Transfer Portal Tracker

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Transfer Portal Tracker - 2022 Season

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Gavin Layton – OL

Just the facts … Committed June 30th … Layton is a 6’6″, 290-pound offensive lineman from Rochester, Minnesota, who comes to CU by way of Rochester Community & Technical College. Layton will have three years to play three at Colorado … Rivals bio …

What others have to say about Layton … Well, considering Layton played last season at someplace called Rochester Community and Technical College, it’s safe to say that Layton was not a highly-sought after prospect out of high school.

An unranked player, Layton’s commitment is unique in that he attended one of Colorado’s prospect camps that took place earlier this summer. Assumedly, he was in Boulder for CU’s post-high school graduate camp, which was held on May 30, and impressed enough to earn an offer.

Layton became the fifth JUCO OL to join the Buffs this offseason, joining Zach Blackwood (Garden City CC), Kareem Harden (Butler CC), Jack Wilty (Iowa Central CC) and OL Isaiah Jatta (Snow College).

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Sy’veon Wilkerson – RB

Just the facts … Committed June 9th (Wilkerson had actually been on a campus for a few days, but CU acknowledged his signing on June 9th). Wilkerson is a 5’9″, 235-pound running back from Olney, Maryland, who comes to CU by way of Jackson State. Wilkerson will have two years to play two at Colorado … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Wilkerson … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2020, Wilkerson was an unrated recruit by Rivals, but a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Wilkerson was considered to be the No. 53 overall player out of Maryland, and the No. 178 running back in the nation. As a transfer, Wilkerson was rated as the No. 434 overall transfer prospect this off-season.

A 2022 transfer to Jackson State via Delaware State, Wilkerson had a breakout season for the Tigers last fall, with 1,167 yards and nine touchdowns on 5.2 yards per carry. He also forced 59 missed tackles (15th-most in the FCS) and averaged a healthy 3.51 yards after contact.

Wilkerson had other offers from … a number of schools since entering the Transfer Portal. Following the 2022 season, Wilkerson entered the transfer portal but announced on Christmas Eve that he would be staying at Jackson State for the 2023 season. He then re-entered the transfer portal on April 17. Wilkerson’s been in regular contact with nearly a dozen other schools: Missouri, Louisville, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Cincinnati, California, Marshall, Virginia Tech, Texas State, BYU and Northern Illinois, but is already on campus at CU and has been participating in summer drills.

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Shilo Sanders – DB

Just the facts … Committed May 28th … Sanders is a 6’0″, 195-pound defensive back from Cedar Hills, Texas, who comes to CU by way of Jackson State. Sanders will have two years to play two at Colorado … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Sanders … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2019, Sanders was considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Sanders was rated as the No. 42 cornerback in the nation, and the No. 58 prospect overall out of the state of Texas. At 247 Sports, Sanders was considered to be the No. 69 cornerback in the nation, the No. 95 player overall out of the state of Texas, and the No. 753 prospect in the country.

The new CU transfer commit began his career at South Carolina where he collected 32 tackles across 13 games. At JSU, he had 59 tackles and 5 interceptions in two seasons with the Tigers. His 4 interceptions in 2021 tied him for the team lead and earned Sanders a spot on the SWAC all-conference second team.

Sanders had other offers from … a fair number of Power Five conference schools out of high school. Before committing to play for South Carolina, Sanders entertained offers from the likes of Oregon, Nebraska, Florida State, Michigan State, Tennessee, and Texas A&M.

In his own words … Sanders posted a great video announcing his commitment …

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Khairi Manns – DL

Just the facts … Committed May 22nd … Manns is a 6’3″, 225-pound defensive lineman from New Rochelle, New York, who comes to CU by way of the University of Maine. Manns will have two years of eligibility to play two at Colorado … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Manns … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2019, Manns was an unrated player by Rivals and 247 Sports. Manns heads to Colorado with 108 career tackles (31 solo), 15.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.

Manns comes to CU with plenty of experience under his belt after playing in 26 games over three seasons with the Black Bears.

Manns had other offers from … a half dozen schools, but all from lower divisions. The only G5 offer Manns had was from Buffalo, a member of the MAC. As a graduate transfer, Manns had interest from at least one other Power Five school (Kansas) before committing to CU.

In his own words … “It is hard to turn down Coach Prime, Coach Kelly, Coach Nick, Coach Sunseri, and turn down that football knowledge they will be able to give me,” Manns told BuffStampede.com. “When I left Boulder, it felt like I was leaving home”

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Alton McCaskill – RB

Just the facts … Committed May 16th … McCaskill is a 6’1″, 200-pound running back from Conroe, Texas, who comes to CU by way of Houston. McCaskill will have three seasons to play three at Colorado … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about McCaskill … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2021, McCaskill was considered a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, McCaskill was rated as the No. 28 running back in the nation, and the No. 60 player overall out of the state of Texas. At 247 Sports, McCaskill has been bumped up to a four-star transfer rating, considered to be the No. 9 running back in the Portal, and the No. 111 transfer overall.

McCaskill is the top ranked uncommitted running back in the portal. He accounted for 1,074 yards of offense and 18 touchdowns as a true freshman with the Cougars in 2021. For his efforts, McCaskill was voted second-team all-conference and the AAC Rookie of the Year. McCaskill sat out the 2022 season with an injury (McCaskill was a participant in Houston’s spring practices, but did not take contact).

McCaskill’s 247 Sports high school evaluation … “Taller, big-framed back with longer stride that builds speed. Home run-hitting ability derived from track-verified speed. Ran 10.91 100 as a junior. Speed manifests on the field. Shows good straight-line burst and acceleration with resulting long speed. Among the fastest backs in TXHSFB’s 2021 class. Limited pass-catching opportunities but impressive in small sample size. Upright runner who can improve pad level to maximize run-finishing ability and contact balance. Production gradually improved from sophomore to junior to senior seasons, but relatively minimally. Can make first defender miss in the hole, but also can improve suddenness in redirection. Slasher who’s dangerous with downhill speed and one-cut ability. Projects to high-major level with tools to develop into long-term NFL Draft prospect.”

McCaskill had other offers from … over a dozen Power Five schools. Before committing to Houston, McCaskill entertained offers from the likes of Alabama, Florida State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, USC and UCLA.

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Javon Antonio – WR/TE

Just the facts … Committed May 14th … Antonio is a 6’4″, 220-pound wide receiver/tight end from Reserve, Louisiana, who comes to CU by way of Northwestern State. Antonio will have one season to play at Colorado … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Antonio … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2020, Antonio was considered to be a two-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Antonio was listed as the No. 106 tight end prospect in the nation, and the No. 102 prospect overall out of the state of Louisiana. Antonio went to Hinds Community College for two years before transferring to Northwestern State. This past season, Antonio was second-team All-Southland Conference, with 64 receptions for 684 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games.

While Antonio is listed as a wide receiver (and, according to Hudl.com, runs a 4.5 in the 40), Antonio has the size to perhaps play tight end in CU’s offense.

Antonio had other offers from … only a handful of schools out of high school – Louisiana-Monroe; Mississippi Valley State; and Western Kentucky.

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EJ Horton – WR

… De-committed on May 14th, committing to West Virginia …

Just the facts … Committed May 4th .. Horton is a 6’0″, 180-pound wide receiver from Charleston, South Carolina, who comes to CU by way of Washington. Horton will have three years to play three at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports …

What others have to say about Horton … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2020, Horton was considered to be a three-star prospect by 247 Sports … but only a two-star prospect by Rivals. At 247 Sports, was listed as the No. 369 wide receiver in the nation, the No. 71 overall player out of South Carolina, and the No. 2765 overall prospect in the nation.

According to the Thundering Herd’s sports information records, Horton saw action in one game during the abbreviated 2020 season, he played in six contests in 2021, and he played in 12 games in 2022. Horton had 113 yards and one touchdown in Marshall’s final two regular season games last fall.

Horton had other offers from … only Marshall, Alabama State, and Kent State. Before committing to Marshall, Horton was committed to Kent State, whose head coach was Sean Lewis – CU’s offensive coordinator.

While not considered a great prospect out of high school, BYU, Cal and Mississippi State were among the other 12 programs that extended Horton a scholarship offer after he entered the transfer portal on April 15th.

Perhaps it’s Horton’s speed which attracted the attention of the CU coaching staff. Horton also competed in the men’s 60-meter dash in track at Marshall. He came in second place with a time of 7.01-seconds at the finals of the Marshall Classic event this past January.

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Travis Jay – DB

Just the facts … Committed May 12th … Jay is a 6’2″, 202-pound defensive back from Madison, Florida, who comes to CU by way of Florida State. Jay will have two years to play two at Colorado … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Jay … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2019, Jay was considered to be a four-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Jay was rated as the No. 15 cornerback in the nation, the No. 22 overall player out of the state of Florida, and the No. 172 overall prospect in the country. At 247 Sports, Jay was considered to be the No. 17 cornerback in the nation, the No. 17 prospect out of Florida, and the No. 143 overall player in the nation.

Jay played in 16 games in his time at Florida State, with three interceptions. Jay did not play in the 2022 season due to injuries.

Jay had other offers from … every significant Power Five school in the south. Jay committed to Florida State in the spring of his junior year of high school, but was still offered by the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Miami, LSU, Florida, Auburn, Tennessee and Clemson.

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Chance Main – DL

Just the facts … Committed May 11th … Main is a 6’4″, 250-pound defensive lineman from Cherryvale, Kansas, who comes to CU by way of, well, CU. Granted a seventh year of eligibility, Main returns to CU with one year of eligibility remaining … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Main … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2017, Main was lightly recruited, and went the junior college route. Main later played two seasons at Incarnate Word, the 2019 season and then an abbreviated 2020 season in the Spring of 2021, and did not play the 2021 season due to injury. Overall, Main played 15 games with 10 starts in those two seasons.

Transferring to Colorado for the 2022 season, Main played in 12 games with 354 defensive snaps, 20 unassisted tackles, 28 total tackles, two tackles for loss, four tackles for zero, four third down stops, two quarterback pressures, one fumble recovery and one pass break up.

Main had other offers from … only Incarnate Word out of high school. Main was a part of the “graduating senior Class” for CU at the end of the 2022 season, but granted a seventh year of eligibility, Main was considered a three-star transfer prospect, and has decided to return to Boulder for the 2023 season.

In his own words … “I am very excited about it,” Main told BuffStampede.com of his return to Boulder. “Of course it was an emotional rollercoaster through all this, especially with my situation and working with the NCAA and not really knowing if I was going to get this year back. But I felt in my heart I should, because all my paperwork was correct. It just took a little while to get approved.

“I was able to get to know CU’s new coaches more on a personal level. I wanted to figure out if what they presented over social media is really the case. After the visit, I am pretty sure that is the scenario they have going on up there. I am pretty excited about it for sure.”

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Zach Blackwood – DL

Just the facts … Committed May 9th … Blackwood is a 6’4″, 285-pound defensive lineman from Goodyear, Arizona, who comes to CU by way of Garden City Community College in Kansas. Blackwood will have three years to play three at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Blackwood … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2021, signed with Northern Arizona out of Desert Edge High School in Goodyear, Arizona. He redshirted, then recorded 42 tackles and four sacks in nine games as a second-year freshman at Garden City Community College in Kansas last fall.

Blackwood had other offers from … over two dozen schools, but his only Power Five offer came from Colorado. Blackwood was recruited by Jackson State, so this is not a recruit who was new to Coach Prime.

In his own words … “I want to be coached by the best and there’s no opportunity in college football like this one!”, Blackwood told BuffStampede.com.

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Arden Walker – DL

Just the facts … Committed May 9th … Walker is a 6’2″, 251-pound defensive lineman from Englewood, Colorado (Cherry Creek), who comes to CU by way of Missouri. Walker will have three years to play three at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Walker … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2021, Hawkins was rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Walker was rated as the No. 31 defensive end in the nation, and the No. 6 overall prospect out of the state of Colorado. At 247 Sports, Walker was considered to be the No. 72 defensive lineman in the nation, the No. 5 overall prospect out of Colorado, and the No. 592 overall prospect in the country.

He played in 12 games last season with a couple starts and finished with 6 tackles and 1.5 TFL. He’ll have three seasons of eligibility left with the Buffs. Walker is a Colorado native and the son of forever Buff Arthur Walker, who was on the team for the epic 20-10 win over Nebraska in 1986, and was a member of the 1989 team, which reached No. 1 in the nation.

Walker had other offers from … over a dozen Power Five schools. Before signing with Missouri, Walker was, for a time, looking like he would commit to Colorado, then UCLA. He also had offers from the likes of Michigan, Texas, Wisconsin, Iowa, Texas Tech, Minnesota, and Oregon State.

In his own words … “Of course I have been around CU football forever,” Walker told BuffStampede.com. “It is more of a professional setting going on up there now. It felt like it was real serious. I like that. That is how I am with my mindset, so I think that just fits who I am. … I can come back home, represent our state. I can add my experience of playing in the SEC the last two years.”

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Jibran “JJ” Hawkins – DL

Just the facts … Committed May 8th … Hawkins is a 6’3″, 245-pound defensive lineman from Lawrenceville, Georgia, who comes to CU by way of Ole Miss. Hawkins will have three years to play three at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Hawkins … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2021, Hawkins was rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Hawkins was rated as the No. 88 overall prospect out of the talent-rich state of Georgia. At 247 Sports, Hawkins was considered to be the No. 93 defensive lineman in the state, the No. 57 overall player out of Georgia, and the No. 755 overall prospect in the country.

Hawkins played in only four games last season (preserving a year of eligibility), with one sack.

Hawkins had other offers from … almost two dozen schools out of high school, including three SEC schools – Arkansas, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss.

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Reggie Young – OL

Just the facts … Committed May 7th … Young is a 6’4″, 293-pound offensive lineman from New Orleans, who comes to CU by way of Northwestern State, Iowa Central Community College, and Liberty. A graduate transfer, Young will have one year to play one at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Young … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2018, Young was rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals, but was not rated by 247 Sports. Young started at Northwestern State, moved to Iowa Central Community College, and joined Liberty in the spring of 2022. He saw action in nine games with the Flames last season.

Young had other offers from … only junior colleges and lower division schools out of high school. Young did, however, report transfer options, including San Diego State, after he entered the transfer portal on April 17.

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Bishop Thomas – DL

Just the facts … Committed May 7th … Thomas is a 6’2″, 305-pound defensive lineman from Orlando, Florida, who comes to CU by way of Florida State. Thomas will have four years to play four at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Thomas … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2022, Thomas was rated as a three-star prospect by 247 Sports, but a four-star prospect by Rivals. At Rivals, Thomas was listed as the No. 25 defensive tackle in the nation, and the No. 47 overall player out of the state of Florida. At 247 Sports, Thomas was considered to be the No. 65 defensive lineman in the nation, the No. 65 overall player out of Florida, and the No. 483 overall recruit in the nation.

Thomas played in two games at Florida State last year, ultimately redshirting and thus preserving four years of eligibility with the Buffs. Thomas was named the Seminoles’ defensive scout team player of the year.

Thomas had other offers from … about a dozen Power Five schools. Before committing to Florida State in the summer before his senior season, Thomas entertained offers from the likes of Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and Illinois.

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Rodrick Ward – DB

Just the facts … Committed May 7th … Ward is a 5’11”, 180-pound defensive back from San Jacinto, California, who comes to CU by way of Southern Utah. Ward will have one year to play one at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Ward … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2019, Ward was a lightly regard prospect, winding up at San Jacinto Junior College. Ward then transferred to Southern Utah.

This past season, Ward played in every game for the Thunderbirds, with 52 total tackles (36 solo). Ward had four interceptions, and was a Phil Steele WAC first-team all-conference selection. Ward led the WAC with 15 pass breakups and finished tied for first in the conference with his four interceptions last season. His 52 tackles ranked 13th in the conference.

Ward had other offers from … no one other than Southern Utah out of high school. As a graduate transfer, Ward had an offer from Cincinnati, as well as a few other schools, like Bowling Green.

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Jaylen Ellis – WR

Just the facts … Committed May 6th … Ellis is a 6’0″, 187-pound wide receiver from Round Rock, Texas, who comes to CU by way of Baylor. Ellis will have two years to play two at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports …

What others have to say about Ellis … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2019, Ellis was considered to be a three-star prospect by Rivals … but a four-star prospect by 247 Sports. At Rivals, Ellis was considered to be the No. 51 wide receiver in the nation, and the No. 61 prospect out of the state of Texas. At 247 Sports, Ellis was rated as the No. 34 wide receiver in the nation, the No. 32 player out of Texas, and the No. 457 prospect overall in the country.

Ellis battled through injuries during his time in Waco but found a way to get on the field to make an impact. He saw action in 16 games with one start in four years with the Bears. Ellis caught six passes for 198 yards and a touchdown during his time with the Bears. Last season, Ellis caught three passes for 154 yards. His receptions went for 50, 47 and 57 yards.

Ellis committed to transfer to West Virginia on April 25th, but changed his commitment to CU after visiting Boulder on May 6th.

Ellis had other offers from … over 15 Power Five conference schools, including Colorado. Before committing to Baylor, Ellis entertained offers from Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, Iowa State, Cal, Arizona State, Michigan State, Missouri, and Arizona.

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Sav’ell Smalls – DL

Just the facts … Committed May 2nd .. Smalls is 6’3″, 257-pound defensive lineman from Burien, Washington, who comes to CU by way of Washington. Smalls will have three years to play two at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports …

What others have to say about Smalls … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2020, Smalls was considered to be a four-star prospect by Rivals … and a five-star prospect by 247 Sports. At Rivals, Smalls was rated as the No. 3 weakside defensive end in the nation, the No. 1 overall prospect out of the state of Washington, and the No. 48 overall prospect in the country. At 247 Sports, was also listed as the No. 3 edge rusher in the nation, also listed as the No. 1 overall prospect out of the state of Washington, and the No. 30 overall prospect in the nation.

Smalls did not live up to the hype of an immediate Power 5 starter, but he did record 32 tackles and one fumble recovery during his time at Washington.

247 Sports high school evaluation … Size indicates he can play both as a hybrid edge rusher with his hand down or as a standup rush end. Terrific instincts. Quickly reads and reacts. Outstanding pass rusher who can also drop into coverage on occasion. Cat quick at the line of scrimmage, with a quick first step. Can chase down backs and end the play. Has shown improved technique. Uses his hands extremely well. Played a lot of linebacker in 7v7 in offseason to work on pass coverage. Also plays tight end and receiver and has natural pass-catching ability. Projects as immediate Power 5 starter and projects as first-round NFL draft choice.

Smalls had other offers from … over three dozen Power Five schools. From the Pac-12, Smalls had offers from, well, every school, including Colorado. Before accepting Washington’s offer to stay home, Smalls entertained offers from Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas, and Texas A&M … pretty much every major program in the country.

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Tar’varish Dawson – WR

Just the facts … Committed May 1st … Dawson is a 5’10”, 175-pound wide receiver from Lehigh Acres, Florida, who comes to CU by way of Auburn. Dawson will have three years to play three at Colorado … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Dawson … Dawson was a member of the Recruiting Class of 2021, and was considered to be a a four-star prospect by Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Dawson was rated as the No. 17 wide receiver in the nation, and the No. 61 overall prospect out of the state of Florida. At 247 Sports, Dawson was considered to be No. 13 athlete in the nation, the No. 36 prospect out of the state of Florida, and the No. 351 overall player in the country.

247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins had the following evaluation of Dawson as a high school recruit:

On the smaller side, but body is still growing and filling out. Lightening fast not only on the track with a 10.58 in the 100-meter dash, but also on the football field. Being recruited by some schools to play cornerback at the next level and others to catch passes as a wide receiver. Can flip his hips and spring in any direction. Solid ball skills. Dangerous in the return game. Will need to get more physical in college. Also needs to improve open-field tackling if he’s going to be a defensive guy. Just an overall speedy playmaker that should be able to make an impact somewhere for a Power 5 program once he settles on a position. NFL potential given how he moves.

Dawson had other offers from … almost two dozen schools, including any number of Power Five schools. Before settling on Auburn, Dawson entertained offers from Florida State, Illinois, Iowa State, Kentucky, Maryland, Miami, Mississippi State, Pitt and Texas A&M.

Dawson entered the transfer portal in mid-April and he initially verbally committed to transfer to Cincinnati before changing his pledge after taking an official visit to Boulder during the Spring Game.

In his own words … “Same city, same goals,” the former Auburn receiver tweeted Monday afternoon, announcing his decision to transfer to Colorado. Dawson and Coach Prime both hail from the Fort Myers area.

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Omarion Cooper – DB

Just the facts … Committed May 1st … Cooper is a 6’0″, 186-pound defensive back from Lehigh Acres, Florida, who comes to CU by way of Florida State. Cooper will have three years to play two at Colorado … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Cooper … Cooper was a member of the Recruiting Class of 2021, and was considered to be a a high three-star prospect by Rivals, and a four-star prospect by 247 Sports. At Rivals, Cooper was rated as the No. 49 cornerback in the country, and the No. 73 overall prospect out of the state of Florida. At 247 Sports, Cooper was considered to be No. 23 cornerback in the nation, the No. 43 prospect out of the state of Florida, and the No. 289 overall player in the country.

In his two years at Florid State, Cooper appeared in 20 games, starting seven in his time in the ACC. In his career he amassed 30 tackles and three interceptions.

Cooper had other offers from … almost two dozen schools, including any number of Power Five schools. Before settling on Florida State, Cooper entertained offers from Florida, Kansas State, Iowa State, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.

At Lehigh Senior High School in Lehigh Acres, Florida, he was coached by James Chaney, who is now the Director of Player Operations at Colorado. The ties to the Buffs don’t stop there. Cooper also competed in the Deion Sanders 7v7 tournament in 2020.

In his own words … In Cooper’s tweet announcing his commitment to Colorado: “Why not get coached by the best?”

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Kareem Harden – OL

Just the facts … Committed April 30th … Harden is a 6’5″, 290-pound offensive tackle from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, who comes to CU by way of Butler Community College. Harden have three years to play three at Colorado … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Harden … Harden was a member of the Recruiting Class of 2021, and was considered to be a a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Harden was rated as the No. 121 offensive tackle in the nation, the No. 184 overall prospect out of Florida, and the No. 1438 overall player in the country.

Harden had other offers from … almost two dozen schools, including a number of Power Five schools, including Kansas, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and West Virginia. Harden, though, signed with Florida International … but ended up at Butler Community College instead.

Harden caught the attention of CU offensive line coach Bill O’Boyle and other college recruiters during his redshirt freshman campaign at Butler C.C. He had 18 other college transfer options, including Houston, Illinois and Purdue, but he has been largely focused on the Buffaloes for quite some time.

In his own words … “I was missing a credit from ninth grade so I went the Junior College route. It has gotten me to where I am at right now,” Harden told BuffStampede.com. “I came here, developed, learned the game a little more, got my conditioning right, and now I’ll have a great mindset going out to my next school.

“I definitely feel like I put in the work, even more than enough work, to go Power 5. I’m just now starting to see that pay off … “One thing I always try to do is go out there and try to maul dudes, just basically be a beast,” he said. “I feel like that’s something I am working on becoming the best at.”

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David Conner – OL

Just the facts … Committed April 29th … Conner is a 6’6″, 285-pound offensive tackle from Deerfield Beach, Florida, who comes to CU by way of Florida. Conner will have four years to play four at Colorado … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Conner … Conner was a member of the Recruiting Class of 2022, and was considered to be a a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Conner was rated as the No. 56 offensive tackle in the nation, and the No. 84 overall player out of the state of Florida. At 247 Sports, Conner was listed as the No. 93 offensive tackle in the nation, the No. 132 offensive tackle player out of Florida, and the No. 1023 overall player in the country.

Conner redshirted during the 2022 season at Florida. He dealt with a minor thumb and minor knee injury which led him to take a redshirt and set him back in his progress at Florida.

Conner had other offers from … almost two dozen schools, including a number of Power Five schools. Before committing to Florida, Conner entertained offers from schools like Arizona, Maryland and Syracuse (along with an offer from Coach Prime and the coaching staff at Jackson State).

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Jahquez Robinson – DB

Just the facts … Committed April 29th … Robinson is a 6’2″, 197-pound defensive back from Jacksonville, Florida, who comes to Colorado by way of Alabama. Robinson will have three years to play three at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Robinson … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2019, Robinson was considered to be a four-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Robinson was rated as the No. 17 cornerback in the nation, the No. 29 overall prospect out of Florida, and the No. 178 overall prospect in the country. At 247 Sports, Robinson was listed as the No. 21 cornerback in the nation, the No. 50 overall player out of Florida, and the No. 296 prospect in the country.

The move reunites the junior cornerback with Charles Kelly, who coached safeties for the Crimson Tide the past four years before becoming Colorado’s defensive coordinator this offseason. Robinson is the second Alabama player to transfer to Colorado this offseason, joining linebacker DeMouy Kennedy, who did so in February. Robinson played in six games last season, serving primarily on special teams while also playing cornerback on defense.

Robinson had other offers from … around two dozen Power Five schools. Before committing to Alabama, Johnson listed to offers from the likes Georgia, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Penn State and Texas.

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Amari McNeill – DL

Just the facts … Committed April 27th … McNeill is a a 6’4″, 285-pound defensive lineman from Suwanee, Georgia, who comes to Colorado by way of Tennessee. McNeill will have three years to play three at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about McNeill … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2021, McNeill was considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, McNeill was considered to be the No. 69 offensive tackle in the nation, the No. 72 overall player out of the state of Georgia, and the No. 784 player overall in the nation.

McNeill saw action in six games for the Volunteers during the 2022 season, and had a 74.6 tackling grade from Pro Football Focus last season. West Virginia was among the other programs making a strong push for McNeill after he hit the portal this spring. McNeill took an official visit to Colorado this past weekend, and decided he had seen enough.

McNeill had other offers from … over two dozen schools, but only handful of Power Five schools. Before signing with Tennessee, McNeill had offers from Washington State and Minnesota, along with many schools in the south and Midwest.

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Brendan Gant – LB

Just the facts … Committed April 26th … Gant is a a 6’2″, 213- pound linebacker from Lakeland, Florida, who comes to Colorado by way of Florida State. Gant will have two years to play two at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Gant … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2019, Gant was considered a four-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Gant was considered to be the No. 3 safety in the nation, the No. 8 player overall out of the state of Florida, and the No. 49 overall prospect in the nation. At 247 Sports, Gant was rated as the No. 11 safety in the nation, the No. 16 player overall out of the state of Florida, and the No. 117 overall prospect in the country.

Gant came into college at the safety position, but then later transitioned to linebacker his junior season. He played in 31 contests as a safety and last season he recorded 33 tackles. 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 1 pass broken up as a linebacker.

Gant had other offers from … any number of Power Five powers, including Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Ole Miss before committing to Florida State.

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Chazz Wallace – DL

Just the facts … Committed April 26th … Wallace is a Tisdale is a 6’2″, 292- pound defensive lineman from Gaithersburg, Maryland, who comes to Colorado by way of Old Dominion. Wallace will have two years to play two at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Wallace … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2020, Wallace was considered a two-star prospect out of high school by Rivals, but a three-star prospect by 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Wallace was listed as the No. 156 defensive tackle in the nation, the No. 53 player overall out of the State of Maryland, and the No. 2166 prospect overall in the nation. Wallace had 45 career tackles to go with three tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Wallace had other offers from … Before committing to Old Dominion, Wallace had over a dozen FBS offers, including offers from several Power Five conference schools. Wallace had offers from Boston College, Louisville and Rutgers, together with numerous offers along the east coast. Louisville and Arizona State had been other programs in the mix for Wallace as a transfer, but the CU staff was able to earn his pledge after getting him on campus over the SPring Game weekend.

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Derrick McLendon – DL

Just the facts … Committed April 26th … McLendon is a 6’4″, 245- pound defensive lineman from Tucker, Georgia, who comes to Colorado by way of Florida State. McLendon will have two years to play two at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about McLendon … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2019, McLendon was considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, McLendon was considered to be the No. 24 weakside defensive end in the Class, and the No. 43 player overall out of the state of Georgia. At 247 Sports, McLendon was listed as the No. 34 weakside defensive end, the No. 46 player overall out of Georgia and the No. 476 overall player in the country.

In The Athletic’s rankings of remaining available Transfer Portal prospects, McLendon was the No. 4 overall pick.

Florida State bio … McLendon saw his role increase each of his four seasons with the Seminoles, and started 12 games during the 2022 campaign. McLendon recorded a total of 61 tackles and seven sacks in 38 games at Florida State.

McLendon’s scouting report out of high school … Long frame and lean build. At 230 pounds, plenty of room to grow and add muscle in college. Hybrid edge defender with nice upside as pass-rusher. Fights through contact and covers ground with long strides. Wraps up ball carriers and shows good motor. Must improve first-step quickness and burst. Lacks ideal agility, but has array of moves. Should contribute in back half of college career and draw NFL Draft looks.

McLendon had other offers from … over two dozen schools out of high school, including many big time Power Five schools, including Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Nebraska, Tennessee and LSU. Despite all of the other offers, McLendon opted to play for Florida State.

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Black Monday –

CU scholarship Buffs who have entered the Transfer Portal since the Spring Game … offensive lineman Jackson Anderson … wide receiver Ty Robinson … defensive back Jeremy Mack … running back Victor Venn … linebacker Shakaun Bowser … linebacker Aubrey Smith … wide receiver Grant Page … defensive end Aaron Austin … defensive back Xavier Smith … running back Deion Smith … defensive back Tyrin Taylor … offensive lineman Alex Harkey … defensive back Oakie Salave’a … wide receiver Jordyn Tyson … cornerback Jason Oliver … wide receiver Chase Sowell … wide receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig …

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MLC will land on his feet … Montana Lemonious-Craig officially entered the portal this morning and he already has over two dozen offers from schools such as Oregon State, Penn State, UCF, Cincinnati, Auburn, BYU, Mississippi State, Washington State, Cal, Cincinnati, Tulane, Colorado State and many more.

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Just a reminder … The Spring Transfer Portal is only open from April 15th to April 30th. After that, players can’t transfer to another school and play in the 2023 season. Hence, the max exodus this week.

Players can, however, sign on with a new team all the way up to the start of Fall Camp.

Coach Prime said he was not done in the Transfer Portal, so, to make room for the new guys he is going to add over the next few months, the house cleaning needs to take place this week. It’s fluid, but with all of the transfer announcements today, best guess is that CU is now down to around 70 scholarship players, allowing the staff to add another dozen or so players this spring.

Announcements of players coming in won’t be as dramatic. Some may wait until after spring semester/quarter is over to announce, so schools know they can transfer in good standing. Others may want to take visits, and announce in June. It wouldn’t be a surprise if CU adds a transfer or two in the next week, but it won’t be anything like the number of players leaving. (Of the dozen-plus who have announced they are leaving since the Spring game, only MLC and Jordyn Tyson (and perhaps Deion Smith) are really disappointments.

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Stat of the day (as pointed out by Stewart Mandel of The Athletic) … CU had ten scholarship wide receivers on the roster … between graduation, players leaving early for the NFL, and the Transfer Portal … none are left on the roster …

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Vito Tisdale – DB

Just the facts … Committed April 22nd … Tisdale is a 6’1″, 200- pound defensive back from Bowling Green, Kentucky, who comes to Colorado by way of Kentucky. Tisdale will have one year to play at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Tisdale … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2020, Tisdale was considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Tisdale was considered to be the No. 10 overall player out of the state of Kentucky. At 247 Sports, Tisdale was listed as the No. 41 safety in the nation, the No. 5 player overall out of Kentucky, and the No. 473 overall player in the country.

Tisdale, who missed the entire 2022 season after suffering a torn ACL and meniscus in his knee, was dismissed from the team in March for a violation of team rules. Tisdale finished his Wildcats career with 39 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, a sack and a pass breakup in two seasons.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound senior was expected to assume a full-time starting role in the secondary last season after appearing in nine games with two starts in 2021 before suffering a torn ACL and meniscus in his knee during spring practice last season.

Last spring, head coach Mark Stoops said they would experiment with Tisdale at outside cornerback. “Vito is a very versatile player. You’ve heard me say that all the time. We’ll experiment with moving him around,” Stoops said. “That doesn’t mean it’s set in stone. He’s a very good football player. He’s one of our top 11, so we want to get him on the field and playing where we need some help. We feel like he’s versatile enough to do that, but we’ll continue to move him around.”

Tisdale had other offers from … over two dozen schools out of high school, including many big time Power Five schools, including Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Miami, Florida State and Miami. Despite all of the other offers, Tisdale stayed with his commitment to home state Kentucky.

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Willie Gaines – WR

Just the facts … Committed April 18th … Gaines is a 5’9″, 170- pound wide receiver from Cocoa, Florida, who comes to Colorado by way of Dodge City Community College and Jackson State. Harris will have two years to play two at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Gaines … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2019, Harris committed to Toledo. Harris was considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Harris was listed as the No. 148 “athlete” in the Class, the No. 239 player overall out of the state of Florida, and the No. 1746 overall prospect in the nation.

Gaines hauled in 27 passes for 446 yards and five touchdowns in 13 games at Jackson State in 2022. Gaines was at Dodge City for two years out of Cocoa (Fla.) High, before joining Coach Prime and quarterback Shedeur Sanders at Jackson State in 2022

Gaines had other offers from … over a dozen schools out of high school, including Power Five conference schools Kentucky and Rutgers. Gaines originally committed to Toledo, but wound up at Dodge City Community College instead.

In his own words … “Aye Coach Prime you forgot your ‘SRT’ keys. No worries, it’s coming by way of a Louie from Cocoa Flawda,” tweeted Gaines, who also served as a returner for the Tigers last season. “I’m committed to the University of Colorado. Thank you Lord, I’m here, I never imagined this.”

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D’Vion “Deeve” Harris – DL

Just the facts … Committed April 15th … Harris is a 6’2″, 233-pound defensive lineman from St. Louis, Missouri, who comes to Colorado by way of Old Dominion and Minnesota. Harris will have two years to play two at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Harris … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2019, Harris committed to Minnesota. Harris was considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Harris was listed as the No. 17 overall prospect out of the state of Missouri, and the No. 46 defensive end nationally. At 247 Sports, Harris was considered to be the No. 17 prospect out of Missouri, the No. 53 weakside defensive end in the nation, and the No. 817 overall player in the nation. After a red-shirt year and a COVID year at Minnesota, Harris transferred to Old Dominion in March of 2021.

2022: Appeared in 10 games at defensive end … Recorded 32 tackles, 2.5 sacks and four tackles for loss … Scored his third career touchdown and second career pick-six in the win over Arkansas State … Recorded a career-high seven tackles in the win over Virginia Tech … Had six tackles and half a sack at ECU … Totaled three tackles and two sacks in the win at Coastal Carolina.

2021: Played in 13 games at defensive end, making three starts … First defensive player in ODU history to score two defensive touchdowns in the same season … Scored on a 39-yard interception return at FIU, and a one-yard fumble recovery against Charlotte … Recorded 24 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss on the year … Recorded season-high four tackles and a tackle for loss in the season-opener against Wake Forest … Had three tackles and his first career full sack at Liberty … Notched two tackles, a sack and the 39-yard INT return touchdown in the win at FIU.

Harris had other offers from … over a dozen schools, including eight Power Five schools. Before Harris committed to Minnesota, Harris entertained offers from Utah, Florida, Kansas, Purdue, Louisville, Kentucky, Illinois and Arizona.

You Tube highlights of Harris (No. 11) …

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Jack Bailey – OL

Just the facts … Committed April 7th … Bailey is a 6’4″, 290-pound offensive lineman from Willoughby, Ohio, who comes to Colorado by way of Kent State. Bailey will have two years to play two at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Bailey … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2019, Bailey was considered to be a two-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports before committing to Kent State. Bailey played for Kent State head coach Sean Lewis, who is now CU’s offensive coordinator, as well as for offensive line coach Bill O’Boyle, who followed Lewis to Boulder. Bailey entered the Transfer Portal a few days before committing to Colorado, and did not receive a Transfer Portal rating before announcing his decision.

After splitting time at center his as a redshirt sophomore, Bailey started the past two years primarily at left guard, next to Savion Washington, who is already on campus at CU. The pair started 11-of-12 games together last season, and were a part of an offensive line that led the MAC in rushing yards per game at 202.8 yards per game.

Bailey had other offers from … only Kent State out of high school.

In his own words … “I’ll graduate in May with my degree in construction management,” Bailey told The News-Herald. “I also have two years of eligibility left. I just think I’m ready to explore new options.”

“I can’t wait to get back up with Big Sav [Savion Washington],” said Bailey. “We got especially close last year too so I can’t wait to get back up there and see him.”

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Xavier Weaver – WR

Just the facts … Committed February 22nd … Weaver is a 6’1′, 175-pound wide receiver from Orlando, Florida, who comes to Colorado by way of South Florida. Kennedy will have three years to play two at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Weaver … Weaver was a member of Recruiting Class of 2019. He was considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Weaver was rated as the No. 231 wide receiver in the nation, the No. 241 overall prospect out of the state of Florida, and the No. 1936 overall player in the country. Rivals has Weaver as a three-star transfer prospect, the No. 304 transfer in this year’s Class.

Weaver, a teammate of fellow USF Bull Jimmy Horn, Jr. (who has already transferred to CU), was the leading receiver for South Florida in 2021 and 2022. Weaver had 53 catches for 718 yards and six touchdowns in 2022. It marked the fifth-best season reception total and receiving yardage total in USF program history. Weaver also led the Bulls with 41 receptions and averaged a team-best 17.4 yards per catch average in 2021. He saw action in a total of 40 games at USF. (Horn caught a total of 67 passes and had 1,066 yards of offense in 2021 and 2022 at USF).

Weaver’s productive 2022 season led to him earning second-team All-AAC honors as voted on by coaches across the league. He was also named to the Phil Steele and Athlon Sports all-conference teams in the AAC.

Weaver will be finishing up classes at South Florida this spring, and will be in Boulder this summer.

Weaver had other offers from … over a dozen schools out of high school, though Wake Forest was the only Power Five conference offer. As a transfer, Weaver was courted by Oklahoma and West Virginia before choosing Colorado.

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February 16th

With several more transfers rated, Colorado back at No. 1 in the Transfer Portal Rankings

From BuffStampede.com … With another transfer portal window coming up in May and transfers still getting rated by 247Sports, the team rankings can continue to fluctuate until all the dust is settled.

A handful of Colorado additions received a rating recently, helping move the Buffaloes back up to No. 1 nationally on the transfer rankings.

COLORADO TRANSFER RATINGS

DB/WR Travis Hunter (99, from Jackson State)

QB Shedeur Sanders (92, from Jackson State)

TE Seydou Traore (92, from Arkansas State)

WR Jimmy Horn Jr. (90, from South Florida)

LB Demouy Kennedy* (90 from Alabama)

S Myles Slusher (89, from Arkansas)

DL Leonard Payne (89, from Fresno State)

EDGE Jeremiah Brown (89, from Jackson State)

EDGE Taylor Upshaw (88, from Michigan)

OT Savion Washington (88, from Kent State)

OL Yousef Mugharbarbil (88, from Florida)

CB Kyndrich Breedlove (87, from Ole Miss)

RB Kavosiey Smoke* (87, from Kentucky)

CB Tayvion Beasley (87, from Jackson State)

S Cam’Ron Silmon (87, from Jackson State)

LB Vonta Bentley (86, from Clemson)

OL Landon Bebee* (85, from Missouri State)

DL Shane Cokes (85, from Dartmouth)

DL Taijh Alston (84, from West Virginia)

COLORADO TRANSFERS THAT HAVE YET TO BE RATED

OL Tyler Brown (from Jackson State)

EDGE Jordan Domineck (from Arkansas)

P Mark Vassett (from Louisville)

K Alejandro Mata (from Jackson State)

K Jace Feely (from Arizona State)

* – Transfer not expected on campus until the summer

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Demouy Kennedy – LB

Just the facts … Committed February 1st … Kennedy is a 6’3″, 215-pound linebacker from Theodore, Alabama, who comes to Colorado by way of Alabama. Kennedy will have three years to play two at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Kennedy … Kennedy was a member of the Recruiting Class of 2020. Kennedy was considered to be a five-star prospect by Rivals, and a four-star prospect by 247 Sports. At Rivals, Kennedy was listed as the No. 1 overall prospect out of the state of Alabama (think about that one for a second), the No. 4 inside linebacker in the nation, and the No. 34 overall prospect in the entire 2020 Recruiting Class. At 247 Sports, Kennedy was listed as the No. 1 prospect out of the state of Alabama, the No. 3 inside linebacker in the country, and the No. 35 overall prospect in the nation. As a transfer, Rivals listed Kennedy as a the No. 238 overall transfer prospect.

247 Sports had this profile of Kennedy as a high school prospect … Muscular, well-proportioned athlete with lengthy frame. Physical specimen who can really run and finish from linebacker position. Violent football player with immense lower-body explosiveness. Comfortable in space though sometimes plays outside of frame or not under control. Plays with reckless abandon for his body. Upside as an edge rusher with good first step and bend. Athletic traits and length to excel as drop defender but raw in coverage ahead of senior football campaign. Has clocked 10.9 in the 100 meter dash within the year. Can shed blocks with extension and power. Could stand to improve from a technical standpoint through responsibility in tight quarters.

Kennedy entered the transfer portal in mid-January after three years with the Crimson Tide. He saw action in a total of 24 games at Alabama, primarily as a special teams contributor. He did record seven tackles on defense and had seven rushing attempts on offense in 2021. He was named one of the Crimson Tide’s special teams players of the week by the Alabama coaches four times during the 2021 season. A knee injury ended his 2022 season after just five games, so his availability will need to be monitored.

Kennedy had other offers from … everywhere. An Auburn commit from July of 2018 to March of 2019, Kennedy flipped to Alabama in September of his senior season. Many of the heavyweights from the SEC, including Georgia, Tennessee and LSU offered Kennedy, as did Florida State, TCU, Louisville and Georgia Tech.

Below is a video of why Rivals had Kennedy listed as a five-star prospect …

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Kyndrich Breedlove – DB

Just the facts … Committed January 16th … Breedlove is a 5’11”, 180-pound defensive back from Nashville, Tennessee, who comes to Colorado by way of Ole Miss. Breedlove will have three years to play three at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Breedlove … Breedlove was a member of the Recruiting Class of 2021, and was considered to be a four-star prospect by Rivals, and a high three-star prospect by 247 Sports. At Rivals, Breedlove was rated as the No. 34 cornerback in the nation, and the No. 9 overall prospect out of Tennessee. At 247 Sports, Breedlove was considered to be the No. 27 “athlete” in the 2021 Recruiting Class, the No. 12 overall player out of Tennessee, and the No. 413 player overall in the country. Despite being in the Transfer Portal only three days before committing to CU, Breedlove already had offers from Texas A&M and Arkansas.

Breedlove played in nine games as a true freshman for Mississippi, and was slated to start for the Rebels this past season but was injured. His action to date has largely been limited to special teams.

Rivals had this to say about Breedlove when he committed to Ole Miss: Tennessee’s No. 10 player does a little bit of everything for Pearl-Cohn. They get the football in his hands any way they can on offense and then he is locking down the opponent’s best receiver at cornerback. His home run speed plays well on both sides of the ball, helping him get to the corner while running the football and closing the gap when covering receivers one-on-one on an island.

The 28th-ranked cornerback in the nation ran for 601 yards and scored 12 rushing touchdowns for Pearl-Cohn as a junior. He also recorded 21 tackles and had an interception on defense. Breedlove led the Firebirds to a 15-1 record and the 3A state title game.

Breedlove had other offers from … before committing to Mississippi in his junior year of high school, Breedlove had offers from over a dozen Power Five conference schools, including almost all of the SEC: Georgia, Tennessee, LSU, Auburn, Texas A&M, Missouri, Kentucky, Mississippi State, South Carolina and Vanderbilt.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Kyndrich Breedlove – DB

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Taylor Upshaw – DL

Just the facts … Committed January 14th … Upshaw is a 6’4″, 235-pound defensive lineman from Bradenton, Florida, who comes to Colorado by way of Michigan. Upshaw is a graduate transfer with one season to play at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others had to say about Upshaw … Upshaw was a member of the Recruiting Class of 2018, and was considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Upshaw was considered to be the No. 25 strongside defensive end in the nation, the No. 88 player overall out of the state of Florida, and the No. 561 overall recruit in the nation. As a transfer, Upshaw has maintained his three-star status.

Upshaw played in 13 games this past season at Michigan, posting 12 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception. In his five seasons with the Wolverines, he played in 37 games with two starts (both in 2020) and he totaled 39 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.

Taylor’s father Regan Upshaw was the 12th pick in the first-round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He went on to play nine seasons professionally, for the Buccaneers, Jaguars, Raiders, Redskins and Giants. His older brother Regan Upshaw II played collegiately and was a team captain at Clemson.

Upshaw had other offers from … over a dozen Power Five conference schools. Before committing to Michigan, Upshaw entertained offers from Arizona, Cal, and Oregon from the Pac-12, as well as having offers from Florida, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, Northwestern, North Carolina State, Oklahoma, Pitt, Purdue, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

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Jordan Domineck – DL

Just the facts … Committed January 14th … Domineck is a 6’3″, 251-pound defensive lineman from Lakeland, Florida, who comes to Domineck by way of Arkansas. Domineck is a a graduate transfer with one season to play at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others had to say about Domineck … Domineck was a member of the Recruiting Class of 2018, and was considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Domineck was considered to be the No. 72 weakside defensive end in the nation, the No. 194 overall player out of the state of Florida, and the No. 1255 player overall in the nation. As a transfer, Domineck has maintained his three-star status at Rivals.

Domineck, listed at 6-foot-3, 251 pounds, played four seasons (2018-21) at Georgia Tech before transferring to Arkansas last year. With the Razorbacks this past season, he didn’t start, but played in all 13 games and posted 34 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.

During his time at Georgia Tech, Domineck played in 31 games, with 15 starts, recording 101 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks.

Domineck had other offers from … a number of Power Five schools out of high school. Before committing to Georgia Tech, Domineck had offers from the likes of Iowa State, Syracuse, and Vanderbilt.

Here is a link to his high school highlights

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Marshawn Kneeland – DL

Name withdrawn from Transfer Portal … January 12th … From BuffStampede.com … Kneeland is no longer in Colorado’s plans and he has subsequently removed his name from the transfer portal … Kneeland can either return to Western Michigan or declare for the NFL Draft …

Just the facts … Committed December 22nd … Kneeland is a 6’3″, 275-pound defensive end from Grand Rapids, Michigan, who comes to Colorado by way of Western Michigan. He will have two years to play two at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Kneeland … Kneeland was a member of the Recruiting Class of 2019, and was considered to be a two-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, he was considered to be the No. 158 weakside defensive end in the nation, the No. 85 player overall out of the state of Michigan, and the No. 3433 player overall in the nation.

The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Kneeland earned a Pro Football Focus run grade of 85.5, good for 18th in the country. He finished with 38 total tackles (ten for loss) and 1.5 sacks with three sacks. He had 31 tackles and eight for loss in 2021.

Kneeland had other offers from … only a few schools, with Western Michigan being his best offer.

In his own words … “I feel good about Colorado because of the opportunities that come with it,” Kneeland told 247 Sports, “and the people that I would be around while being there because iron sharpens iron.”

“We got a chance to build a really good relationship with Coach Williams and Coach Grundy,” said Kneeland’s high school head coach Brendan Kimble, who accompanied him to Colorado. “Once we were on campus that comfort was extended throughout the entire staff. Then Coach Prime put it over the top. The opportunity to learn from him and be developed in the environment he is building was something he did not want to pass up.”

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Kavosiey Smoke – RB

Just the facts … Committed January 11th … Smoke is a 5’9″, 209-pound running back from Wetumpka, Alabama. Smoke comes to Colorado by way of Kentucky as graduate transfer, with one year to play at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Smoke … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2018, Smoke was rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Smoke was listed as the No. 29 running back in the country, and the No. 20 overall prospect out of the state of Alabama. At 247 Sports, Smoke was considered to be the No. 55 athlete in the nation, the No. 19 player overall out of Alabama, and the No. 711 overall prospect in the nation. As a transfer, Rivals still rates Smoke as a three-star prospect, the No. 146 overall player available in the Transfer Portal.

Over five seasons with the Wildcats, Smoke carried the ball 291 times for 1,583 yards, which ranks 21st on UK’s career rushing list, and 13 touchdowns while averaging 5.4 yards per carry, which ranks seventh in school history.

Returning starter at running back for Kentucky, Chris Rodriguez, was suspended for the first four games of the 2022. In those four games, Smoke rushed 51 times for 263 yards and a touchdown. Following Rodriguez’s return, however, Smoke totaled just seven carries for 14 yards over the final eight games of the season.

Smoke had other offers from … a number of Power Five conference schools. Before signing with Kentucky, Smoke entertained offers from Cincinnati, Florida, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Mississippi State, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia Tech.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Myles Slusher – S

Just the facts … Committed January 8th … Slusher is a 6’0″, 190-pound defensive back from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Slusher comes to Colorado by way of Arkansas, and will have three years to play two at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Slusher … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2020, Slusher was rated as a four-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Slusher was rated as the No. 19 safety in the nation, and the No. 3 overall prospect out of the state of Oklahoma. At 247 Sports, Slusher was considered to be the No. 12 safety in the country, the No. 2 overall player out of Oklahoma, and the No. 172 overall prospect in the country.

Slusher battled through some injuries during his near three year run in Fayetteville but he still saw action in 23 games with 15 starts. He recorded a total of 93 tackles, nine-and-a-half for a loss, seven pass breakups, two interceptions and a forced fumble with the Razorbacks. Slusher was handed a one-game suspension this past season but he returned in week 12 and recorded a season-high eight tackles against Ole Miss.

Slusher had other offers from … over two dozen Power Five conference schools. Before committing to Arkansas, Slusher was an Oregon commit for much of his senior year. From the Pac-12, Slusher had offers from Oregon, UCLA and Colorado. From the SEC, Slusher had offers from Alabama, LSU, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas A&M. From the Big 12, Slusher had offers from Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, and West Virginia. Other offers came from the likes of Notre Dame, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Yousef Mugharbil – OL

Just the facts … Committed January 7th … Mugharbil is a 6’5″, 310-pound offensive lineman from Murphy, North Carolina. Mugharbil comes to Colorado by way of Florida, and will have three years to play three at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Mugharbil … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2021, Mugharbil was Beasley was rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals and a four-star prospect by 247 Sports. At Rivals, Mugharbil was rated as the No. 38 offensive tackle in the nation, and the No. 19 overall prospect out fo the state of North Carolina. At 247 Sports, Mugharbil was considered to be the No. 21 interior lineman in the country, the No. 17 player out of North Carolina, and the No. 282 prospect overall in the nation.

Mugharbil was involved in an accident during his first few months in Gainesville. He was driving a scooter and collided with a semi-truck, which resulted in injuries. Mugharbil returned to practice with the Gators in December of 2021, but he did not see any game action during Florida’s recently concluded 2022 campaign.

Mugharbil had other offers from … over a dozen Power Five conference. Before committing to Florida, Mugharbil had offers from Arkansas, Duke, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, both North Carolina schools, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, and West Virginia.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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January 6th

CU picks up its (perhaps) kickoff specialist (along with competition for the placekicking position), Jace Feely from Arizona State

Tweet from Jace Feely … After some great talks with STC Trevor Reilly and coach Prime I have been offered and decided to commit to the University of Colorado thank you for investing in me and allowing me to be apart of bringing the buffaloes back to national prominence

From the Daily Camera … The son of former NFL kicker Jay Feely, Jace is excited for a fresh start after two seasons as a backup with the Sun Devils. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

“I’m pumped. I can’t wait to get up there,” said Feely, who will arrive in Boulder next week. “I just can’t wait to be included in that (new excitement at CU under Sanders) and do my part.”

After redshirting in 2021, Feely, who is from Gilbert, Ariz., was a backup to freshman Carter Brown this past season. Feely made his only extra point attempt, kicked off four times (with two touchbacks) and also punted once for 37 yards. In his high school career, he was 16-of-22 on field goals with a long of 52 yards.

“(ASU) was definitely a great learning period of how college football works,” he said. “I worked my butt off there for about two and a half years and I felt like I put in all that I could there and it was time for me to move on at the end of the season.”

Feely will have some familiarity with Folsom Field. ASU beat the Buffs, 42-34, on Oct. 29 in Boulder. The 6-foot, 215-pounder said he was hitting field goals from 65 yards during pregame warm-ups that day.

“I love competition,” Feely said. “I think it’s such a strong bond that kickers and special teams units have together and I can’t wait to meet the guys and meet my competition.”

… Continue reading story here …

High school …

Son of 14-year NFL veteran and current CBS Sports analyst Jay Feely
Five-star kicker according to Kohl’s Kicking; Chris Sailer’s rankings have him as the No. 13 kicker in the nation in the class
MaxPreps Small School High School Football All-America First Team selection as a punter; A member of the Arizona Republic’s All-State First Team as a punter
Accounted for 148 points during his four-year varsity career, making 16-of-22 field goals (73%)
Connected on a 52-yard field goal as a sophomore and a 47-yarder as a freshman
Went 22-of-23 on PAT’s during his senior season
Punted 20 times for 856 yards (42.8 yards/punt) as one of the state’s premier punters
Also served as the kickoff specialist for Gilbert Christian, recording 37 touchbacks over the past two seasons and averaging 57.0 yards/kickoff in 2020

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Isaiah Lewis declares for the NFL Draft

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Tayvion Beasley – DB

Just the facts … Committed December 31st … Beasley is a 5’10”, 165-pound cornerback from Bellflower, California (St. John Bosco). Beasley comes to Colorado by way of Jackson State, and will have four years to play three at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Beasley … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2022, Beasley was rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Beasley, who played for California high school power St. John Bosco, was considered to be the No. 97 player overall out of the state of California. At 247 Sports, Beasley was considered to be the No. 74 cornerback in the nation, the No. 60 player out of California, and the No. 798 overall prospect in the country.

Beasley saw action in a total of nine games during his true freshman campaign this past fall, recording eight tackles, three pass breakups, an interception and one fumble recovery.

Beasley had other offers from … a number of Power Five schools. Before committing to Jackson State and Coach Prime, Beasley entertained offers from USC, Oregon, Michigan, Arizona State, BYU, Oregon State and Arizona.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Leonard Payne – DL

Just the facts … Committed December 29th … Payne is a 6’3″, 308-pound defensive tackle from Downey, California. Payne comes to Colorado by way of Fresno State, and will have one year to play as a graduate transfer … Rivals bio … 247 Sports …

What others say about Payne … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2018 (yup, Class of 2018). Way back then, Payne was considered to be only a two-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports (he was also checking in at 265 pounds, some 43 pounds ago). At 247 Sports, Payne was rated as the No. 147 strongside defensive end in the country, the No. 324 player overall out of the state of California, and the No. 3393 prospect in the country.

In 2021, Payne played in 11 games and started nine … missed the final two games with injury … totaled 22 tackles (10 solo) … had 5.0 tackles for loss … added 3.5 sacks … also had a fumble recovery. This past season, Payne’s participation was limited due to injury.

Payne had other offers from … Out of high school, Payne’s offers were from Sacramento State and Fresno State, with Payne settling on the Bulldogs. After spending five years in Fresno, Payne entered the transfer portal on December 26th. In the three days Payne was in the Transfer Portal, Payne earned scholarship offers from Indiana, Kansas State, Louisiana Tech, Nevada, Old Dominion, Troy, UConn and Utah State.

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Jeremiah Brown – LB

Just the facts … Committed December 29th … Brown is a 6’2″, 220-pound edge rusher from Havana, Florida. Brown comes to Colorado by way of Jackson State, and will have three years to play two at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Brown … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2021, Brown was rated as a three-star prospect by 247 Sports, but only a two-star prospect by Rivals. At 247 Sports, Brown was considered to be the No. 189 linebacker in the nation, the No. 243 player overall out of the state of Florida, and the No. 1703 player overall in the nation. In June, 2020, Brown committed to Florida Atlantic, before switching to Jackson State in December.

In 20 games of action as a true freshman and sophomore at Jackson State, Brown recorded 52 tackles, 11 for a loss, seven sacks and he had three fumble involvements. He also participated on special teams for the Tigers and had a blocked field-goal against Southern this past season.

Brown becomes the sixth former Tiger to announce his move from Jackson to Boulder, joining two-way star Travis Hunter, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, offensive lineman Tyler Brown, safety Cam’Ron Silmon and kicker Alejandro Mata.

Brown had other offers from … at least one Power Five conference school, Minnesota. Other offers came from schools like Troy, Marshall and Southern Mississippi.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Alejandro Mata – K

Just the facts … Committed December 27th … Mata is a 5’9″, 180-pound kicker from Buford, Georgia

What others have to say about Mata … Matta comes to Colorado from Jackson State. As a freshman kicker in 2022, Mata made 12-of-13 field goals attempts this season, but his longest was from only 38 yards out. Mata also has made 50 of his 51 extra points (both of the missed kicks were blocked). He was a third-team FCS Freshman All-American and second-team all-conference selection. Mata would have four years to play three at Colorado.

Mata played football with Colorado running back Victor Venn and linebacker Aubrey Smith at Buford (Ga.) High in 2021. He made 60 of 63 PATs and 9 of 13 field goals as a prep senior with the Wolves.

At this moment, it’s unclear as to whether Mata is coming to CU as a scholarship player, or a preferred walk-on. This past season, CU freshman kicker Cole Becker was 11-for-13 on his field goal attempts, with a long of 49 yards (both misses were from 40 yards out, with one miss coming from over 50 yards).

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Mark Vassett – P

Just the facts .. Committed December 26th … Vassett is a 6’4″, 220-pound punter from Melbourne, Austrailia. Vasset comes to Colorado by way of Louisville, and will have three years to play three at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Vassett … Vassett was a member of the Recruiting Class of 2021, and was unrated by Rivals, but was considered to be a three-star prospect by 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Vassett was rated as the No. 4 player overall out Australia, the No. 7 punter in the Class, and the No. 2016 prospect overall.

Vasset graduated high school in 2014 in Australia, worked for the family construction business, then went to same kicking school in Australia that brought James Stefanou and Josh Watts to Colorado. Vassett was originally recruited to Michigan State by Mel Tucker and Ross Els, but opted for the Cardinals. In 2022, Vasset set records at Louisville, earning honorable mention All-ACC honors this past fall.

Vassett had other offers from … Louisville and Michigan State, settling on Louisville after first committing to the Spartans.

In his own words … “I have never stepped foot in the United States”, Vassett said in 2020, when he first committed to Michigan State. “So a lot about the college system will be new to me but from what I have researched and heard off of from others is it will be the most amazing place to spend the next four years of my life. Can’t wait to get started.”

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Seydou Traore – TE

Just the facts … Committed on Christmas Day … Traore is a 6’4″, 210-pound tight end from Clearwater, Florida. Traore comes to Colorado by way of Arkansas State, and will have four years to play three at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Traore … Traore is originally from England, which also produced Colorado 2023 linebacker signee Kofi Taylor-Barrocks. Thaore had never competed in 11-man football before arriving in the United States, and only played one year of high school football. Despite his inexperience, Thaore was considered a three-star prospect by 247 Sports, while only a two-star prospect by Rivals.

Traore caught 50 passes for 655 yards receiving and four receiving touchdowns during the 2022 season while playing for Arkansas State. That was good enough to earn him a spot on the Sun Belt All-Conference first team this year. He finished the regular season with the fifth-highest receiving grade (89.6) among all FBS tight ends according to PFF.

Traore had other offers from … only a handful of programs out of high school, mostly because, again, he was new to the game. When he announced his decision to enter the Transfer Portal, however, Power Five schools took notice. Traore’s decision came down to CU and Utah, a program noted for turning tight ends into stars.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Jimmy Horn, Jr. – WR

Just the facts … Committed on Christmas Day … Horn is a 5’9″, 165-pound wide receiver from Sanford, Florida. Horn comes to Colorado by way of South Florida, and will have three years to play two at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports …

What others have to say about Horn … As a member of the Recruiting Class of 2021, Horn was rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Horn was listed as the No. 127 wide receiver in the nation, the No. 107 player overall out of Florida, and the No. 863 player overall in the country. As a transfer, Rivals still has Horn as a three-star prospect, the No. 148 player available in the Transfer Portal. 247 Sports, meanwhile, has Horn rated at .9000, which makes him a four-star transfer in their eyes.

Horn caught a total of 67 passes and had 1,066 yards of offense in 2021 and 2022 at USF. Horn was a first-team All-AAC selection this fall as a kick returner after averaging 29.9 yards per return. He had an 89-yard touchdown return for a score in the Bulls’ season opener against BYU (see below).

Horn also won four medals at the Class 8A State Track and Field Championships in his final year at Seminole. He was part of the state champion 4×100-meter relay team that posted a time of 41..12 to rank among the top 10 nationally. Horn won the long jump with a mark of 23-0.75 and he finished fourth in the 100-meter dash (10.81) and triple jump (46-4.25).

Horn had other offers from … several big-time Power Five conference schools out of high school, including Georgia and Tennessee. He also had an offer from Coach Prime at Jackson State, but settled on home state South Florida.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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December 23rd

Conference Transfer Portal Grades: CU No 1 in the Pac-12

From the San Jose Mercury News … Pac-12 teams have lost more than 100 players to the transfer portal since it opened on Dec. 5. That figure will climb — and perhaps significantly — before closing time on Jan. 18.

The conference benefited immensely from the dizzying amount of player movement last winter, especially with the influx of quarterbacks.

Whether the collective impact is negative or positive this time around won’t be clear until the 2023 season, but the Hotline has no interest in reserving judgment for nine months.

Where’s the fun in that?

Welcome to our first transfer portal power ratings of the offseason. We’ll revisit the assessment below when the portal closes next month, then again when it opens (for two weeks) in early May.

1. Colorado: Like last year, the Buffaloes have lost a load of players to the portal. Unlike last year, the level of departing talent is limited. Also unlike last year, they are the conference’s biggest winner thus far. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders arrives from Jackson State to run the offense for his father, while cornerback Travis Hunter — the former No. 1 rated recruit in the country — provides CU with an elite talent on the back line. Check back in another month. The Buffaloes aren’t close to finished.

2. Washington: The momentum continues for coach Kalen DeBoer’s program with a slew of impact newcomers passing through the portal on their way to Montlake. Arizona State running back Daniyel Ngata and Michigan State receiver Germie Bernard bolster the array of playmakers around quarterback Michael Penix. Another former Sun Devil, Joe Moore, adds needed depth at edge rusher. So far, none of the Huskies’ key contributors (or backup quarterbacks) have entered the portal.

3. UCLA: The Bruins have worked the transfer market in expert fashion for years — often with players at the graduate level — and this cycle is producing more of the same. Quarterback Collin Schlee (Kent State) and linebacker Oluwafemi Oladejo (Cal) are proven commodities, and keep an eye on tight end Moliki Matavao, who averaged 13 yards per catch for Oregon. The Bruins have avoided a significant exodus to date, making their net gain considerable.

… and, Stanford (See: University of Colorado, 2021) …

12. Stanford: Who’s not in the transfer portal in the wake of another terrible season, the departure of David Shaw and the hiring of Troy Taylor? As of this writing, Stanford has 17 outbound players and zero inbound players, according to 247 Sports. No unit has been hit harder than the offensive line, which lost two players to Michigan (Myles Hinton and Drake Nugent). To what extent will the university adjust its policy to allow Taylor to work the portal for immediate help?

… Read full story here …

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Cam’ron Silmon – DB

Just the facts … Committed December 22nd … Silmon is a 5’10”, 180-pound safety from Cedar Hill, Texas (where Shedeur Sanders played high school football), and comes to Colorado by way of Jackson State. He has three years to play two at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others had to say about Silmon … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2021, Silmon was rated as a two-star prospect by Rivals, but a composite three-star prospect by 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Silmon was considered to be the 170 safety in the nation, the No. 300 player overall out of Texas, and the No. 1990 overall prospect nationally.

Silmon had other offers from … only a handful of schools out of high school. Rivals shows that he was a verbal commit to Florida Atlantic, but either Silmon never made it to Florida, or later transferred to Jackson State, because he was the starting safety for Coach Prime’s Tigers this past season, earning All-SWAC honors.

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Marshawn Kneeland – DL

Kneeland had other offers from … only a few schools, with Western Michigan being his best offer.

A two-star prospect coming out of Godwin Heights Senior in 2019, Kneeland vastly outperformed his rating while at Western Michigan. He is now anxious to test his skills in the Pac-12, as a January enrollee at Colorado with two years to play two.

“I look forward to proving to everybody that I am better than what I used to be,” he said. “I feel like anybody that watched my games would see, okay, this is not a two-star athlete, it is someone better… I think.

“It doesn’t really matter what most people are going to say. They are going to speak regardless, whether you are a five-star, four-star, two-star or no star. At the end of the day, you line up against who you line up against and try to beat them.”

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Travis Hunter – CB/WR

Here is a link to his official CUBuffs.com bio

Just the facts … Committed December 21st (Signing Day) … Hunter is a 6’1″, 165-pound cornerback/wide receiver from Suwanee, Georgia (Collins Hill), who comes to Colorado by way of Jackson State. Hunter will have four years to play three at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio

What others say about Hunter … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2021, Hunter was considered by both Rivals and 247 Sports to be not only the No. 1 player out of Georgia, the No. 1 cornerback in the nation, but the No. 1 overall prospect in the country. His 247 composite ranking was 0.9999, or basically perfect.

Evaluation by Andrew Invins at 247 Sports … A generational type of talent. Legitimately CB1 and WR1 for the class of 2022. Makes everything he does look extremely easy. Smooth. Explosive. Competitive. At times it seems like he’s almost a human cheat code as he’s always making the highlight reel play at the right time. Video game numbers during prep career (over 3,600 receiving yards, 46 touchdowns catches and 19 interceptions) make him seem even more godly. Hasn’t tested anywhere, but he’s one of those prospects that doesn’t need to run on the lasers to verify anything as his play speed trumps others. Quick to read and react on the defensive side of the ball. Likes to bait quarterbacks into making poor decisions. Elite ball skills and ability to elevate over other players helps him take away throwing windows. Shifty footwork makes him difficult to cover when he’s on offense. Mixes gears well and is able to shake defensive backs with crisp little cuts. Not afraid to lay out or get his jersey dirty, either. Will eventually need to add some body armor to a rather wiry frame that appears to be pushing 6-foot-1 as that will help him make stops in the ally or block out on the perimeter. Has the tools to be a difference maker the second he steps foot on the college campus of his choice. Viewed by most recruiters and scouts as cornerback longterm, but offensive coaches are likely going to be trying to get him some burn at wide receiver in situational packages. Should work his way onto the two-deep as a freshman and then blossom into an impact player and potential All-American. Will play on Sundays if there are no set backs and has a chance to be selected Day 1 of the NFL Draft if he keeps progressing.

Hunter had other offers from … everyone who thought they had a shot at his services. Florida State was considered to be Hunter’s destination committing to the Seminoles in March of his junior year. On Signing Day, 2021, however, Hunter flipped, announcing his decision to attend Jackson State. Hunter also had offers from the likes of Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma, Clemson and Tennessee.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Tyler Brown – OL

Here is a link to his official CUBuffs.com bio

Just the facts … Committed December 21st (Signing Day) … Brown is a 6’3″, 320-pound offensive lineman from Jackson Mississippi. He comes to Colorado by way of Louisiana-Lafayette and Jackson State. He will have two years to play two at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Brown … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2019, Brown was rated as a two-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. 247 Sports ranks him the No. 203 interior offensive lineman nationally and No. 72 player from Mississippi.

After spending three years (and playing 11 games) with Louisiana-Lafayette, Brown transferred to Jackson State. This past season, Brown started 13 games on the offensive line, earning AP third-team FCS All-American honors. Named to the BOXTOROW HBCU All-American team on the offensive line, and earned first-team All-SWAC.

Brown had other offers from … only Louisiana, Jackson State, and Southern Miss out of high school. He is following Coach Prime from Jackson State to Boulder.

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Shedeur Sanders – QB

Here is a link to his official CUBuffs.com bio

Just the facts … Committed December 21st (Signing Day) … Sanders is a 6’1″, 180-pound pro-style quarterback from Cedar Hill, Texas, by way of Jackson State. Sanders will have three years to play two at Colorado … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Sanders … From the Recruiting Class of 2021, Sanders was considered to be a four-star prospect by 247 Sports, but only a three-star prospect by Rivals. At 247 Sports, Sanders was rated as the No. 26 pro-style quarterback in the nation, the No. 38 overall prospect out of Texas, and the No. 247 player overall in the country. As a Transfer Portal candidate, however, Sanders was bumped up to a four-star recruit by Rivals.

In his last 5 seasons (three in high school, two at Jackson State), Shedeur Sanders has completed 66% of his passes for 15,888 yards, 193 TD, 33 INT and rushed for 31 TDs while compiling a win-loss record of 62-5.

Evaluation by Greg Biggins at 247 Sports … Highly productive and a winner with a pair of state championships to his name. Athletic frame, moves well and can extend plays. Does a nice job making that initial pass rusher miss, doesn’t panic and shows poise and calmness in the pocket. Has dual-threat ability and can pick up bug chunks of yards with his legs but doesn’t take off and run as much as you would expect. Has enough arm strength to get the ball down the field and shows nice touch on his deep ball. Can tighten his release a bit but has some solid tools that project well to college. Upside is an impact upper tier Power 5 starter and potential NFL draft pick

Sanders had other offers from … While Sanders committed to play for his father at Jackson State, he had over two dozen offers from all over the nation. Sanders had offers from the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, LSU, Oregon, Penn State, Michigan, Florida, UCLA and Arizona State.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Landon Beebe – OL

Here is a link to his official CUBuffs.com bio (which is just as sparse as my bio)

Just the facts … Committed December 21st (Signing Day) … Beebe is a 6’3″, 298-pound offensive lineman from Webb City, Missouri, by way of Missouri State. Beebe is a graduate transfer, with one year of eligibility remaining … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Beebe … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2018, Beebe was unrated by either Rivals or 247 Sports. Beebe signed with Missouri State. The 6-foot-3, 298-pound Bebee played in 42 games with the Bears, including 35 starts. He spent time playing every position on the offensive line during his time at Missouri State and was a three-time second-team all-Missouri Valley selection. Bebee is originally from Webb City, Mo. He will have one year of eligibility to compete with the Buffaloes.

Beebe had other offers from … over two dozen schools, but none from a Power Five conference schools. Before signing with Missouri State, Beebe had offers from Army and Air Force, along with other schools like New Mexico and UConn.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Isaiah Jatta – OL (Junior College)

Here is a link to his official CUBuffs.com bio

Just the facts … Jatta is a 6’6″, 330-pound offensive lineman from San Diego. He comes to Colorado by way of Snow Junior College in Utah. Jatta will have three years to play two at Colorado … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Jatta … Jatta is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Jatta is rated as the No. 4 junior college offensive lineman in the nation, the No. 1 offensive lineman out of California, and the No. 9 overall junior college prospect.

Jatta had other offers from … most notably, South Carolina. Jatta had been on the Gamecocks’ commitment list for nearly six months. BYU, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma State and Syracuse were the other Power 5 programs after Jatta early in the process, before he initially committed to South Carolina. He was offered by Coach Prime’s staff at Jackson State in November and he was also being recruited by O’Boyle when he was at Kent State. Jatta played his high school ball at Helix High School in the San Diego area. After he de-committed from South Carolina, Auburn became CU’s primary competition for Jatta’s services.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Jack Wilty – OL

Here is a link to his official CUBuffs.com bio

Just the facts … Committed December 21st (Signing Day) … Wilty is a 6’4″, 310-pound offensive lineman from Pleasant Hill, Iowa, who comes to Colorado by way of Northern Illinois and Iowa Central Community College. Wilty will have three years to play three at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Wilty … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2020, Wilty was rated as a two-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Wilty was rank as the No. 189 offensive guard in the country, and the No. 12 overall player from Iowa. As a transfer, On3 sports lists him as a three star prospect, ranking him the No. 69 junior college transfer, the No. 4 inside offensive lineman in the country, and the No. 8 overall player out of Iowa.

Wilty had other offers from … hardly anyone out of high school. Before transferring to Iowa Central Community College, Wilty signed on with Northern Illinois. He red-shirted in 2020, then transferred to Iowa Central.

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Shane Cokes – DL

Here is a link to his official CUBuffs.com bio

Just the facts … Committed December 20th … Cokes is a 6’3″, 275-pound defensive lineman from Dayton, Ohio. He comes to Colorado by way of Dartmouth. He will have two years to play two at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Cokes … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2019, Cokes was unrated by either recruiting service.

This past season he played in 10 games and produced 53 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 8.5 TFLs, 2 QB hurries, one forced fumble and one pass break-up. Over the past two seasons, Cokes has generated 49 pressures from the interior and possesses ideal size at 6-foot-3, 275-pounds and has been a back-to-back second-team All-IVY League selection.

“He is a destroyer of the line of scrimmage” – Duane Brooks (Dartmouth DL Coach)

Cokes had other offers from … only smaller schools out of high school, including a number of Ivy League schools, along with schools like Army and Holy Cross. As a Transfer Portal candidate, however, Cokes reported offers from Miami, Iowa State, North Carolina State, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Washington State, Purdue and Wake Forest.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Savion Washington – OL

Here is a link to his official CUBuffs.com bio

Just the facts … Committed December 19th … Washington is a 6’9″, 342-pound offensive tackle from Akron, Ohio (St. Vincent – St. Mary). He comes to Colorado by way of Kent State, where he was coached by new CU offensive coordinator Sean Lewis, who was the head coach for the Zips. Washington will have three years to play two at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others say about Washington … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2020, Washington was rated as a two-star prospect by Rivals, but a three-star prospect by 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Washington was rated as the No. 189 offensive tackle in the nation, the No. 92 player overall out of Ohio, and the No. 2359 player overall in the country.

With Washington anchoring the right side of the offensive line, Kent State led the MAC in rushing yards this past season. Washington’s 75.9 grade from Pro Football Focus in 11 games this fall ranked first among the Golden Flashes’ offensive linemen and was a substantially better grade than any CU offensive lineman in 2022. Pro Football Focus graded Washington as the No. 61 overall tackle in its database last season, with a 79.0 pass-block grade and a 72.3 rush-block grade that rate well above average in college football.

Washington had other offers from … Michigan State and Syracuse from the Power Five, along with numerous Mid-American Conference schools. In the Transfer Portal, CU’s main competition for Washington’s services was Oklahoma State.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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LaVonta Bentley – LB

Here is a link to his official CUBuffs.com bio

Just the facts … Committed December 19th … Bentley is a 6’1″, 215-pound linebacker from Birmingham, Alabama (Jackson-Olin). He comes to Colorado by way of Clemson. Bentley will have two years to play two at CU … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Bentley … A member of the Recruiting Class of 2019, Bentley was considered to be a four-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Bentley was considered to be the No. 11 inside linebacker in the nation, the No. 8 overall prospect out of the state of Alabama, and the No. 179 player in the nation. At 247 Sports, Bentley was ranked as the No. 16 inside linebacker in the country, the No. 10 overall prospect out of Alabama, and the No. 272 player in the nation.

As a Transfer Portal candidate, Bentley is ranked by Rivals as a three-star prospect, the No. 152 overall transfer in the nation.

Described as a hard-hitting linebacker, Bentley was credited with 73 tackles, five-and-a-half sacks, two pass breakups and two forced fumbles in 417 defensive snaps across 40 career games with the Tigers. He was also a three-time ACC Honor Roll selection.

High school evaluation by 247 Sports … A little undersized at 6-0, but is compact and powerful. Physical, tackles through player, can move a pile and his strong. Consistent and productive against run. Plays fast and reacts quickly. Built to play in box and be run stopper. Shoots gaps well. Gets through traffic and locates ball carrier. Effective blitzer. High character and tough. Works hard. Must add hip flexibility to play lower and add to his explosion. Has to improve body control to keep from overrunning plays. Coverage skills need work to be three-down player. Multi-year starter at Top-20 power program. Late NFL draft pick or free agent.

Bentley had other offers from … at least a dozen Power Five schools, including Clemson, where he signed. Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Oregon, Nebraska, and LSU were all suitors.

In his own words … “I just knew this was the right fit for me to showcase my talent because all eyes on Colorado right now. All eyes on us,” Bentley told CU Sports Report soon after announcing his decision.

“… At this point I’m just ready to ball because it’s bigger than me. I’ve got a family to feed. I [made] the best of my opportunity. At Clemson, when I got my number called and I go in, I made the best of it. But now I’m at the point where it’s my fifth year — ain’t no more time to be wasted sitting on the sideline. I’ve got my dreams right in front of me. With this football, it can take you to many places. Like I said, I’ve got a family to feed. It’s bigger to me, as I realized growing up. The place that we come from, it’s rough, so I’m just trying to change that whole thing [for my family] and just ball out. This is the year to do that, and I thank God I’m in the right place to do that with all the exposure that’s going to be [on Colorado]. All I’ve got to do is be me, really. Trust the process.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

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Taijh Alston – DL

Here is a link to his official CUBuffs.com bio

Just the facts … Committed December 18th … Alston is a 6’4″, 255-pound defensive lineman from Cameron, North Carolina. Alston comes to Colorado by way of East Carolina and West Virginia. Alston has one year of eligibility remaining … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …

What others have to say about Alston … Alston was a member of the Recruiting Class of 2017, and was considered a three-point prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Alston was rated as the No. 44 weakside defensive end in the nation, while at 247 Sports, Alston was listed as the No. 7 weakside defensive end in the nation, the No. 13 overall prospect out of the state of North Carolina, and the No. 64 overall prospect in the country.

Alston began his college career at East Carolina, where he redshirted in 2017. He then played at Copiah-Lincoln Community College and earned First-Team All-Mississippi JUCO honors in 2018 before transferring to West Virginia in 2019. Alston saw action in 28 games games with the Mountaineers and he recorded a total of 56 tackles, eight sacks and four forced fumbles.

Alston had other offers from … only a handful of schools back in 2017, with Alston choosing East Carolina over West Virginia.

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December 17th

First steps: Brothers Shedeur and Shilo Sanders enter the Transfer Portal

From Rivals.com … It was only a matter of time before Jackson State quarterback Shedeur Sanders was going to officially enter the transfer portal.

That time is Saturday.

Expect the younger Sanders to follow his father to his new destination in the PAC-12 with the Buffaloes. Deion Sanders told media during Sunday’s introductory press conference “that is your quarterback” while pointing at his son Shedeur in the crowd.

Since arriving at Jackson State in 2021, Sanders has been highly-productive in leading the Tigers to a 23-2 overall record as the starting quarterback.

During the 2021 season, Sanders threw for 3,231 yards with 30 touchdowns and just eight interception while completing 65.9% of passes. He helped lead Jackson State to an 11-2 record and their first SWAC East Title since 2013.

This past season, Sanders led Jackson State to a perfect 12-0 season and a SWAC championship while throwing for 3,403 yards with 36 touchdowns and just six interceptions.

A former 5.6, three-star prospect coming out of high school in the 2021 recruiting class, Sanders will provide a jolt of experience and playmaking ability to a vital position for a new-look Colorado program under the direction of Coach Prime.

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Tags: Alejandro Mata, Alton McCaskill, Amari McNeill, Arden Walker, Austin Johnson, Bishop Thomas, Brendan Gant, Brendon Lewis, Casey Roddick, Champion Johnson, Chance Main, D'Vion Harris, David Conner, Deeve Harris, Demouy Kennedy, Derrick McLendon, Devito Tisdale, Edgar Amaya, EJ Horton, Gavin Layton, Isaiah Lewis, Jack Bailey, Jack Hestera, Jahquez Robinson, Javon Antonio, Jaylen Ellis, Jeremiah Brown, Jibran Hawkins, Jimmy Horn, Jimmy Horn Jr., JJ Hawkins, Kareem Harden, Kavosiey Smoke, Kaylin Moore, Kyndrich Breedlove, LaVonta Bentley, Leonard Payne, Mark Vassett, Marshawn Kneeland, Myles Slusher, Noah Fenske, Omarion Cooper, Owen McCown, Reggie Young, Rodrick Ward, Sav'ell Smalls, Savion Washington, Seydou Traore, Shane Cokes, Shedeur Sanders, Shilo Sanders, Sy’veon Wilkerson, Taijh Alston, Tar'varish Dawson, Tayvion Beasley, Travis Hunter, Travis Jay, Tyler Brown, Vito Tisdale, Willie Gaines, Xavier Weaver, Yousef Mugharbil, Zach Blackwood
This post, about the Transfer Portal Tracker game, from the 2022 Season, is filed under Article.
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Transfer Portal Tracker