CU Recruiting Class of 2021

—

Colorado Recruiting Class of 2021

—

21 Commitments, by Position (bold = Signed Letter of Intent received) … 

Quarterbacks … Drew Carter …

Running Backs …

Wide Receivers … Ty Robinson … Chase Penry

Tight Ends … Erik Olsen … Austin Smith …

Offensive Linemen … Edgar Amaya … Jackson Anderson …

Defensive Linemen … Zion Magalei … Ryan Williams … Tyas Martin … Allan Baugh … Victory Vaka … Ikechukwu Iwunnah …

Linebackers … T.J. Patu … Zephaniah Maea …

Defensive Backs … Nikko Reed … Kaylin Moore … Trevor Woods … Tyrin Taylor … Trustin Oliver …

Specialists … Ashton Logan … Cole Becker

—

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

—

Austin Smith – TE

Just the facts … Committed April 16th … Smith is a 6’5″, 220-pound tight end from Elmaton, Texas Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Smith … Smith is rated as a two-star tight end by Rivals, but was not rated by 247 Sports. Smith initially committed to Florida A&M but he backed off that pledge in December, and then he was planning to enroll at Independence Community College this summer. But when the Buffaloes extended an offer, his plans again changed. Smith will enroll at Colorado in June, and be eligible to play as a true freshman this fall.

Smith had 631 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns during his senior season at Tidehaven. He played wide receiver in high school, but is expected to join the crowded tight end room at CU.

CU Press Release from CUBuffs.com … The University of Colorado has added another letter-of-intent signee to its 2021 football recruiting class, as Austin Smith, a tight end from El Maton, Texas, signed with the Buffaloes on Thursday.

Smith, 6-foot-5, 235-pound senior at Tidehaven High School, is the 17th high school star in the class, bringing the total class size to 22 when counting transfers (four from the NCAA transfer portal and one junior college).  El Maton is approximately 75 miles southwest of Houston just adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico.

Playing mostly wide and inside receiver in high school as Tidehaven usually didn’t utilize the tight end position, as a senior he caught 29 passes for 631 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Tigers, who played a full 11-game schedule, including one playoff game, last fall.  One of his highlighted plays was scoring on a 64-yard screen pass in a 42-6 win over Brazos.  He also played cornerback for the first time (in fact, starting all season), making about 15 tackles with an interception and two passes broken up, as opponents avoided throwing his way (he did not allow a touchdown and only a handful of completions).

He played receiver for three seasons, amassing over 1,000 yards for his career with 17 touchdowns and two 100-yard games, and also played on most special team units.  He earned first-team All-District honors as a senior (second-team as a junior), and was honorable mention All-Area his senior year as well, when he also was named to the Academic All-State team.

He also lettered four times in basketball (16.3 points per game as a junior in 2019-20) and in track (sprints and relays; personal best of 11.01 in the 100-meter dash).  He only played half the basketball season so he could start concentrating on preparing for football in college, but had a game to remember to open the year: he scored 40 points in a 72-66 win over Boling.

Smith had other offers from … Florida A&M, Brown, Fordham, and Northern Colorado. According to BuffStampede.com, Georgia, Michigan State and Texas were among the Power 5 programs that were looking at him as a 2022 prospect before Smith decided to forego junior college and commit to Colorado.

In his own words … “I feel like whenever I step on the field, I am the most athletic player, and I am one of the biggest”, Smith told BuffStampede.com. “It gives me a great advantage. I’m not just a big guy that can’t run. I am a great route runner, I can jump for the ball, and I have great ball skills. I think those are my greatest attributes.”

“There were about 30-plus Division-1 colleges recruiting me, that were going to evaluate me at Independence (C.C.),” Smith said. “Colorado was like, ‘We want you now. Just skip Junior College and come here instead.’ I couldn’t turn that down. Colorado was one of my dream schools.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

—–

T.J. Patu – LB

Update … De-committed February 2nd … 

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

What others say about Patu … Patu is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. Rivals rates Patu as the No. 90 overall prospect out of the state of California. At 247 Sports, Patu is considered to be the No. 47 outside linebacker in the nation, the No. 70 overall prospect out of the state, and the No. 799 overall prospect in the nation.

Patu is following in the footsteps of his uncle, Okland Salave’a, who was a defensive tackle starter for the Buffs in 1988 and 1989. Salave’a played in 28 games with the Buffaloes. He was a starter at right side defensive tackle as a senior on the ’89 CU team that went 11-0 in the regular season and finished with a No. 4 national ranking.

“My mom loves Colorado,” Patu said. “My uncle played there so my mom went to a lot of his games and always talked about how much she loves it there and how nice it is in Boulder.  She said the fan base is great and was really happy about my decision. I didn’t really talk to my uncle about Colorado until after I made my decision. My mom called him and the rest of my family to tell them what I was doing and he was hyped for me. He was really excited and said he totally supports my decision.”

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

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

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

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

—–

Ashton Logan – P/K

Update ... Likely to enroll in January as  a gray-shirt … 

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

What others say about Logan … Logan is rated as a two-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Logan is listed as the No. 15 punter in the nation, and the No. 183 overall prospect out of the state of California.

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

Logan was the Trinity League punter of the year in 2019. ChrisSailerKicking.com ranks Logan No. 9 nationally among punters for the 2021 class.

“Ashton is very quiet, very humble. He is very hard working. But from a technical perspective, his leg speed is insane”, Aaron Perez of The Punt Factory told 247 Sports (Perez was a punter for UCLA under Karl Dorrell). “He has a very, very, very fast leg and he kind of gets everything behind the ball. So, I think the first thing you’ll notice with him is just how fast he is able to attack the ball with his leg. He has a gift with that. And he is a big kid at 6-foot-2, so he just gets his whole body behind it, which is really nice to see.

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

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

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

—–

Victory Vaka – DL

Decommitted January 19th … Tweet from Victory Vaka … I would like to take the time to announce that I’ll be decommtting from the University of Colorado. No love lost and they’re still my top school but I want to make sure I’m making the best decision for my family and I.

Just the facts … Committed on Christmas Day, December 25th … Vaka is a 6’2″, 350-pound defensive tackle from Westlake Village, California Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Vaka … Vaka is listed as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Vaka is listed as the No. 28 defensive tackle in the nation, and the No. 45 overall player out of the state of California. Over at 247 Sports, Vaka is considered to be the No. 30 defensive tackle in the country, the No. 39 overall player out of California, and the No. 478 player overall in the nation.

Vaka had other offers from … almost two dozen Power Five schools. From the Pac-12, Vaka had offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, Oregon State, Utah and Washington State. Vaka had other offers from schools like Florida, Texas A&M, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, and Penn State. From May 4th to November 30th, Vaka was committed to Texas A&M. On December 18th, Vaka narrowed his list down to BYU, Colorado, Florida State, Michigan, Penn State and Vanderbilt.

“Vaka gets a good push and can shed his blocks, plug gaps and take on multiple blockers,” 247Sports National Recruiting Director Brandon Huffman wrote. “He needs to continue to play with consistency and not take plays off. He projects as a multi-year Power 5 starter.”

Vaka’s Composite rating of 0.8784 is higher than 16 of the 17 prospects that signed with Colorado during the first day of the early signing period on Dec. 16th.

–

—–

… Updated bios for all 17 CU commitments who have signed Letters of Intent (listed alphabetically) … 

—

Edgar Amaya – OL

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

What others say about Amaya … Amaya is listed as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Amaya is considered to be the No. 49 overall prospect out of Alabama, while 247 Sports has him as the No. 57 prospect out of Alabama, the No. 65 offensive guard nationally, and the No. 1338 overall prospect in the country. Playing for his hometown team which made it to the third round of the state playoffs, Amaya was invited to participate in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game this December.

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

“The first time (before committing to Kansas), I didn’t really look at the culture and how the coaching staff blended,” Amaya explained to BuffStampede.com. “I was just looking at the head coach and the position coach. This time around, I was looking at the culture, the town, and how happy everybody is in the town and in the program. I am going to be spending four years there and I wanted to make sure I will be happy”.

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

“The way I play in the run game, I am nasty,” Amaya told BuffStampede.com. “I have a mean streak about me. I am always looking to inflict some extra damage and get extra physical.

“And during my senior season, I became a better pass protector. I learned to identify stunts better. Last year when we saw stunts, it was easier to get run-throughs. This year, I made sure the whole offensive line picked it up better. So, we were a lot better, more sound.”

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

—–

Jackson Anderson – OL

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

What others say about Anderson … Anderson is listed as a two-star prospect by Rivals, but a three-star prospect by 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Anderson is listed as the No. 67 offensive guard in the nation, and the No. 211 overall prospect out of the state of Texas. Anderson is a two-sport athlete, also participating in track and field (shot put, discus).  Anderson was a First-team all-district selection as a junior. His two brothers, Riley and Austin Anderson, were both three-star prospects, and both signed with Texas A&M. Anderson’s father was coached by CU offensive line coach Mitch Rodrigue at Southern Miss back in the late 1980s.

Anderson had offers from … almost a dozen schools, including three from Power Five schools: Arizona; Texas Tech; and Kansas. Other offers came from the likes of Nevada, New Mexico, North Texas, Southern Miss, and Colorado State.

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

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

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

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

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

—–

Allan Baugh – DL

Just the facts … Committed April 28th … Baugh is a 6’3″, 255-pound defensive end from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (St. Thomas Aquinas) Rivals bio  247 Sports bio

What others say about Baugh … Baugh is considered to be a two-star prospect by Rivals, but a three-star prospect by 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Baugh was slotted as the No. 91 strong side defensive end in the nation; and the No. 206 overall prospect out of the state of Florida.

While slated to play on the defensive line for Colorado, Baugh spent his senior year of high school playing on the offensive line. “The team needed some help on the offensive line and I am a team-first player, first and foremost, so I decided to make sacrifices,” explained Baugh. “I played a little offensive line when I was in youth football. It has been a learning experience, obviously, but I have gotten better as the weeks have gone by.”

Baugh believes his experience playing as an offensive lineman this fall will benefit him in the future. “I used to focus on honing my craft as a defensive lineman and I didn’t really know what the offensive linemen were doing,” he said. “But now, after I go back to the defensive line, when I watch film, I am going to be able to see what his techniques are, know what he wants to do, and know how to beat it. I know the different type of blocks and sets offensive linemen want to use.”

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

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

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

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

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

—–

Cole Becker – K

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

—–

Drew Carter – QB

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

What others say about Carter … Carter is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Carter is considered to be the No. 17 dual-threat quarterback in the nation, the No. 5 overall prospect out of the state of Oregon, and the No. 902 overall prospect in the nation. Carter reportedly is also on Tad Boyle’s radar as a possible addition to the CU men’s basketball team.  Carter recently tweeted that after talking with Buffs’ basketball coach Tad Boyle, “I now have the opportunity to play both basketball and football at Colorado.”

“Carter is currently a three-star prospect with an 83 Rating but in evaluating the other dual-threat quarterbacks ranked ahead of him, he’s definitely due for a rankings bump,” 247Sports recruiting analyst Greg Biggins wrote for 247 Sports when Carter committed in August (Carter subsequently was moved up to an 88 Rating, but didn’t get a fourth star). “He throws a really nice ball, is a plus athlete who can move around and extend plays or just take off and run for big yards as well.”

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

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

On CU’s success in 2020 … “I think coach Chev (Darrin Chiaverini) and coach Langs (Danny Langsdorf) have done a really great  job with the offense,” Carter told 247 Sports.  “They seem to have an excellent game plan and the team is executing at a high level of efficiency.  That’s exciting because I can see myself excelling within the offense and doing well.  And I’m really happy for Sam. It’s been cool to see another Oregon kid in my position do what I’m about to do (Noyer played at Beaverton, only about eight miles from Carter’s Tigard high school). I have talked to Sam a couple of times so it’s been nice to have a relationship with him.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

—–

Zephaniah Maea – LB

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

What others say about Maea … Maea is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Maea is considered to be the No. 7 overall prospect out of the state of Nevada, the No. 53 insider linebacker in the nation, and the nation’s 1200 overall prospect. Rivals, meanwhile, has Maea as the 10th-best player out of Nevada this year.

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

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

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

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

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

On CU’s success in 2020 … “Honestly everything has been just on point,” Maea told 247 Sports. “The defense is solid and I know we just need to continue to stop the run game. Our offense is doing phenomenal and it’s been a great way to open the season. Now we just move down the road from here and keep winning. I know that hard work, dedication and faith is all the Buffs need and I’m excited to join the program.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

—–

Zion Magalei – DL

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

What others say about Magalei … Magalei is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Magalei is rated as the No. 19 player overall out of the state of Arizona this fall, the No. 83 outside linebacker in the nation, and the No. 1388 player overall nationally.

Magalei was credited with 51 total tackles, including 14 for a loss, in 13 games as a junior last season to help guide Chandler to its first-ever Arizona Open Division state championship. In five games this season, he had nine tackles, one sack and four quarterback hurries.

“Magalei raised some eyebrows during the pass rush drills, where he used his length and reach to cause headaches for offensive tackles,” 247Sports recruiting analyst Blair Angulo wrote. “The 6-foot-3, 220-pound rush end can beat blocks to the outside with his speed but he’s also got the savvy to counter inside and has an impressive motor. His brother, Nehemiah, will play offensive guard at Northern Arizona in the fall.”

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

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights .

—–

Tyas Martin – DL

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

What others say about Martin … Martin is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. Rivals rates Martin as the No. 27 defensive tackle in the nation, and the No. 2 overall prospect out of the state of Arkansas. At 247 Sports, Martin is ranked as the No. 42 defensive tackle in the country, the No. 3 prospect out of Arkansas, and the No. 693 player overall in the nation. Martin maintained his high ratings despite missing all of his senior season with a back injury (see below).

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

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

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

“The coaches I’m closet to is Coach Wilson and Coach (Chandler) Dorrell”, Martin told Rivals.com. “Our relationship is very tight. We just don’t talk about football; we talk about life and it feels like a family there. They believe in me a lot so I believe in them.”

On his recovery from back surgery … Surgery was required after Martin suffered an injury doing squats over the summer.

“Everything is going well,” Martin told BuffStampede.com in early December. “I am doing rehab once a week and just building, getting in the flow, walking and everything. It was tough at first but I have been getting back to it.

“I just had to hold myself accountable and not get overwhelmed or get down on myself. I walk every day, do my stretches that my doctor tells me to do, and I am getting better and better every day.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

—–

Kaylin Moore – DB

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

What others say about Moore … Moore is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Moore is considered to be the No. 98 “athlete” prospect in the nation, and the No. 112 overall prospect out of the state of California. Moore is a two-way standout who can make plays on both sides of the ball. Moore’s father, Kelvin Moore, played defensive back in the NFL (1998-99) for the Cincinnati Bengals.

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

After cutting his list of schools down to include Boise State, Cal and Oregon State, Moore chose CU.  “It was a really hard decision for me,” Moore said. “I had four great schools as my final choices but Colorado felt like the best all around fit for me and I’m very excited about my decision.”

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

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

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

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

—–

Trustin Oliver – DB

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

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

What others say about Oliver … Out of high school, Oliver was considered to be a three-star athlete by both Rivals and 247 Sports (he projects as a safety at Colorado). 247 Sports ranked Oliver as the No. 109 athlete in the country, and the No. 10 overall prospect out of the Colorado for the Recruiting Class of 2019. As a junior college recruit, 247 Sports rates Oliver as the No. 2 junior college safety in the country, the No. 4 overall player out of Colorado, and the No. 40 overall junior college prospect in the nation.

For Legend high in Parker as a senior, Oliver had 30 carries for 216 yards (a 7.2 yards/carry average) and two touchdowns, with 45 receptions for 450 yards and three touchdowns receiving. Oliver also had 151 yards in kickoff returns, 110 yards in punt returns, and 99 yards on two interception returns. On defense, Oliver posted 25 tackles (21 solo) for the 5-6 Titans.

Former Buff and former NFL lineman Matt McChesney worked with Oliver at his Six Zero Strength facility. When Oliver first committed to CU, McChesney stated that he believed Oliver to be the best skill player in Colorado.

“And I don’t even think it is close,” McChesney told BuffStampede.com. “He is from Compton and has Southern California wheels and he shows them off. He is as great kid, humble, works his butt off on a daily basis. Trustin is a weight room monster. He lifts with the linemen in this room.”

The last 22 months have not been what Oliver envisioned when he signed a letter of intent with the Buffaloes out of Legend High School in Parker, Colo., in February of 2019, but it is all working out. Oliver redshirted in 2019, and since eligibility doesn’t count for fall athletes in 2020, he will enroll at Colorado in January with four to play four.

“It will be like I am a freshman, except I will be coming from a Junior College, which I have been told many times is rare,” Oliver said. “I will be able to go get a great degree and obviously play ball with the guys and soak up the atmosphere and just enjoy life at CU.”

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

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

What Mel Tucker said about Trustin Oliver when he signed in 2019 … “Trustin is a unique athlete. He in my opinion, can be an NFL receiver – he can also be an NFL safety. He has excellent ball skills. He is extremely physical. He is a relentless competitor on both sides of the ball. He loves to block. He loves to hit. He will return punts. He will return kickoffs. He will be on all of the core special teams. When you meet the kid, he is the nicest kid in the world. When he steps on the field, he is a totally different guy. The theme is long guys that can run, that are versatile, play both sides of the ball, will be affective on special teams. These are usually the type of kids that usually play for you early because they can do so many things for you. He has the size and speed already. He is an excellent worker. He comes from a great family here in the state. We are very fortunate to have him.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

—–

Erik Olsen – TE

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

What others say about Olsen … Olsen is rated as a four-star prospect by Rivals, and a three-star prospect by 247  Sports. Olsen is considered to be the No. 16 tight end prospect in the nation by Rivals, while at 247 Sports, Olsen is ranked as the No. 16 tight end in the country, the No. 4 overall player out of the state of Colorado, and the No. 419 prospect in the nation.

Evaluation of Olsen from Blair Angulo of 247 Sports … Big frame, broad shoulders and decent length. Close to filled out physically, with strong lower half. Flexible pass-catcher with impressive high-point ability. Match-up issue over the middle against smaller linebackers and nickels. Shows ability to box out defenders for possession. Great hand-eye coordination and catches the ball smoothly. Lacks elite athleticism, but displays good after-the-catch potential. Adequate route runner with room to improve overall fluidity in space, particularly when changing direction. Tough to bring down and not afraid to lower his shoulder for extra yards. Potential multi-year starter at Power Five level with chance to garner serious NFL Draft attention.

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

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

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

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

—–

Chase Penry – WR

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

What others say about Penry … Penry is considered by both Rivals and 247 Sports to be a three-star prospect. At both Rivals and 247 Sports, Penry is rated as the No. 7 overall prospect out of the state of Colorado. 247 Sports also has Penry as the No. 121 wide receiver in the nation, and the No. 842 overall prospect in the country.

Cherry Creek has gone 23-0, including two state titles, over the last two seasons and Penry just kept getting better every season. After averaging just over 50 yards per game as a sophomore and junior, the 6-foot-1 receiver averaged over 80 yards per game while scoring eight touchdowns in eight games during his senior season.

“I think my route running and my ability to stretch the defense vertically was really the biggest thing that I showed I could do this year,” Penry said. “I was able to take the top off the defense, and because some of those vertical balls and I showed them a lot and I think on another aspect of the game just being a leader being a captain of the team.”

There are currently eight players from Cherry Creek on Colorado’s roster. Jonathan Van Diest signed with CU in 2017, Dimitri Stanley signed in 2018, Alec Pell signed in 2019, with Carson Lee and Jayle Stacks joining this year. CU walk-ons Dustin Johnson, Curtis Appleton (who had an interception in the San Diego State game) and Mac Willis (who is handling kickoff duties) also played at Cherry Creek.

Penry had other offers from … from eight schools, mainly from the Ivy League, although Colorado State and UNLV also offered. Penry committed to CU before Mel Tucker left, limiting his national interest, though a number of other schools – Nebraska, Iowa, Washington State, Cal and Boise State – reportedly expressed interest.

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

“A couple of Pac 12 schools, a school in the Big Ten and then a school in the Ivy League, Princeton, was pretty intriguing to me early when coach Tucker left,” Penry, who committed to CU before Tucker moved on to Michigan State, said about talking with some other schools. “But I think Boulder is going to be the right place for me so I’m really excited about that.”

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

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

“Getting to Know” Chase Penry, from YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com …

—–

Nikko Reed – CB/KR

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

What others say about Reed … Reed is considered to be a three-star prospect by 247 Sports, but only a two-star prospect by Rivals. Reed is rated by 247 Sports as the No. 151 “athlete” in the nation, and the No. 158 overall prospect out of the state of California, and the No. 1925 player nationally. While other schools recruited Reed as a wide receiver, he is projected as a cornerback at Colorado (though he could see the field earlier as a kick returner).

The 5-foot-10, 160-pound Reed showed off his versatility as a junior at Moreau Catholic while racking up 1,328 all-purpose yards, scoring 17 touchdowns, and causing seven turnovers on defense. (Reed is expected to stay in school and play his senior season this spring, then join the Buffs next summer).

“College coaches have said they don’t care how small I am right now because I am going to naturally get bigger in college and they like what I bring to table with my versatility and athleticism,” Reed told 247Sports. “As a defensive back, I am fast, I have good hips, and my change of direction is very good. By playing receiver, I know almost every route on the route tree, so playing defensive back is easier for me.”

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

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

Reed chose September 2nd as his commit date because it was the sixth anniversary of the death of his cousin. “Six years ago today, my cousin was taken away from me, so it’s only right i do it for him,” Reed wrote on Twitter. “I will be continuing my education/football career and COMMITTING to The University of Colorado!!”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

—–

Ty Robinson – WR

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

What others say about Robinson … Robinson is listed as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Robinson is rated at 13th-best overall prospect out of the State of Colorado, and the No. 87 “athlete” in the nation, and the No. 1,228 player overall nationally.

“He’s probably the best athlete that I’ve ever been able to coach,” Shawn Marsh, head coach at Eagle Crest, told BuffStampede.com. (Marsh has been a head coach in high school for 16 years and also had a stint as the associate head coach and offensive coordinator at Division-II Colorado Mesa University). “Last year was the first real time that Ty had to learn how to run routes. I think once Ty understands running routes and spacing and continues to work on his speed, he is going to be a very, very, very good football player.”

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

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Robinson was credited with 35 receptions for 861 yards and a pair of touchdowns in nine games as a junior last season, averaging over 24 yards per catch. He is also a standout basketball player who has played at the varsity level all three years of high school and averaged 13.3 points per game this past season. (Eagle Crest won’t play its 2020 season until spring)

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

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights

And a link to some basketball Hudl.com highlights

—–

Tyrin Taylor – DB

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

What others say about Taylor … Taylor is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. Rivals rates Taylor as 40th-best overall prospect out of the state of North Carolina, while 247 Sports has Taylor as the No. 66 player out of North Carolina, and the No. 140 safety in the nation, and the No. 1638 player overall in the country.

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

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

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

Taylor intends to forego his senior season, and enroll early at Colorado.

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

“Getting to Know” Tyrin Taylor, from YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com …

—–

Ryan Williams – DL

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

What others say about Williams … Williams is rated as a three-star prospect by 247 Sports, but only a two-star prospect by Rivals. Williams is considered by 247 Sports to be the No. 111 defensive tackle in the nation, the No. 299 player overall out of the state of Texas, and the No. 1957 player in the nation.

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

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

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

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

“Getting to Know” Ryan Williams, from YouTube, courtesy of BuffStamepede.com …

—–

Trevor Woods – DB

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

What others say about Woods … Woods is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. Woods is rated by 247 Sports as the No. 104 safety prospect in the nation, and the No. 180 player overall out of the state of Texas, and the No. 1211 player in the nation. Woods posted 156 tackles and eight sacks as a junior for Taylor High, which is a 6-A school. He had four interceptions, with all four returned for touchdowns, including two going for over 90 yards (check out his Hudl.com highlights).

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

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

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

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

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

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

“Getting to Know” Trevor Woods, from YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com …

–

—–

Tags: Allan Baugh, Ashton Logan, Austin Smith, Cole Becker, Drew Carter, Edgar Amaya, Erik Olsen, Ikechukwu Iwunnah, Jackson Anderson, Kaylin Moore, Nikko Reed, Ryan Williams, T.J. Patu, Trevor Woods, Trustin Oliver, Ty Robinson, Tyas Martin, Victory Vaka, Zephaniah Maea, Zion Magalei
This post, about the Recruiting Class of 2021 game, from the 2021 Season, is filed under Article.
You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment.