy McCown, starred as a quarterback at Texas A&M.

Colorado head coach Karl Dorrell coached Josh McCown twice, briefly in 2008 with the Miami Dolphins and for two seasons (2017-18) with the New York Jets. Dorrell was the receivers coach in both of those stops.

According to Rivals analyst Sam Spiegelman … McCown put together impressive junior tape, showing some mobility and a big arm to attack the entire field. Virginia Tech, UTSA and Colorado have put themselves in a good early position with the NFL legacy, but there will be a lot more interest and competition for the 2022 quarterback.

McCown had other offers from … only one other Power Five conference school, and that was Virginia Tech, although Vanderbilt also expressed interest. Other offers came from schools like Ohio, UNLV, and Charlotte. Considering McCown’s size (6’1″, 165-pounds), many schools may have been waiting to see how McCown fills out and bulks up before making an offer.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Dylan Dixson – DB

Just the facts … Committed February 4th … Dixson is a 6’2″, 190-pound defensive back from Pearland, Texas Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Dixson … Dixson was listed as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports when Dixson committed, but Dixson was later (late February) given a fourth star by 247 Sports. Rivals rates Dixson as the No. 76 overall player out of the state of Texas, and the No. 38 safety prospect in the country. At 247 Sports, Dixson is rated as the No. 28 outside linebacker in the nation, the No. 47 player overall out of Texas, and the No. 361 player in the nation.

Dixson was second-team all-district pick at safety as a junior, and was Texas District 23-6A first-team selection at outside linebacker as a sophomore.

“Colorado said they would like me to play their strong safety position,” Dixson told BuffStampede.com. “I did play outside linebacker my sophomore year, but aside from that I have been playing safety since I was 12 years old.”

Dixson accounted for 52 tackles, four interceptions, 11 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in nine games as a junior. He also had 10 receptions on offense.

“I have good tackling skills, I don’t get tired, and I like being physical,” said Dixson, a second-team all-district selection in 2020.

Dixson had other offers from … From eight other schools, including six other Power Five schools. Dixson had offers from Arizona State, Florida State, Iowa State, Missouri, Virginia Tech and Tennessee.

In his own words … From his tweet announcing his commitment … “My family has been the backbone to this process from the beginning. Thankful to my brothers and Dad for being my first coaches with my Mom cheering us on. I am also grateful to the Pearland High School coaching staff for believing in me. Huge shout outs to Coach Brett Maxie and Head Coach Karl Dorrell for welcoming me into the Colorado Buffalo family.”

“It seems I’m going to play the strong safety position, which I think best fits me because it’s closest to the line,” Dixson told the Daily Camera. “I’m more of a run fit/tight end type guy. I felt that best fits me because as a linebacker, I feel like I’m more of a coverage linebacker in the first place. It really wouldn’t be a big adaptation to move to strong safety.”

Really, there’s not much Dixson doesn’t like about CU.

“I feel like it best fit me as a player,” he said.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Tags: Aaron Austin, Aubrey Smith, Carlton Madden, Champ Lewis, Chase Sowell, Dylan Dixson, Eoghan Kerry, Erick Conley, Jordyn Tyson, Joshua Wiggins, Kaden Ludwick, Kenny Soares, Keyshon Mills, McKale Boley, Oakie Salave'a, Owen McCown, Ronald "Champ" Lewis, Ronald Lewis, Simeon Harris, Travis Gray, Van Wells, Victor Venn, Xavier Smith, Zach Courtney
This post, about the Recruiting Class of 2022 game, from the 2022 Season, is filed under Article.
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