Recruiting Class of 2023

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Colorado Recruiting Class of 2023

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17 Commitments, by Position (bold = Signed Letter of Intent)

Quarterbacks … Ryan Staub … Kasen Weisman

Running Backs … Dylan Edwards

Wide Receivers … Isaiah Hardge … Jordan Onovughe … Assad Waseem … Jacob Page … Adam Hopkins … Omarion Miller

Tight Ends …

Offensive Linemen … Hank Zilinskas 

Defensive Linemen … Taje McCoy

Linebackers … Victory Johnson … Kofi Taylor-Barrocks … Morgan Pearson

Defensive Backs  … Carter Stoutmire … Jaden Milliner Jones … Cormani McClain

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Recruiting Rankings …

Karl Dorrell Classes …

• Class of 2021 … Rivals: 63 … 247 Sports: 64
• Class of 2022 …  Rivals: 45 … 247 Sports: 47
• Class of 2023 … Pre-Hiring of Coach Prime (20 commitments) … Rivals: 45 … 247 Sports: 42

Deion Sanders Class of 2023 …

• After 12 de-commitments from the Class of 2023 … Rivals: 72 … 247 Sports: 75
• Prior to final official visit weekend (through 12/16) … Rivals: 56 … 247 Sports: 65
• December 20th rankings (day before Signing Day – 15 commitments) … Rivals: (not including transfers) 53 … 247 Sports composite: 56 … Transfer Portal Ranking (four transfers): 16
• December 22nd rankings (day after Signing Day – 24 commitments) … Rivals: (not including transfers) 44 … 247 Sports composite: 29 … Transfer Portal Ranking (eight transfers): 7
• December 25th rankings (after commitments from four-star receivers Omarion Miller and Jimmy Horn, Jr.) … Rivals (not including transfers): 32 … 247 Sports composite: 24 … Transfer Portal Ranking (11 commits): 3rd
• January 4th rankings … Rivals (not including transfers): 31st … 247 Sports composite: 23rd … Transfer Portal Rankings: (17 commits) 2nd
• January 15th rankings … Rivals (not including transfers): 32nd … 247 Sports composite: 22nd … Transfer Portal Rankings: (22 commits): 3rd
• January 19th rankings … Rivals (not including transfers): 25th … 247 Sports composite: 19th … Transfer Portal Rankings (23 commits): 4th
• February 1st (Signing Day) rankings … Rivals (not including transfers): 27th … 247 Sports composite: 21st … Transfer Portal Rankings (24 commits): 5th

Cormani McClain – DB

Just the facts … Committed January 19th … McClain is a 6’2″, 170-pound cornerback from Lakeland, Florida … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about McClain … McClain is considered to be a five-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, McClain is listed as the No. 8 prospect out of the state of Florida, the No. 1 cornerback prospect in the country, and the No. 18 overall player in the entire 2023 Recruiting Class. At 247 Sports, McClain is listed as the No. 3 prospect out of Florida, the No. 1 cornerback in the nation, and the No. 13 overall player in the 2023 Recruiting Class.

According to the 247Sports.com database, McClain is the third-highest rated prep recruit by CU since 2000. Running backs Darrell Scott (2008, .9980) and Marcus  Houston (2000, .9980) are the only players signed by CU in the last 23 years with a better rating than McClain’s .9950.

2022: Transferred into Lakeland for his senior season and helped the Dreadnaughts go 14-0 and capture a state title in Florida’s new 4S classification. In 10 games, totaled 16 tackles, 5 PBU, 2 INT and a FF.

Recruiting evaluation from 247 Sports … A new-age cornerback prospect that has a chance to be a difference maker at football’s highest levels given his rare blend of size, length and speed. Started prep career off playing primarily wide receiver before being thrust into action on the defensive side of the ball. Excelled right away as a perimeter defender against top Sunshine State competition picking off nine passes as a sophomore and 10 more as a junior. Still very raw from a technical standpoint, but is athletic enough to carry and cover most vertical routes. Leggy transitions aren’t exactly ideal, but has a knack for putting himself in position to make a play at the catch point and can quickly close gaps with an elite burst. Has experience working in both man and off-coverage. Not one to shy away from contact and is a rather spirited as an open-field tackler, but must improve in the boxing ring if he’s going to settle in as a true bump-and-run corner on Saturdays. Tested off the charts as an underclassman posting a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash to go along with a 128-inch broad jump and a 4.3 in the short shuttle. Will need to eventually add mass to a slender frame and continue to refine footwork/technique once enrolled at the school of his choice, but has one of the highest ceilings in the entire class of 2023 given how he moves –and covers– for someone that’s pushing 6-foot-2. Must learn how to block out mistakes and find some inner confidence once adversity hits, but has the physical makeup of a potential impact player for a College Football Playoff contender and a possible early-round NFL Draft selection if he can keep progressing. Could experience some initial growing pains, but freakish traits are worth molding for the long haul.

McClain had other offers from … the entire country (and that’s not an exaggeration). McClain had been a Miami commit, but decided not to sign during the early signing period in December. McClain was also linked to Florida, Alabama, and oddly enough, BYU. Other offers came in from the likes of Georgia, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Texas A&M, USC and Utah.

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Carter Stoutmire – DB

Just the facts … Stoutmire is a 6’0″, 170-pound cornerback from Prosper, Texas … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Stoutmire … Stoutmire is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Stoutmire is considered to be the No. 71 cornerback in the nation, the No. 114 player out of Texas, and the No. 703 prospect overall in the nation.

Stoutmire was a first-team all-state selection after recording six interceptions and 10 pass breakups as a senior at Plano (Texas) Prestonwood Christian. His father Omar Stoutmire played safety in the NFL for more than a decade after starring at Fresno State in the mid-’90s.

Stoutmire had other offers from … most notably, Arizona, as Stoutmire was an Arizona commit since June. Stoutmire also had offers from Penn State, Mississippi State and Kansas.

In his own words … “Yeh that was my first time there (last weekend in Boulder for his official visit) and the campus is beautiful,” Stoutmire told 247 Sports. “I really enjoyed being around the coaches and re-connecting with them.

“Talking with Deion, the main message was he’s going to push me hard to be the best player I can be. He wants to develop me and coming in as a corner, that’s a great group of defensive coaches to learn from.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Anthony “Deuce” Roberson – WR (Junior College) (PWO)

Just the facts … Committed December 19th … Roberson is a 5’10”, 179-pound wide receiver from Monument, Colorado, who comes to CU by way of Snow Junior College in Utah … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Roberson … Roberson, a/k/a Anthony Roberson, was a member of the Recruiting Class of 2020. He was not rated by Rivals, and a two-star prospect according to 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Roberson was listed as the No. 27 overall prospect out of the state of Colorado, and the No. 247 “athlete” out of the Class.

Last season, Roberson led the 8-2 Badgers with 24 catches for 349 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 10 carries for 53 yards.

Roberson had other offers from … no Power Five schools out of high school. Before settling on the junior college route, Roberson had offers out of high school from Army, Cornell, Northern Colorado and CSU-Pueblo.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Jacob Page – WR

Just the facts … Committed December 19th … Page is a 6’2″, 180-pound wide receiver from Murfreesboro, Tennessee (Blackman) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Page … Page is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Page is listed as the No. 39 overall prospect out of Tennessee, while at 247 Sports, Page is considered to be the No. 15 player out of Tennessee, the No. 85 wide receiver in the nation, and the No. 914 overall player in the country.

Page caught a total of 66 passes for 1,233 yards in 17 games as an upperclassman at Blackman.

Page had other offers from … at least ten Power Five conference schools, including Washington from the Pac-12. Page other offers came from schools like Tennessee, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Missouri, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Purdue and South Carolina. Page took official visits to Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech before settling on Colorado.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Kofi Taylor-Barrocks – LB

Just the facts … Committed December 18th … Taylor-Barrocks is a 6’3″, 220-pound linebacker from London, England (NFL Academy) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports …

What others say about Taylor-Barrocks … Taylor-Barrocks is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Taylor-Barrocks is considered to be the No. 1 prospect out of England, the No. 85 linebacker in the Recruiting Class of 2023, and the No. 1061 player overall.

Kofi-Taylor had other offers from … most notably, Jackson State, so Coach Prime was already familiar with the linebacker from England. From Power Five conference schools, Taylor-Barrocks had offers from Michigan State, Ole Miss, and West Virginia, and had interest from Penn State, Notre Dame and Maryland.

In his own words …  “I’ve gotten close with Coach Prime quite a few times, so I know the love is real and they’re going to treat me like family when I get over there,” he told 247Sports’ Allen Trieu last summer. “Especially being a European, that is one of the biggest things I’m looking for is the sense of being at home while being away from home.” Taylor-Barrocks went on a campus circuit last summer, giving him the exposure to college coaches.

“What pushed me to committing to Colorado and Coach Prime is the fact that they were recruiting me the hardest when they were at JSU,” Taylor-Barrocks told CU Sports Report. “Built a relationship with coach [Andre] Hart and coach [Tim] Brewster that made me feel like family. We all know that it’s more than just ball with Coach Prime he cares about his players off the field.”

“People over here laugh when they hear about what I am doing and they say football is for the soft man”, Kofi-Taylor told BuffStampede.com. They always talk about rugby because American football is not very popular over here. But they don’t understand the physicality and mental ability that you have to play the sport of American football. They can laugh but I don’t care because I know what my goals are and I am focused. I don’t really listen to the talk.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Taje McCoy – DL

Just the facts … Committed December 12th … McCoy is a 6’3″, 245-pound defensive end from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Putnam City) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports …

What others have to say about McCoy … McCoy is rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals, but, almost inexplicably due to his offer sheet, remains unrated by 247 Sports. At Rivals, McCoy is considered as the No. 10 overall prospect out of the state of Oklahoma, and the No. 49 defensive end in the nation. In his senior season, McCoy had 89 tackles, including 18 tackles for loss and six sacks.

McCoy had other offers from … seven other Power Five schools (which again, makes you wonder why he wasn’t rated by 247 Sports this late in the process). McCoy had offers from Baylor, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Iowa State and Kansas from the Big 12, along with Missouri and Vanderbilt from the SEC.

In his own words … All my life I played running back and linebacker until my sophomore year when they told me that they wanted to move me to edge. It was in a JV game. I found a position that suited me. It was a weight lifted off my shoulders because all I had to do was go get the quarterback. My coach, Rufus Alexander, tried me out at that position and it took off from there. That first game my junior year, I knew something special was about to happen.  

I spent that whole summer working on more technique. My coach, Le Jones, we tweaked everything. He really broke down my game. He broke down everything I needed to work on. Hand placement, shooting my hands, working technique on pass rush, giving me an arsenal of moves in my toolbox.  

I came out hard this year. Everybody got to see my dominate, seeing what I would do. I picked up where I left off last year. I worked out when no one was watching, putting in extra work.  

When the offers really started coming in, I took it all in and tried to stay humble. Everyone gets a big ego when they get a lot of offers but none of my friends can say I changed.  

I’m humbled and blessed to announce that I will be playing — and dominating — at the University of Colorado. I plan on dominating for the next three years. 

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Assad Waseem – WR

Just the facts … Committed December 10th … Waseem is a 6’0″, 175-pound wide receiver from Ocoee, Florida … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Waseem … Waseem is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Waseem is rated as the No. 114 wide receiver in the nation, the No. 112 overall prospect out of the state of Florida, and the No. 1288 overall prospect in the country.

2022: Leading receiver for an Ocoee program that made an appearance in Florida’s 4M semifinals. In 14 games, caught 82 passes for 1,481 yards and 20 TD. Also got some snaps on defense where he picked off a pair of passes and was able to make an impact in the return game returning a kickoff 95 yards for a score against Miami Columbus.

2021: Attended Winter Garden (Fla.) West Orange where he worked in the same offense as Oklahoma WR signee Jayden Gibson. In 13 games, hauled in 36 passes for 463 yards and 5 TD. Also blocked a punt on special teams and returned a punt for a touchdown.

Waseem had other offers from … a dozen Power Five schools, including Tennessee, West Virginia, Pitt, Ole Miss, Miami, Kentucky and Arkansas.

In his own words … “I’m very excited,” Waseem told Rivals. “Everybody knows Deion Sanders. That’s really one of my inspirations growing up watching his film high-stepping into the end zone, just showing that swag. That’s what I really like about him. I’m really big on swag and being yourself. So this staff, they’re all about having swag and getting it done on the field. I really like that.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Dylan Edwards – RB

Just the facts … Committed December 10th … Edwards is 5’9″, 165-pound running back from Derby, Kansas … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Edwards … Edwards is rated as a four-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Edwards is rated as the No. 2 prospect out of the state of Kansas, the No. 3 running back in the nation, and the No. 133 overall prospect in the country. At 247 Sports, Edwards is considered to be the No. 2 player out of Kansas, the No. 10 running back in the country, and the No. 192 player overall. Edwards ranks as the No. 156 player in the nation by ESPN. He’s the first ESPN 300 recruit to commit to Colorado since the team signed three in 2020.

2021: Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Kansas after putting up 3,214 all-purpose yards and 40 total touchdowns. Averaged 12.5 yards per carry.
2020: Primarily played RB, but also got snaps at WR and returned kicks during sophomore season. Helped Derby to the Kansas 6A state title.

From 247 Sports … Very productive high school back who is dangerous in multiple phases of the game and can score from anywhere on the field. Has excellent acceleration and good top-end speed. One of his best qualities is the ability to change direction or elude a tackler without needing to throttle down. Is not a big back and is not likely to run through many tacklers in college, but is very slippery and hard to land a clean hits on for tacklers. Shows the ability to line up outside the backfield and run routes and catch the ball and can certainly be a pass-catching threat from the backfield as well. Can also be a return man — both kicks and punts and be a threat there. Any offense and special teams unit can use a dynamic player like him regardless of offensive scheme. Will be a guy who offensive coordinators will find ways to get touches to even if it is not all coming from a traditional tailback setting.

Edwards had other offers from … pretty much every team in the nation. Edwards originally committed to home state Kansas State in June, but switched his commitment to Notre Dame in August. On December 8th, after receiving an offer from new CU head coach Deion Sanders, Edwards de-committed from Notre Dame, committing to CU two days later. Edwards also had offers from Oregon, Washington and the Arizona schools from the Pac-12, along with offers from Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Michigan State.

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Jordan Hall – OL

Just the facts … Committed December 6th … Hall is a 6’8″, 330-pound offensive lineman from Columbus, Ohio … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Hall … Hall is listed as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. Rivals has Hall as the No. 50 offensive tackle in the nation, while 247 Sports rates Hall as the No. 89 offensive tackle in the country, the No. 48 overall prospect out of the state of Ohio, and the No. 1,452 player in the country.

“His senior year, I think he probably easily was most improved player on our team, but I’d say in the Midwest. He gave up one sack,” Hall’s head coach James Lee told 247 Sports. “If you look even from his stance, he was lower, lower to the ground, and drives people. He was nasty. This is with him playing less than 18 months. With his size, athleticism and amazing feet, the floor for him is a starter at the college level and I think his ceiling is obviously in the NFL when you talk about 6-foot-8, 330 pounds and lost weight since his junior year, added on good muscle, looks better and understands what he needs to do better on the football field from a scheme perspective. The best is yet to come as far as his development and what he can do in a college program with coaches that are dedicated just to him. The potential is off the charts.”

Hall had other offers from … only one other Power Five school, Penn State.  Hall was committed to Coach Deion Sanders and Jackson State, and had offers from numerous schools in the Midwest, including Ball State, Ohio, Miami (Ohio), and Toledo.

In his own words … “I wasn’t concerned when Coach Prime left Jackson State because I was reassured that if he did leave, he was going to take me with him,” Hall told BuffStampede.com. “I was ready to come play football for him, no matter where it was, honestly. It has been great being a Colorado commit. I have been getting a lot of love from Colorado. It has been a very welcoming experience.”

Hall also had a prior relationship with new Buffaloes offensive line coach Bill O’Boyle.

“I met Coach O’Boyle when I had a visit at Kent State so, yeah, I knew already knew him,” Hall said. “He’s a great offensive line coach. I’m ready to work with him. I know they expect great things out at Colorado, as a program based on hard work and competition. I know I am going to have to be ready to work.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Morgan Pearson – Ath

Just the facts … Committed November 28th … Pearson is a 6’1″, 218-pound athlete from Ardmore, Oklahoma (Plainview) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Pearson … A “three-phase playmaker”, Pearson is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Pearson is rated as the No. 6 overall prospect out of the state of Oklahoma, and the No. 17 inside linebacker nationally. Meanwhile, at 247 Sports, Pearson is listed as a wide receiver, but is ranked as the No. 6 prospect out of Oklahoma, the No. 51 linebacker in the country, and the 583 player nationally.

Pearson has been described by 247Sports recruiting analyst Gabe Brooks as a “three-phase playmaker,” Pearson had 14 touchdowns on 48 receptions (for 831 yards) in 10 games as a senior as a wide receiver on offense, but he also had three pick-sixes on defense, and two kickoff returns for a score.

Pearson had other offers from … most notably, Michigan State. Pearson attended CU’s finale against Utah, but, despite the lopsided loss, opted to end his recruitment. Pearson also had offers from Oklahoma State, Minnesota, Texas Tech, Iowa State, and Pittsburgh from Power Five conference schools, as well as numerous Group of Five programs. After Deion Sanders was named CU head coach, Pearson still took an official visit to Michigan State.

In his own words … “It has been the longest process ever. I have been dealing with recruiting since my freshman year and it has been crazy,” Pearson told BuffStampede.com, who got his first offer from Oklahoma State for baseball before racking up football options. “Once I put that pen to paper, I’ll probably feel a big ole’ lift coming off my shoulders because of how stressful it has been.

“When I visited Colorado, I loved everything about it,” Pearson said. “It is the most beautiful campus I’ve been to by far. I kind of already knew the situation that was going down with the coaching situation so that helped a lot, but just the vibe of the campus is what really sold me on it.

“I know Coach Prime is going to bring in toughness to the program. I know it’s not going to be a cakewalk. I mean, I’m going to get coached by Prime Time, one of the best players in NFL history. So it is an honor but I know it is going to be a dramatic change from high school coaching to college coaching. I’m really just ready to get started on that next stage of life, living out my dream.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Jordan Onovughe – WR

Just the facts … Committed November 7th … Onovughe is a 6’1″, 200-pound wide receiver from Santa Ana, California (Mater Dei) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports …

What others say about Onovughe … Onovughe is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Onovughe is considered to be the No. 85 overall prospect out of the state of California. At 247 Sports, Onovughe is listed as the No. 141 overall player out of the state of California, and the No. 213 wide receiver in the country, and the No. 1520 overall prospect in the nation.

Onovughe has been credited with 46 catches for over 400 yards receiving and four touchdowns this season. Onovughe helped the Monarchs to 12 straight wins and a Trinity League Championship until they lost to St. John Bosco by just two points in the CIF Southern Section Division I title game.

“What I take pride in the most doesn’t show up on film”, Onovughe told BuffStampede.com. “I try to be an impactful teammate, hold my teammates accountable, make sure everybody’s minds are right before the game, make sure we are all on the same page and communicate. My grades are pretty good, too. So I feel like I bring more to the table than what you see inside the lines.”

According to Greg Biggins at 247 Sports … At 6-1, 200 pounds, Onovughe has a strong frame, runs well after the catch and is an excellent blocker. He has strong hands, plays with a competitive edge and carries a 4.2 GPA off the field.

Onovughe had other offers from … Utah and Stanford from the Pac-12. Other offers came in from Colorado State and UNLV. Playing for one of the premier programs in the country (Mater Dei), Onovughe had to sit behind other talented players last year, but came into his own this fall.

In his own words … “I love the competition that Colorado plays against being in the Pac-12, it is a good academic school, and it is just a great environment there. It is a beautiful area,” Onovughe told BuffStampede.com. “I am planning on getting up there again soon so I can talk more with the new staff. The new staff, from what I’m hearing, is coming in with a sense of urgency. They want to win right away so I like hearing that.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Victory Johnson – LB

Just the facts … Committed November 5th … Johnson is a 6’4″, 230-pound linebacker from San Diego, California (Cathedral Catholic) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports …

What others say about Johnson … Johnson is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Johnson is listed as the No. 72 overall prospect out of the state of California. At 247 Sports, Johnson is listed as the No. 62 player out of the state of California, the No. 53 linebacker in the country, and the No. 1209 player in the nation overall.

“Johnson is one of the best and most versatile defensive players out West,” told 247Sports analyst Greg Biggins after his official visit to CU. “He’s an inside ‘backer at the high school level but has also played some edge rusher and could end up at either spot at the college level.”

Victory’s older brother will be joining him in Boulder. Champion Johnson announced his intention to join the herd as a preferred walk-on, after spending last fall at Cal-Berkeley. The older Johnson is a 6-foot-1, 250-pound fullback.

Johnson had other offers from … from over half of the Pac-12, including USC, Utah, Washington, Arizona State, Oregon State and Arizona. Other offers were from Kansas, San Diego State and Nevada.

In his own words … “I had a really good relationship with the old staff at Colorado but to see the shift in the energy and vision and seeing where Coach Prime is going take this program, it was an awesome experience,” Johnson told BuffStampede.com when asked about being part of the first group of recruits hosted by Deion Sanders and his new staff in Boulder. “I got to meet with (new linebackers) coach (Andre’) Hart and develop a relationship with him.

“I have never been more excited. I am graduating early so I am going to be there very soon, in like a month. I have finals this week and then I’m done, I’ll just be getting ready for college. I got to see more of Colorado’s campus, which I hadn’t really seen before and it is beautiful. I am super stoked, super excited.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Jordan Shaw – CB

Just the facts … Committed November 1st … Shaw is a 6′, 0″, 170-pound cornerback from Downey, California … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Shaw … Shaw is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Shaw is rated as the No. 75 cornerback in the nation, and the No. 58 player overall out of the state of California. According to 247 Sports, Shaw is considered to be the No. 56 in the nation, the No. 54 overall player out of California, and the No. 763 player in the nation (which made Shaw the highest rated player nationally in CU’s Class of 2023 when he committed in November … since passed during the re-rankings by quarterback Ryan Staub … and by a number of Coach Prime recruits).

From 247 Sports … Shaw is a two-way star at Downey (Calif.) St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy. As a junior, Shaw caught 51 balls for 1,053 yards and 13 touchdowns and added 83 tackles and seven interceptions at corner including a pick six and had six touchdowns on kick/punt returns as well. He also had a big senior year, catching 18 balls for 470 yards and nine touchdowns, rushed for 61 yards and four touchdowns and added three more scores on punt returns. 

After his senior season, was selected to participate in the All-American Bowl.  “I was super excited because I am the first in my school’s history to be picked for the game. So it was a big accomplishment for me,” Shaw said. “We’ll have a jersey ceremony at the school on the 29th, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving break, so that’ll be a fun experience.”

“He’s one of the most under-recruited players in the region and has the talent to play for just about anyone out West,” Greg Biggins of 247 Sports wrote on Shaw. “When you look at his on-field production and his explosive play making ability on both sides of the ball, he’s someone we thought would be among the more coveted players in the state.”

Shaw had other offers from … two-thirds of the Pac-12, including USC, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Arizona State, Washington State, Arizona and Cal. Other offers from schools like Utah State, Colorado State, Nevada and Hawai’i. After Deion Sanders was hired, Shaw took an official visit to Indiana.

In his own words … Shaw joined the Buffs’ commitment list on Nov. 1st despite the fact CU athletic director Rick George was still searching for the program’s next head coach.

“It just felt like home when I took my official visit to Colorado,” Shaw said. “I got to hang out with a couple players and it is just a cool environment. I feel like the opportunity for me to play right away is high there. It was everything I was looking for, so that’s why I committed.

“I can’t wait to see what the new coaching staff at Colorado is going to look like, who it is going to be. For now, I am just staying patient, trusting the process.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Hank Zilinskas – OL

Just the facts … Committed July 21st … Zilinskas is a 6’3″, 275-pound offensive lineman from Englewood, Colorado (Cherry Creek) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Zilinskas … Zilinskas was not rated by Rivals on the date of his commitment, later earning a two-star designation. Zilinkas was rated as a three-star prospect by 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Zilinskas was listed as the No. 14 player overall out of the state of Colorado, and the No. 126 internal offensive lineman in the nation, and the No. 1671 player in the country. A two-way lineman for Cherry Creek, Zilinskas is projected by the Buffaloes’ coaches to play as an interior offensive lineman in college.

Zilinskas was a first-team all-state selection and he was named Cherry Creek’s Team MVP in 2021. He recorded 59 tackles on defense, and had five tackles for a loss as a sophomore in 2020. Zilinskas finished his high school career with a four-peat as state champions with Cherry Creek. “No one had ever had a four-peat at the 5A level in Colorado before so it was just a surreal feeling to accomplish that, especially with the great group of kids I’ve been with for four years,” Zilinskas said. “Every year, we all really bought into the process and worked hard. That helped us achieve our goals. Now my main thing is to put on muscle and weight, just so I can be ready when I get to college. I want to be ready to compete immediately.”

Zilinskas had other offers from … only one other Power Five school, Kansas State. Zilinskas also had offers from Colorado State, Nevada and Utah State from the Mountain West Conference. Despite committing the summer before his senior season, Zilinskas did pick up interest from other Power Five schools, including UCLA, Iowa and Rutgers.

In his own words … “It’s a little difficult committing to one staff and having a new staff come in but my family and I made it our main goal to quickly establish relationships with the new coaches, and I believe that’s what we did,” Zilinskas told BuffStampede.com after getting to meet the new staff. “(New offensive line) coach (Bill) O’Boyle thinks I will fit well into their offensive scheme. He likes how I play, likes my athleticism. So it was a good meeting.

“I got to meet with Coach Prime on Sunday morning and I can definitely tell there is a new energy that may not have been there before. Everyone is determined to turn things around. Coach O’Boyle is a very good, smart coach. The main thing for me is just the energy I felt up there. Everyone is super excited and super optimistic and wants to win games.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Taylor Starling – CB

Just the facts … Committed June 22nd … Starling is a 5’11”, 175-pound defensive back from Dallas, Texas (South Oak Cliff) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Starling … At the time of his commitment, Starling was not rated by either Rivals or 247 Sports (he was still listed as a wide receiver recruit by Rivals). This didn’t last too long, with Starling receiving a three-star rating from Rivals and 247 Sports shortly after his commitment. He is now listed as a three-star prospect by both services. At 247 Sports, Starling is listed as the No. 50 cornerback in the nation, the No. 77 player overall out of Texas, and the No. 812 prospect in the country.

Starling’s speed is what turned heads.  Starling posted five times under 11 seconds in the 100-meter dash, and posted a blazing time of 10.49-seconds at a June regional meet in Texas. Also ran junior 100-meter times of 10.79, wind-aided 10.84, 10.88, and wind-aided 10.96. Also ran a wind-aided 21.80 200 and long jumped 21-5.25. He played multiple DB spots and got limited offensive snaps at receiver. Helped South Oak Cliff to a 15-1 record and the Texas 5A D-II state title in 2021, and played in the state championship game again as a senior the weekend before Signing Day.

Starling had other offers from … at least three other Power Five schools – Arizona, Kansas, and Purdue. Starling had other offers from schools like Toledo, Buffalo and Tulsa.

In his own words … Cornerback Nikko Reed, who saw action in all 12 games as a true freshman at Colorado in 2021, served as Starling’s player host for the visit. “If you can play, if you are a baller, you’ll get on the field there. I learned that by hanging out with Nikko,” Starling told BuffStampede.com. “(Cornerbacks) coach (Rod) Chance also said if I come there with the right attitude, with the attitude that it is going to be me playing, I will have that chance.”

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

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Isaiah Hardge – WR

Just the facts … Committed April 20th … Hardge is a 5’11”, 160-pound wide receiver from Ft. Lauderdale (St. Thomas Aquinas) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports …

What others have to say about Hardge … Hardge is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Hardge is considered as the No. 149 player out of Florida, the No. 163 wide receiver in the nation, and the No. 1062 overall prospect.

As a junior, Hardge helped Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas capture a Florida 7A state title. Caught 22 passes for 355 yard and six touchdowns while working in an offense that also featured Auburn WR signee Cam Brown and LSU TE signee Mason Taylor. UConn signee Zion Taylor was the team’s quarterback.

As a senior, Hardge spent time playing receiver, cornerback, and returned punts and kicks, while helping the Raiders to 13 straight wins. St. Thomas Aquinas is set to face Homestead in the 3M state championship game on Dec. 15th. Hardge could factor in on either side of the ball for the Buffaloes.

St. Thomas Aquinas is a Florida powerhouse program that’s been familiar to CU in recent recruiting cycles (RB Anthony Hankerson in ’22, Allan Baugh in ’21).

Hardge had other offers from … an impressive array of Power Five conference schools. From the SEC, Hardge had offers from Florida, Texas A&M, South Carolina and Ole Miss. From the Big Ten, Hardge had offers from Maryland and Penn State, while from the ACC, Hardge had offers from Georgia Tech, Syracuse and Pitt.

In his own words … “They called him to honor his commitment,” said Ron Hardge Jr., Isaiah’s father and position coach at St. Thomas Aquinas, told 247 Sports after the hiring of Coach Prime. “We are definitely sticking with CU.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Ryan Staub – QB

Just the facts … Committed January 31st … Staub is a 6’1″, 190-pound quarterback from Santa Clarita, California (West Ranch) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Staub … Staub is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Staub is listed as the No. 45 overall prospect out of the state of California, and the No. 22 pro-style quarterback in the country. At 247 Sports, Staub is considered to be the No. 34 quarterback in the nation, the No. 61 player overall out of California, and the No. 697 player in the nation.

In his senior season, Staub led West Ranch to 11 straight victories and its first ever Foothill League title. On the season, Staub threw for 3,008 yards, ran for 363 yards, and accounted for 41 touchdowns with only five interceptions.

Staub had other offers from … only a few schools, but he committed early on in the process. Staub did have offers Arizona, Fresno State, Nevada and SMU. Staub did take an official visit to SMU after Coach Sanders was hired, but stayed with his commitment to Colorado.

In his own words … “Recruiting was stressful for a second,” Staub admitted to 247 Sports. “I didn’t really know what my future was going to look like but after seeing what is going on behind-the-scenes at Colorado, seeing their vision for the future, it made me feel really good about the situation there.

“My father and I came out there (after Coach Prime was hired) and we both had a lot of questions. After the visit, I would say all those questions were answered and they were answered really well. I like the new staff. I’m really excited for what is to come with Colorado football.”

Staub was hosted by receiver Jordyn Tyson and safety Dylan Dixson on his second official visit to Colorado, and he got to spend quality time with the Buffs’ new coaches. “(New offensive coordinator and quarterbacks) coach (Sean) Lewis immediately struck me as a great leader and a very, very smart offensive coordinator,” Staub said. “His system is super effective and fun for a quarterback to play in. I think it is a good fit for me and I am just really excited. I think his offense will put up a lot of points.

“My dad loved Coach Lewis and is excited for me to be part of what they’re building in Boulder. Coach Prime is more down to earth than anyone would really think. He’s turning Colorado football around in a heartbeat.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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De-commitments … 

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Drew Perez – OL

De-committed December 14th … Despite Coach Prime retaining the offer, Perez decided to de-commit … 

Just the facts … Committed June 23rd … Perez is a 6’8″, 330-pound offensive lineman from Southlake, Texas (Carroll) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Perez … At the time of his commitment in June, Perez was not rated by either Rivals or 247 Sports. He did, though, receive three-star ratings from both services shortly thereafter. At 247 Sports, Perez is now listed as the No. 93 offensive tackle in the nation, the 198 overall prospect out of Texas, and the No. 1205 player nationally.

Perez helped Southlake Carroll to a district championship and 13 wins this fall. Perez manned the left tackle role as the Dragons averaged 473.1 yards of offense per contest. Southlake Carroll lost to Guyer in the quarterfinals of the Texas 6A D2 playoffs.

Perez had other offers from … only one other school you would think of as decent competition for a recruit, San Diego State. His other offers from were from Tulane and from Fordham, a football power which is mostly noted in college football history for its “Seven Blocks of Granite” offensive line in the late 1930’s, a line which featured Vince Lombardi. Reportedly, Perez had drawn some interest from Baylor and Texas Tech after attending their camps.

In his own words … “I haven’t really seen any other players that move as well as me being 6-foot-8, 330-pounds,” Perez told BuffStampede.com. “I am pretty flexible, and I work every day. I play low despite his size, trying to maintain my leverage against shorter guys.”

“From the time I got to Southlake to the end of my senior season, with all the reps and coaching I got, I’d say I completely changed and transformed myself as a player,” Perez told 247 Sports. “I learned how to stay low, not bend at the waist, worked on my punch strike. Now, I am just hitting the weight room every day, hitting the field every day, doing speed training, everything I can to get ready for college.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Andrew Metzger – TE

De-committed December 13th … Metzger’s tweet: This is my formal de-commitment from the University of Colorado. I’m grateful for Coach Dorrell and Coach Patterson for believing in me. I would also like to thank the new Colorado staff for re-offering me. Thank you to everyone who has helped me in this journey.

Just the facts … Committed April 14th … Metzger is a 6’5″, 235-pound tight end from Aurora, Colorado (Regis Jesuit) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Metzger … At the time of his commitment, Metzger was not rated by Rivals (but was later given three stars), but was rated as a three-star prospect by 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Metzger was listed as the seventh-best overall player out of the state of Colorado, and the No. 45 tight end in the nation. At the time of his de-commitment, he was down to the 8th-best player in Colorado, and the 60th-best tight end.

Metzger had other offers from … at least a pair of Power Five schools, including Washington State and Kansas. Metzger had other offers from Air Force, Wyoming, Utah State, Ohio, Nevada, and Eastern Washington.

In his own words … “Tight end has changed,” Metzger told CUSportsNation. “My ability to be able to put my hand down in the dirt and then go and block someone really, really well, but then the next play, I can line up in the slot or in H and then go catch a ball for a first down — that is what they’ve said on what they really like about me: versatility.”

From a personality standpoint and hearing tight end Clay Patterson describe his vision for CU’s offense in 2022 and beyond, Metzger came away impressed.

“He talked about wanting to be able to do something new with the tight ends — throw the ball to the tight ends, get the tight ends deep into that offense and really use them. You can tell he’s really, really passionate about CU as a whole and what he wants to do with the program.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Jamari Holliman – DB

… De-committed December 7th … 

Just the facts … Committed August 4th … Holliman is a 6’1″, 175-pound defensive back from Miami Gardens, Florida (Norland) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Holliman … Holliman was rated as a three-star defensive back by 247 Sports when he committed, but only a two-star prospect by Rivals. At 247 Sports, Holliman was listed as the No. 81 safety in the nation, the No. 142 overall player out of Florida, and the No. 1395 prospect nationally. Holliman played linebacker and safety growing up before transitioning to cornerback as a junior at Norland. When asked what he will bring to Colorado’s program in the future, Holliman touted his length, speed, competitiveness. Holliman has been timed at 11.2 in the 100 meters, and 49.35 in the 400 meters.

In 2021, Holliman had three interceptions, 21 tackles, and 18 passes broken up.

Holliman had other offers from … no other Power Five conference schools. Holliman did have offers from Florida Atlantic and Florida International, along with Akron, Appalachian State, and Charlotte. Holliman had been a Toledo commit since April 16th.

In his own words … “They (CU) are recruiting me as a corner but I am already knowing when I get up there, knowing how I move, what I can do, they will find a way to use me as a safety,” Holliman told BuffStampede.com. “I am pretty sure that is going to happen so I feel I will be that dual-threat DB.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Edward Schultz – WR

… De-committed December 6th …

Just the facts … Committed February 18th … Schultz is a 6’1″, 195-pound wide receiver from San Juan Capistrano, California (J Serra Catholic) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Schultz … Schultz is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Schultz is considered to be the 51st-best overall prospect out of the state of California, while at 247 Sports, Schultz is considered to be the 111th-best player out of California, and the 125th-best wide receiver in the nation.

As a junior at J Serra, Schultz led the Lions in both receptions (21) and yards (335), scoring three touchdowns. He enjoyed quite a bit of success as a kick returner, as well, racking up an impressive 824 yards. He broke the school’s record for kickoff return touchdowns in a season with four.

In total, his 1,209 all-purpose yards earned him All-California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) honors.

Schultz advertises a 4.45 40-yard dash time on his Hudl profile.

Schultz had other offers from … an impressive array of Power Five conference schools. Out of the Pac-12, Schultz had offers from both of the Arizona schools, as well as Utah. Nationally, Schultz had offers from schools like Florida State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Minnesota.

In his own words … “My versatility for how big I am is probably my best attribute,” Schultz told BuffStampede.com. “College coaches have said they like what I can do after I catch the ball.”

Schultz is coached at J Serra Catholic by Scott McKnight, the father of forever Buff Scotty McKnight. The younger McKnight completed his career at CU ranked first in receptions and receiving touchdowns.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Adrian “Boogie” Wilson – DB

… Decommitted December 6th … 

Just the facts … Committed April 11th … Wilson is a 6’2″, 180-pound athlete from Keller, Texas (Central) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Wilson … Wilson was not rated by either Rivals or 247 Sports as of the date of his commitment. Shortly after his commitment, Wilson received a three-star ranking by 247 Sports, listed as the No. 74 safety prospect in the nation, and the No. 138 player overall out of the state of Texas.

From 247 Sports … Wilson displays the requisite pursuit range and downhill closing ability against the run. He also should have some ball skills, thanks in part to playing on both sides of the ball in his first couple of varsity seasons. Wilson, believed to be in the 5-foot-11, 170-pound range, does not have verified size or speed at this time, but his functional athleticism and general football awareness give the Buffaloes’ 2023 class a promising prospect.

Wilson had other offers from … a handful of other schools, including Washington State, Colorado State, San Diego State, UNLV, Akron, Arkansas State, UTSA, and Buffalo.

Here is a link to Wilson’s video highlights from Hudl.com.

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CJ Turner – LB

De-committed … December 5th 

Just the facts … Committed April 16th … Turner is 6’1″, 210-pound linebacker from Star City, Arkansas … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Turner … Turner is listed as a four-star recruit by Rivals, but a three-star recruit by 247 Sports. Rivals considers Turner to be the No. 19 “athlete” in the nation, and the No. 3 overall prospect out of the state of Arkansas. At 247 Sports, Turner is seen as the No. 30 linebacker in the country, the No. 3 prospect out of the Arkansas, and the No. 358 overall prospect in the nation.

Turner also competes in track and field. He has been a two-way player with snaps at running back, receiver, and multiple spots on defense. Ran an 11.47 100 and a 23.09 200 as a sophomore. Also long jumped 19-3.5 and high jumped 5-4.

Turner had other offers from … surprisingly, very few other schools, considering his high ratings. Turner’s only other Power Five conference offer was from Kansas, with offers from Jackson State (and Deion Sanders), Memphis, and Arkansas State. The likely reason for the hesitation on offers: Turner played four games in 2021 before suffering a season-ending knee-injury (torn ACL).

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Tucker Ashcraft – TE

De-committed … December 5th 

Just the facts … committed April 16th … Ashcraft is a 6’5″, 235-pound tight end from Seattle, Washington (O’Dea) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Ashcraft … Ashcraft is rated as a three-star prospect by 247 Sports, but only a two-star prospect by Rivals. At 247 Sports, Ashcraft is regarded as the No. 67 tight end in the nation, and the No. 35 overall prospect out of the state of Washington.

Ashcraft had other offers from … no other Power Five schools, but did have offers from Air Force, Eastern Washington, Idaho and Idaho State.

In his own words … “I was very impressed with all the new offensive coaches, and the strength and conditioning coach (Shannon Turley) is an awesome, smart guy,” Ashcraft told BuffStampede.com. “It seems like they really want to turn around the program and do something special. I really liked (tight ends) coach Clay Patterson. It seems like he has a lot of good stuff to teach the tight ends. The offensive coordinator (Mike Sanford) is super awesome, as well. He is looking to turn the program around.”

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

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Kam’ron Bizor – DE

De-committed … December 5th 

Just the facts … Committed December 31st … Bizor is 6’3″, 245-pound defensive end from Houston, Texas (Yates) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Bizor … Committing early, Bizor was unrated by both Rivals and 247 Sports.

This past season, Yates went 5-6 within the Texas Class 4A-1, Region III.  There are conflicting stats for Bizor’s junior season …

At 247 Sports, it’s reported that Bizor racked up an eye-opening 27-and-a-half sacks to go with 93 tackles, seven forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries as a junior at Yates. He was a first-team all-district selection, and he was also named his district’s Newcomer of the Year. At Rivals, meanwhile, it’s reported that Bizor posted 39 tackles, 6.5 of which were for loss, with both leading the Lions defense. His 4.5 sacks also led Yates.

Bizor had other offers from … Colorado and Cal. Other than the Buffs and Bears, Kansas, Southern Methodist, Texas and Louisiana were among the programs also expressing interest.

In his own words … “I like all sports because there is no such thing as a offseason for me. I work to get better at sports and the best part about sports is that you can compete with your friends and other people.”

From his tweet announcing his commitment …. “The unconditional love that Colorado football, D.J. Bryant (and) Karl Dorrell (have) been showing has been nothing less than genuine! I’m committing to Colorado”.

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

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Brady Nassar – DE

De-committed – December 5th 

Just the facts … Committed July 1st … Nassar is a 6’5″, 240-pound defensive end from Pleasanton, California (Amador Valley) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Nassar … Nassar is considered to be a three-star commit by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Nassar is listed as the No. 90 overall player from the state of California, while 247 Sports rates Nassar as the No. 65 edge rusher in the country, the No. 58 player overall out of California, and the No. 752 player overall in the country (at the time of his commitment, he was the fourth-highest rated player in CU’s Recruiting Class).

Nassar had other offers from … at least four other Pac-12 schools – Cal, Washington, Oregon State and Washington State. Nassar also had a number of offers from school in the Mountain West, including San Diego State, Utah State, San Jose State and Nevada.

In his own words … “I had a great time seeing the city and meeting all the coaches,” Hassar said when recapping his official visit to Colorado with 247Sports National Recruiting Editor Brandon Huffman. “Other than the beautiful city, the staff made a great impression on me.

“I met almost the entire staff but I spent most my time with (defensive line) coach (Gerald) Chatman, (head) coach (Karl) Dorrell, (defensive coordinator and outside linebackers) coach (Chris) Wilson, and a lot of time with graduate assistant John Gardner. My conversations with Coach Chatman were very good. I learned a lot about his defensive line play and I learned his path to winning. My conversations with Coach Wilson and Coach Dorrell really showed me the upside in Colorado.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Tyrone McDuffie – OL

De-committed … December 5th … 

Just the facts … Committed June 27th … McDuffie is a 6’3″, 303-pound offensive lineman from El Paso, Texas (Parkland) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports …

What others say about McDuffie … McDuffie is considered to be a three-star prospect by Rivals, but was unrated by 247 Sports as of the date of his commitment.

McDuffie measured in at 6-foot-3, 303-pounds, with an 82.75-inch wingspan, on his official visit to Boulder last weekend. Still 16 years old, he is young for his grade.

McDuffie had other offers from … nine other schools, none of which are in Power Five conferences. Fresno State and New Mexico offered McDuffie, as did Army and Navy. Other offers came from New Mexico State, UTSA and UTEP.

In his own words … “I like him as a coach,” McDuffie told CUSportsNation when talking about CU offensive line coach Kyle DeVan. “He’s very different from coach ‘Rod’ — coach ‘Rod’ and his staff offered me, but coach DeVan is recruiting me like any other coach. He’s a good guy and we’ve been able, the last couple months, to build a relationship and get to know each other a little bit better. It’s been going good.”

“Coach DeVan likes the physicality that I play with,” McDuffie told BuffStampede.com. “He always tells me I have the God given tools with my big hands, my wingspan, and my athleticism which allows me to pull in front of people. He also likes that I am a smart on the football field and a good person off it. He told me I fit all the characteristics that Colorado is looking for.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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Carson Mott – DE

De-committed … December 5th 

Just the facts … Committed June 13th … Mott is a 6’5″, 240-pound edge rusher from Simi Valley, California … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about  Mott … Mott is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Mott is listed as the No. 86 overall prospect out of the state of California. At 247 Sports, is also listed as the No. 86 player out of California, the No. 81 edge rusher nationally, and the No. 1,011 prospect in the nation.

Mott had other offers from … at least three other Pac-12 schools: Cal; Washington State; and Arizona State. Mott had previously committed to Cal on May 2nd, but de-committed three weeks later. Mott also had offers from many Mountain West schools, including Nevada, San Diego State, Fresno State, Utah State and UNLV.

In his own words … “The scenery, the campus, and how nice the coaches were to me,” Mott told BuffStampede.com when asked what stood out to him on his trip to CU. “I hung out with family and a lot of coaches, and I met quite a few players on the team but I think when I take my official (visit) up there, I will hang out with more of the players. We just kind of went on a campus tour and the facility tour with (defensive line) coach (Gerald) Chatman and then I met the head coach, (Karl) Dorrell.

“(Colorado) likes my film and how I get to the ball and how I have the measurables to fit the position that I play. They just really like the film. I have been recruited a lot as a stand-up edge and an outside ‘backer to drop, but Colorado runs a 4-3 so they see me as a true edge.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

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A.J. Newberry – RB

De-committed December 5th … later committed to Vanderbilt …

Just the facts … Committed April 11th … Newberry is a 6’0″, 187-pound running back from Grand Prairie, Texas (South Grand Prairie) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Newberry … Newberry is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. Rivals has Newberry as the No. 21 running back in the nation, and the No. 77 overall prospect out of the state of Texas. At 247 Sports, Newberry is considered to be the No. 37 running back in the nation, the No. 93 player overall out of Texas, and the No. 561 player in the nation.

From 247 Sports … Newberry displays impressive initial burst and downhill acceleration in the first 10 to 20 yards, which bodes well for his development at the next level. He also has assembled some encouraging track data, including an 11.18-second 100-meter time this spring and a 22.21-second 200 from Spring 2021. Showing that top-end speed more consistently on the gridiron will raise Newberry’s ceiling moving forward.

Newberry had other offers from … only one other Power Five conference school, Georgia Tech. He also had offers from Air Force, Rice, SMU and UTSA.

In his own words … “I had a good feeling about Colorado already. It was either Colorado or Georgia Tech,” Newberry told BuffStampede.com. “So when I went out there and it felt like home, I loved it even more. I got that feeling so I made it happen.”

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

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Wesley Watson – WR

De-committed … October 31st … “I wish to thank the Colorado Buffalo football program, former head coach Karl Dorrell, WR coach Phil McGeoghan, interim head coach Mike Sanford, and athletic director Rick George for believing in me and offering me an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Colorado,” Watson wrote in a de-commitment tweet.

“Understanding that the CU program as a whole is in a challenging and delicate position of transition, it is after much prayer and conversation with my family, close friends, and trusted advisors in the industry that I have come to the incredibly difficult decision that it is in both my best interest and in the best interest of the Buffalo football program to decommit from the University of Colorado and pursue other scholarship opportunities,” he added. “I am forever grateful to the Buffalo Family.”

Just the facts … Committed June 27th … Watson is a 6’2″, 185-pound wide receiver from College Station, Texas (A&M Consolidated) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports …

What others say about Watson … Watson is considered a three-star prospect in the eyes of both Rivals and 247 Sports. According to 247 Sports, Watson is the No. 154 wide receiver in the nation, the No. 180 overall player out of the state of Texas, and the No. 1152 player in the nation. Watson earned a scholarship offer from the Buffaloes on June 6th, a day after starring at the University of Houston Mega Camp, which was attended by CU’s staff. He ran a 4.43-forty at the event.

As a junior last season, Watson caught 35 passes for 675 yards and eight touchdowns, according to MaxPreps.com.

Watson had other offers from … almost two dozen schools, but only one other Power Five school, Utah. All three service academies offered Watson, as did a number of Ivy League schools. Other offers came from a number of Texas schools, like SMU, Texas State, UTEP and North Texas. After his commitment to Colorado, Watson picked up offers from Kansas State, Houston, and Oklahoma State.

In his own words … “I had no plan to commit,” Watson told BuffStampede.com. “But with the whole experience of visiting Colorado, the way they treated me and my mom, I really enjoyed it. They showed us around and the whole coaching staff was just really honest with us and it made me feel at home.

“I had never been to Colorado before but now I am ready to call that home for the next three to four years. The whole coaching staff – (assistant head coach and receivers) coach (Phil) McGeoghan, (head) coach (Karl) Dorrell, (offensive coordinator and quarterbacks) coach (Mike) Sanford – they are real and genuine. I really believe in what they’re building up there.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

——

Naquil Betrand – OT

De-committed July 4th … On Independence Day, Betrand, who was unranked when he committed to CU, but soon had dozens of offers, including multiple Power Five offers, sent out a tweet on July 4th, with his “final” six candidates being Georgia, Auburn, Texas A&M, Kentucky, Syracuse and Penn State …

Just the facts … Committed March 22nd … Betrand is a 6’7″, 315-pound offensive tackle from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Betrand … Betrand was not rated by either Rivals or 247 Sports as of the date of his commitment, but his profile soon changed, listed as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Betrand was listed as the No. 19 player out of Pennsylvania, and the No. 43 offensive tackle in the nation. At 247 Sports, Betrand was listed as the No. 20 prospect out of Pennsylvania, the No. 75 offensive tackle nationally, and the No. 847 overall prospect in the country.

Betrand consistently delivers a nasty “pancake” block. “I am a dog,” Betrand told TempleRivals.com. “Dogs eat. Me pancaking someone shows that I am a dog. When someone is lined up in front of me, he is not getting past me. He is either going to the ground or he is going to his coach. That is how I look at it.”

Betrand describes himself as a “finesse” offensive tackle with good footwork. He has long arms, good technique and great strength, he said.

When he is not practicing or working out with his teammates, Betrand is studying film. His combination of physical tools and football IQ is a big reason why he is well-liked by college programs.

“Off the field, I am a cool, calm, collected, nice guy,” Betrand said when describing his personality. “I play the game a lot. I am really friendly, if you’re friendly to me. I am respectful when you are respectful to me. On the field, (I am) disrespectful. Show no mercy. I am a dog.”

Betrand had other offers from … only a few schools when he committed in March, including CU and Washington. After his commitment, Betrand picked up offers from over a dozen other Power Five schools, including Auburn, Kentucky, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M, Rutgers and West Virginia.

In his own words … “Colorado is a great program and I like that they run the ball a lot,” Betrand told BuffStampede.com. “It is Pac-12, bright lights, so every Saturday you play against good competition. (Buffaloes offensive line) coach (Kyle) DeVan and (lead recruiting assistant) D.J. Bryant are both recruiting me heavy.”

Here is a link to Betrand’s junior season highlights from Hudl.com.

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Tags: A.J. Newberry, Adrian Wilson, AJ Newberry, Andrew Metzger, Anthony Roberson, Assad Waseem, Brady Nassar, C.J. Turner, Carson Mott, Carter Stoutmire, CJ Turner, Cormani McClain, Deuce Roberson, Drew Perez, Dylan Edwards, Edward Schultz, Hank Zilinskas, Isaiah Hardge, Jacob Page, Jamari Holliman, Jordan Hall, Jordan Onovughe, Jordan Shaw, Kam Bizor, Kam'ron Bizor, Kofi Taylor-Barrocks, Morgan Pearson, Naquil Betrand, Ryan Staub, Taje McCoy, Taylor Starling, Tucker Ashcraft, Tyrone McDuffie, Victory Johnson, Wesley Greaves
This post, about the Recruiting Class of 2023 game, from the 2023 Season, is filed under Article.
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