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CU Recruiting Class of 2025 – Signed
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15 Commitments, by Position
Bold = Financial Aid Agreement received by CU (formerly Letter of Intent)
- * = rated as a four-star recruit by Rivals
- ^ = rated as a four-star recruit by 247 Sports
- + = rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN
- # = rated as a four-star recruit by On3 Sports
Quarterbacks … Julian “Ju Ju” Lewis ^# (Lewis is rated as a five-star recruit by Rivals and ESPN)…
Running Backs …
Wide Receivers … Quanell X Farrakhan, Jr. *^+# … Adrian Wilson *^+ …Quentin Gibson + …
Tight Ends … Corbin Laisure … Zayne DeSouza …
Offensive Linemen … Chauncey Gooden ^+ … Jay Gardenhire … Carde Smith *+# …
Defensive Linemen … Christian Hudson + … London Merritt *^+ … Alexander McPherson …
Linebackers … Mantrez Walker * …
Defensive Backs … Alex Graham ^ (signed with USC) … Antonio “T.J.” Branch +# …
Athletes/Specialists …
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Christian Hudson – DL
Committed October 25th … Hudson is a 6’1″, 280-pound defensive lineman from Daytona Beach, Florida … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Hudson … Hudson is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Hudson is considered to be the No. 49 defensive tackle in the nation. At 247 Sports, Hudson is rated as the No. 40 defensive lineman in the country, the No. 49 player overall out of the state of Florida, and the No. 501 overall prospect in the nation.
Evaluation from Andrew Ivins at 247 Sports … A potential spark plug in the middle. Two-way lineman for a decorated Mainland program that makes things happen on both sides of the ball. Under 6-foot-1, but finds ways to win with leverage and effort. Initially was viewed by some colleges as an offensive lineman at the next level, but made it clear he wants to chase quarterbacks after racking up nine sacks as an 11th grader. Impressive snap anticipation jolts him forward while active hands allow him to disengage and swipe past would-be blockers.
Hudson had other offers from … a dozen Power Four schools, including Penn State, West Virginia, Iowa, Louisville, Iowa State and Pitt. Hudson had been a Central Florida commit since July 6th.
In his own words … “They made me feel at home and they’re definitely building something special up there,” Hudson told Rivals analyst John Garcia Jr. about his decision to pick CU. “And, I wanna be a part of that and they’re going to help me get to the next level.”
“The highlight of my visit was actually going and sitting down with (Deion) “Coach Prime” (Sanders), (defensive line) coach (Damione) Lewis and (assistant director of player personnel Devin) Rispress,” Hudson told BuffStampede.com following his visit. “They’re all really down to earth people who really care for their student-athletes and they know what they’re talking about.
“Another thing that stood out is when Coach Rispress took us up the mountains. And of course the game (against Kansas State) stood out.”
Here is a link to Hudson’s Hudl.com highlights.
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London Merritt – Edge
Committed November 28th … Merritt is a 6’2″, 250-pound edge rusher from the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Merritt … Merritt is rated as a four-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Merritt is considered to be the No. 5 edge rusher in the nation, the No. 13 overall prospect out of the state of Florida, and the No. 59 prospect in the entire Recruiting Class of 2025. At 247 Sports, Merritt is rated as the No. 13 edge rusher in the country, the No. 24 player out of Florida, and the No. 144 overall player in the country.
From Andrew Ivins at 247 Sports … Heavy-handed defender that looks like a natural fit as a power end in a 3-4 or a 4-3, but could ultimately settle in as a full-time 3-technique at the next level. Spent much of junior season working out of a two-point stance in an odd front for Georgia’s AAAAAA runner-up. Jolts offensive tackles and tight ends with a formidable punch and can pick up quick wins by sliding and dipping his way around blockers, although the sack total doesn’t always show for it. Flashes some instincts as a run defender and uses impressive short-area quickness to make stops in pursuit as he changes course and keeps the legs pumping. Transferred into IMG Academy in advance of senior season and posted impressive testing times at the powerhouse’s annual Pro Day. More notably, check in at roughly 6-foot-2.5, 250 pounds. Projects as a multi-year starter at the Power Four level. Must improve anchor technique and keep progressing as a rusher, but has plenty of developmental upside.
Merritt had other offers from … almost every Power Four conference team in the nation. Alabama, Clemson, Florida, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Ole Miss, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, and USC were all on the list of schools who offered Merritt. Merritt had been an Ohio State commit since March, but decommitted a few days before committing to Colorado.
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Antonio “T.J.” Branch, Jr. – DB
Committed September 23rd … Branch is a 6’2″, 172-pound defensive back from Miami, Florida … Rivals bio … 247 Sports …
What others say about Branch … Branch is considered to be a high three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Branch is considered to be the No. 55 safety in the nation, and the No. 96 overall player out of the state of Florida. At 247 Sports, Branch is rated as the No. 46 safety in the nation, the No. 70 player out of the state of Florida, and the No. 523 overall player in the nation.
Branch had other offers from … had almost two dozen other Power Four conference schools. including Florida State, Auburn, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, Tennessee, UCF and West Virginia. Branch had been a Penn State commit since June 19th.
In his own words … “I am the leader on the defense so every week it is a different role for me,” Branch told 247 Sports about his senior season. “One week I’ll be high safety, the next week I’ll be in the box, the next week I’ll be blitzing a lot. So it definitely changes week to week.
“I have been performing up to par this season. I feel I’ve shown improved footwork, and my man-to-man coverage got way better. I also learned how to blitz. I pride myself on my work ethic and running to the ball every play.”
Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.
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Alexander McPherson – DL
Committed November 28th … McPherson is a 6’5″, 240-pound defensive lineman from the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about McPherson … McPherson is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, McPherson is considered to be the No. 31 defensive end in the nation, and the No. 79 overall prospect out of the state of Florida. At 247 Sports, McPherson is rated as the No. 114 defensive end in the country, the No. 135 player out of Florida, and the No. 1036 overall player in the country. McPherson led IMG’s defense with both 52 tackles and eight sacks (in nine games) as a senior.
McPherson had other offers from … over a dozen Power Four conference schools, including Indiana, Michigan State, North Carolina State, and Pittsburgh. McPherson had been committed to Oklahoma State since June, but decommitted a few days before committing to Colorado. In the end, it came down to a decision between CU and North Carolina State.
In his own words … “I loved the game atmosphere (McPherson attended CU’s home game against Utah), and being around guys I played with and have played with in the past was cool,” McPherson told CU Sports Report about his visit.
Coach Deion Sanders has emphasized this season that when the Buffs recruit freshmen they want them to play immediately. That was a key selling point for McPherson and his decision to make it official with Colorado. “That when they recruit high school kids they expect them to contribute early,” he said.
Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.
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Julian “Ju Ju” Lewis – QB
Committed November 21st … Lewis is a 6’1″, 185-pound quarterback from Carrollton, Georgia … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Lewis … Lewis is rated as a five-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Lewis is listed as the No. 3 quarterback in the nation, the No. 1 overall player out of the state of Georgia, and the No. 6 overall prospect in the nation. At 247 Sports, Lewis is listed as the No. 9 quarterback in the country, the No. 14 player out of Georgia, and the No. 115 overall prospect in the country.
From 247 Scout Andrew Ivins … Quarterback prodigy that exits high school with over 10,000 career passing yards despite reclassifying and forgoing his senior season. Lacks elite physical traits, but is an elite distributor of the football with his quick release and advanced mechanics that picked apart defenses in the Peach State’s highest classification. Frequently in sync and in tune with his wide receivers as he excels at throwing with pace and precision to the first and second levels. Has continued to progress as a full-field reader over the years and is the type of young signal caller that will work through his keys and reads while looking off defenders. Can sense pressure and slip away from sacks, but shouldn’t exactly be viewed as a dynamic athlete that’s going to amplify a run game. Capable of connecting on some deep shots, but prep spray chart is painted with horizontal tosses and camp evaluations suggest he can keep improving as a vertical passer. Overall, projects as a new-age point guard that can push the tempo in a modern spread attack with his pin-point accuracy and savvy decision making. Smaller stature is not ideal, but has the skills and confidence to win games on Saturdays – and potentially right away.
Lewis had other offers from … the entire country. Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M … you name it. Lewis had been a USC commit since August of 2023, but has been courted by almost every major program in the country. Lewis took official visits to Auburn, Georgia, Indiana, taking his official visit to Colorado last summer (he also took several unofficial visits to games this fall).
In his own words … “I’m excited for the opportunity to get to work and compete,” Lewis told ESPN. “Colorado wasn’t recruiting me until I reclassed, so it really was perfect timing. This is only the beginning. I trust Coach Prime and [offensive coordinator Pat] Shurmur to help me become the player that I want to be.”
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Jay Gardenhire – OL
Committed June 26th … Gardenhire is a 6’8″, 350-pound offensive lineman from West Bloomfield, Michigan … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Gardenhire … Gardenhire is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Gardenhire is given a 5.5 rating, while at 247 Sports, Gardenhire is listed as the No. 35 prospect overall out of the state of Michigan, the No. 121 offensive tackle in the nation, and the No. 1744 overall prospect out of the Class of 2025.
He spent the first three years of his high school career at Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Prep then transferred to West Bloomfield for this season. West Bloomfield is where the Buffaloes signed defensive lineman Brandon Davis-Swain from in the 2024 class.
Gardenhire didn’t learn to play football until his sophomore year of high school, and didn’t take a snap on the offensive side of the ball until his junior year, so his recruitment did not develop as fast as it might have otherwise.
Gardenhire has other offers from … several other Power Four conference schools, including Pitt and Boston College.
In his own words … “Colorado recruited me like I was a top priority,” Gardenhire told 247 Sports. “They showed my family and I that they really wanted me and explained how I would fit into their program. Colorado is the place to be and I am glad to be a part of the first wave of dogs that will be coming to Boulder.”
“[Coach Loadholt] is fired up to play this season and he’s fired up to show the world that they can have a great o-line,” Gardenhire said. Coach Loadholt spoke to his committed lineman on their visit, and let them know his vision for the future of his offensive line. “Me and Chauncey [Gooden], he is trying to build the longevity of the offensive line and really turn it into one of the premier lines in the country,” Gardenhire said. “I think they’re doing a great job.”
… Here is a link to Gardenhire’s Hudl.com highlights …
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Zayne DeSouza – TE
Committed August 2nd … DeSouza is a 6’6″, 260-pound tight end from Loveland, Colorado … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about DeSouza … DeSouza is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. DeSouza is considered by both services to be the third-best recruit out of the state of Colorado. At 247 Sports, DeSouza is also listed as the No. 63 tight end prospect in the nation, and the No. 1195 prospect nationally, up from 1629 at the time of his commitment in August.
From Greg Biggins at 247 Sports (last summer) … It has been a strong off-season for DeSouza and he was one of our Top Performers at the Under Armour Next Camp in Utah back in June. He has a huge frame at 6-6, 260 pounds but showed really good body control, hands and the ability to separate from linebackers and corners. He has a huge catch radius, strong hands and caught everything thrown to him. He was quick off the line, showed a good initial burst as well as the physicality to bully opposing defenders who tried to press him. With his size and ability to move, there might be some thought to DeSouza eventually growing in to an offensive tackle but he showed enough athleticism to stay at tight end and should be a tough match problem at the next level.
DeSouza had other offers from … only Colorado and Washington State.
Here is a link to DeSouza’s Hudl.com highlights
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Quanell X Farrakhan, Jr. – WR
Committed July 13th … Farrakhan is a 6’0″, 177-pound wide receiver from Houston, Texas (North Shore) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Farrakhan … Farrakhan is rated as a four-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Farrakhan is rated as the No. 51 wide receiver prospect in the nation, and the No. 48 overall prospect out of the state of Texas. At 247 Sports, Farrakhan is considered to be the No. 38 wide receiver in the country, the No. 42 player out of Texas, and the No. 345 player in the nation.
Farrakhan has been a varsity starter since his freshman season. In October, Farrakhan had four returns for touchdowns … in the same game.
The 247Sports Scouting Report reads as follows:
“Advanced route runner with strong production against Texas 6A competition in Houston metro. Owns experience in all three phases with some part-time corner reps and impressive return-game context, including one kick return TD and one punt return TD as a junior. Displays impressive route snap and late-separating ability. Consistent hands catcher who’s spatially aware of defenders and the boundary and flashes body control acumen in the air. Flashes some speed-changing nuance that enhances route-running ability and run-after-catch effectiveness, which also derives in part from sneaky wiry strength and contact balance. Still developing fluidity and suddenness and unlocking top-end gear in the open field, but represents a bona fide high-major receiver prospect who could become an impact player with pro potential in the long run.”
Farrakhan had other offers from … at least two dozen other Power Four conference schools, including Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi, Penn State, Texas A&M, Tennessee, UCLA and Wisconsin. In addition to CU in June, Farrakhan took official visits to Penn State and UCLA before committing to Colorado.
In his own words … “I feel I have definitely improved on my route running,” Farrakhan said in October. “I always got to make sure that my route running gets better every single year. I would say I have improved on my hands. I haven’t had one drop yet so I pride myself on going out there and having strong hands to finish through tough catches.”
“I believe in what Coach (Deion) Sanders has going on,” Farrakhan told BuffStampede.com. “At first everybody was doubting him during his first year at Colorado but I always knew by the way he treats his players, his passion for the game and the staff they have that they have what it takes to make it big. So I believed in the staff and they are doing real big things right now.”
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Adrian Wilson – WR
Committed October 26th … Wilson is a 6’0″, 170-pound wide receiver from Pflugerville, Texas … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Wilson … Wilson is rated as a four-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Wilson has a 5.9 rating, just shy of five-star status. Wilson is rated as the No. 30 wide receiver in the nation, the No. 22 overall prospect out of Texas, and the No. 175 overall prospect in the country. At 247 Sports, Wilson is listed as the No. 34 wide receiver nationally, the No. 40 player out of Texas, and the No. 300 overall prospect out of the Class of 2025.
In 2023, Wilson had 60 receptions for 1,003 yards and 14 touchdowns, with 47 receptions for 985 yards and 14 touchdowns (so far) in 2024.
Here’s what 247Sports National Analyst Gabe Brooks had to say about the newest Colorado commit.
“Wilson’s having an encouraging senior year from a big-play standpoint. His per-catch rate of 23.1 yards reflects that, and represents a notable increase, especially considering that he averaged 19.5 and 18.2 the past two seasons, respectively. Wilson has high school basketball experience and a 6-foot-4 high jump to provide a strong multi-sport athletic profile. That should help his ability to win shot-play opportunities in the red zone, or any contested-catch situation, for that matter.”
Wilson had other offers from … almost two dozen Power Four schools, including both Arizona schools, both Kansas schools, TCU, Utah, and Texas Tech from the Big 12. Other offers were from schools like Oregon, Texas A&M, Penn State, Oklahoma and Miami. Colorado is the fourth team that Wilson has verbally committed to throughout the course of his recruitment. He pledged to both TCU and Oregon back in 2023 before backing away from the Ducks in the spring. Wilson then committed to Arizona State during an official visit in April before backing off of that decision a few days before committing to Colorado.
In his own words … “Definitely seeing how many people were bought into winning and the program,” said Wilson to 247Sports when asked why he picked Colorado. “Being the most prepared for the the NFL as possible, and continuing to better myself in all ways, including off the field.”
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Quentin Gibson – WR
Committed November 28th … Gibson is a 5’8″, 165-pound wide receiver from Ft. Worth, Texas … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Gibson … Gibson is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports, but, inexplicably, did not receive a rating from Rivals until after his commitment in late November. At 247 Sports, Gibson is listed as the No. 101 wide receiver prospect in the country, the No. 99 overall player out of the state of Texas, and the No. 692 recruit nationally.
A candidate to win the Dallas-area prep MVP this season, Gibson averaged 25.5 yards on 33 catches through the first six games of his senior campaign.
“I bring the ability to flip the field no matter where we’re at. I bring consistency,” he told the Nightcap. “If you need a third down conversion, throw me the ball. I hope to fill the shoes like LaJohntay Wester and Jimmy Horn … I just want to make history, whatever it takes. I just want my name to be in the history books.”
Gibson had other offers from … over two dozen schools, including numerous Power Four conference schools, including Kansas State, Illinois, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, Pitt, SMU, and TCU.
In his own words … “I wanted to go to a school that is like family,” Gibson told Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson upon his commitment. “Everybody that has been around Coach Prime has been with Coach Prime for many years. So, what was the better option? I hope to learn to be a better man in life, outside of football. And within football, what it is going to take to make it to the next level, where I want to be.”
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Chauncey Gooden – OL
Committed June 24th … Gooden is a 6’4″, 320-pound offensive lineman from Nashville, Tennessee … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Gooden … Gooden was rated as a four-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports when he committed to CU in June, but Rivals later downgraded Gooden to three stars. At Rivals, Goodon is listed as the No. 31 offensive guard prospect in the nation (down from No. 16 in June), and the No. 20 overall prospect out of the state of Tennessee (down from No. 10). At 247 Sports, Gooden is rated as the No. 11 interior offensive lineman in the nation, the No. 4 overall prospect out of Tennessee, and the No. 194 overall prospect in the country.
Gooden was named the “Alpha Dog” at the Under Armour Next Camp in Nashville in April. “He was incredible all day long,” 247Sports recruiting analyst Tom Loy wrote of Gooden after the event. “The event got started with some individual drills and testing, both of which Gooden shined in a big, big way. Then everyone battled it out during one-on-one drills and once again we saw the Top 247 standout impress. Gooden didn’t lose a rep and was dominant while competing. There were a few others in contention for this honor, but it was a unanimous decision by the 247Sports crew that the 2025 prospect was more than deserving of top honor.”
Gooden had other offers from … over three dozen Power Four schools, and took visits to Florida State, Miami, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Vanderbilt and Auburn. Other offers came from schools like Georgia, Clemson, Oregon, Ohio State, Oklahoma, LSU, Michigan, Ole Miss, Penn State, Texas and Texas A&M.
In his own words … “They pretty much say I am a dawg,” Gooden told BuffStampede.com. “They say I dominate. I do always look to dominate. I am always powerful, ready to go; I have good feet and I move well for my size. They just like everything about me and I believe they can help me get even better as a player.”
A day after returning from his trip to Boulder in June, Gooden chose the Buffaloes over other finalists Clemson, Georgia, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee and South Carolina. He already had a relationship with a number of Colorado’s staff members, and on his visit, he bonded with current Buff offensive linemen Jordan Seaton, Kahlil Benson and Cash Cleveland.
“I really appreciate them,” Gooden said. “Honestly, everything made it feel like home for me there, from the coaches to the fans to the players. Everybody treated me like I am a superstar and I am meant to be there. Even with the other commits, we all just clicked and felt like we were each other’s teammate already. So, Colorado is where I felt I needed to be.
“The relationship I have with the coaches on the team – like Coach (Darrius Darden-)Box, Coach (Corey) Phillips, Coach (Phil) Loadholt, and even Coach Prime, we were all locked in together and it was something special. Once I got a feel for the campus, the atmosphere and the culture, I knew I wanted to make my decision. It feels relieving. I have been in this recruiting process for a long time. I feel I committed to somewhere where it feels the most like home, so I feel I made a great decision.”
Here is a link to Gooden’s Hudl.com highlights.
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Carde Smith – OL
Committed November 28th … Smith is 6’5″, 293-pound offensive tackle from Mobile, Alabama … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio ..
What others say about Smith … Smith is rated as a four-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Smith is listed as the No. 18 offensive tackle prospect in the nation, the No. 17 prospect out of Alabama, and the No. 191 overall prospect in the nation. At 247 Sports, Smith is listed as the No. 24 offensive tackle in the country, the No. 15 player out of Alabama, and the No. 223 prospect in the nation.
From Cooper Petagna at 247 Sports … Estimated at 6-foot-5 and 285-pounds, appears to possess growth potential to add an additional 25-pounds to his frame at the collegiate level. Flashes good athleticism at the right tackle position where he shows an ability to win consistently at the point of attack by utilizing his size and frame to overwhelm opposing defenders. Appears to exhibit some quick twitch explosiveness off the line of scrimmage while displaying some natural power and play strength to drive defenders off the ball consistently. Excels as a run blocker at this point of his trajectory but will more than likely need a year or two of coaching to continue to develop as a pass protector. Good player that possesses very little verified athletic context but size and above average athleticism suggest he can eventually grow into a multi-year starter at the right tackle position at a Power Four program.
Smith had other offers from … over two dozen Power Four conference schools, including Florida State, Miami, Missouri, Texas A&M, Auburn, Arkansas, and, of course, USC. Smith had been a USC commit since August, but de-committed a few days before committing to Colorado.
In his own words … “I went up there for the Baylor game and the Cincinnati game,” the 6-foot-5, 300-pound offensive tackle recruit told the Nightcap Show. “Really just sitting down and talking with (offensive line) coach Phil (Loadholt) and Coach Prime and the other coaches, and seeing that I have a chance to come and play as a freshman, that is the main thing that really set it off.”
Smith took two other official visits, to Auburn and USC last summer. He spent nearly four months on the Trojans’ commitment list before re-opening his recruitment. At least a dozen other Power Four programs, and at least 25 colleges overall, have extended an offer throughout the course of Smith’s recruitment.
“Really just the environment around Colorado, it just feels like family more,” Smith expressed. “Coach Phil is a real dude. Sitting down with him, he told me the ins and outs of Colorado. Seeing that he actually played at that position and was really the best in his time, I really couldn’t turn that down. Plus, the opportunity to play early.”
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Mantrez Walker – LB
Committed April 27th … Walker is a 6’1″, 225-pound linebacker from Buford, Georgia … Rivals bio … 247 Sports …
What others say about Walker … Walker is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Walker was rated as the No. 15 inside linebacker in the nation, and the No. 46 overall prospect out of the state of Georgia in April when he committed, but is no longer rated by Rivals in either category. At 247 Sports, Walker is considered to be the No. 84 linebacker in the nation (down from No. 51 in April), the 95 prospect out of Georgia (down from No. 48), and the No. 807 player in the nation (down from 534).
Despite the fall off in his rankings, Walker had a good senior season. Walker racked up 114 tackles during his final two preps seasons, playing on one of the most talent stacked defenses in the Peach State. The Wolves allowed an average of just 10.0 points over 13 games this season, after allowing just 8.7 points per contest in 2023.
Walker had other offers from … almost two dozen Power Four schools, including Florida State, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, and Tennessee. Walker took visits Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Penn State, South Carolina and Virginia Tech before announcing his commitment during CU’s Spring Game.
In his own words … “It’s great to be a Buffalo!” Walker told Rivals. “It’s really just their constant communication and them showing me that I’m a priority. They came to the school when they could and when I went out there I felt like I could relate to those coaches the most. And then the connections with them being from the NFL. “I just feel like college football is changing and Coach Prime is going in the right direction with his new regime. Colorado is going nothing but up.”
Walker took four trips out to Colorado, including his official visit in June and his most recent unofficial trip out to the Front Range to witness the Buffaloes defeat Utah in Game 10 of the regular season.
“I was just impressed with how the defense performed,” he said. “I felt like the linebackers played great against Utah and I can really see myself coming in and filling a spot with Nikhai (Hill-Green) and (LaVonta) Bentley leaving.
“That was good to see them fly around defensively, how they swarm to the ball. Every time I looked, it was 11 hats to the ball. (Defensive coordinator and safeties) coach (Robert) Livingston is really dialing it up for them. That was my main takeaway from the game. I liked the atmosphere. My first time going to Colorado, when I visited them vs. USC last year, compared to this year was different. I was even getting love in the stands.”
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Corbin Laisure – TE
Committed April 27th … Laisure is a 6’5″, 225-pound tight end from Bluff City, Tennessee … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Laisure … Laisure is listed as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Laisure is listed as the No. 38 overall prospect out of the state of Tennessee. At 247 Sports, Laisure is rated as the No. 81 tight end prospect in the nation, and the No. 35 overall player out of the state of Tennessee, and the No. 1370 overall player out of the Class of 2025.
After playing in primarily at 10-personnel offensive scheme at Sullivan East, Laisure played in primarily an 11-and-12 personnel offensive scheme after transferring to Science Hill during his final prep season. He helped the Hilltoppers to eight wins, tied for their most in the last six years.
Laisure had other offers from … a number of other Power Four schools, including Arizona State, Louisville, Mississippi State, Mississippi and Syracuse.
Laisure visited Boulder last September to watch the Buffaloes host Colorado State. He returned for another unofficial visit to watch a CU spring practice, before joining the herd. Laisure also stopped by to see San Diego State, UNLV, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest last spring. 15 other programs stepped up with an offer before Laisure committed to the Buffs last April. He has been solid ever since.
“I committed before we had a winning record, before all the success, before some people were shocked, and everyone wants to commit… I feel like I was here before all that,” he said. “I am committed to the program more than just the performance they put out there. I am rocking with the Buffs more than that. I know this is the staff that can develop me, and we can accomplish even more than what they have accomplished this season.”
In his own words … “One of the things that I really loved about being at Colorado is there were so many different coaches that were trying to build a relationship and they were genuine”, Laisure told 247 Sports. “There are so many I could name. Coach Gunnar (White), Coach (Brett) Bartolone, Coach (Michael) Pollock, Coach Corey (Phillips), Coach (Devin) Ris(press), are some of them. I talked to the offensive coordinator a lot, I talked to the defensive coordinator. It felt like I talked to every one of their coaches. I had a great time.”
“I was ready to run through a brick wall for the man” – Corbin Laisure after talking to Coach Prime for 30 minutes.
“Going to Colorado’s practices, I definitely thought everyone got better as the practice went on and I definitely felt there was good chemistry between the players and coaches,” Laisure told BuffStampede.com, thinking back. “I thought that (tight ends) coach (Brett) Bartolone and (graduate assistant) coach (Andrew) Zimmer could communicate with the players openly and freely. The players did not seem like they had bad body language toward the coaches. That was a big plus.
“You saw all the players responding, never turning away from coaches. I never saw that at practice. You are going to practice more than you are going to play in games, so that was important. The practice culture was important. A lot of that feeds from (Deion) Coach Prime (Sanders). He takes care of people. He doesn’t leave people out to rot. He hires coaches that work well together. That is a huge reason why I loved it so much.”
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3 Replies to “CU Recruiting Class of 2025 – Bios”
dollar bids are still coming in for him I’m sure
What time is JUJU supposed to announce? Cant find it anywhere, and I’m sure that’s the one we are all on edge for……..
Whewwwww!!!! And there he is, now time for a few surprises