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CU Recruiting Class of 2022 – Signed Letters of Intent
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20 Commitments, by Position (Bios listed by position, below)
Quarterbacks … Owen McCown …
Running Backs … Victor Venn …
Wide Receivers … Grant Page … Chase Sowell … Jordyn Tyson
Tight Ends … Zach Courtney …
Offensive Linemen … Carter Edwards … Travis Gray
Defensive Linemen … Aaron Austin …
Linebackers … Shakaun Bowser … Eoghan Kerry … Kaden Ludwick … Aubrey Smith
Defensive Backs … Dylan Dixson … Simeon Harris … Keyshon Mills … Oakie Salave’a … Xavier Smith … Joshua Wiggins
Specialists … Ashton Logan …
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From CUBuffsTV
CU Signing Day video …
Phillip Lindsay closes out Signing Day …
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Quarterback …
Owen McCown – QB
… Official CU Signing Day bio …
Just the facts … Committed March 17th … McCown is a 6’1″, 175-pound quarterback from Rusk, Texas … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about McCown … McCown is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and Scout. At Rivals, McCown, who is a lefty, is considered to be the No. 26 pro-style quarterback in the nation, and the No. 92 overall player out of Texas. At 247 Sports, McCown is considered to be the No. 47 quarterback in the country, the No. 108 player out of Texas, and the No. 771 player overall in the nation.
After transferring from Myers Park High School in North Carolina to Rusk, McCown, a lefty, threw for 1,080 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions in eight games at Rusk as a junior – his first as a starter. He added 270 yards and eight touchdowns on 79 rushing attempts.
In 2021, Owen completed 68 percent of his passes for 3,362 yards with 36 touchdowns and just four interceptions for the Eagles, which finished 9-3. He also gained a team-high 371 yards and scored 11 times on the ground.
McCown is the son of longtime NFL quarterback Josh McCown. His uncle Luke McCown was a fourth-round pick in the 2004 draft, playing 14 years. Another uncle, Randy McCown, starred as a quarterback at Texas A&M.
Colorado head coach Karl Dorrell coached Josh McCown twice, briefly in 2008 with the Miami Dolphins and for two seasons (2017-18) with the New York Jets. Dorrell was the receivers coach in both of those stops.
McCown does not plan to be an early enrollee at Colorado, partly because he wants to play basketball with his brother at Rusk this winter. His brother, Aiden McCown, will take over at quarterback for the Eagles in 2022.
According to Rivals analyst Sam Spiegelman last spring … McCown put together impressive junior tape, showing some mobility and a big arm to attack the entire field.
McCown had other offers from … only one other Power Five conference school, and that was Virginia Tech, although Vanderbilt also expressed interest. Other offers came from schools like Ohio, UNLV, and Charlotte.
In his own words … “I think first and foremost my best ability is to process and read the defense, pre-snap and post-snap,” McCown told Rivals.com. “I think that’s most important and one of my top attributes … Being under center, doing some dropping back and play action is great and (also), being with coach Langsdorf and trusting his ability to see how I fit in the offense.”
McCown told 247Sports he wasn’t worried about the naming of the new offensive coordinator. “They said they got some guys in mind and I fully trust them to pick the right option. I believe in Coach Dorrell and they think I’ll be a fit no matter who they hire as their new offensive coordinator,” McCown said. “It has been a good process getting recruited by Colorado and I really enjoyed my visits out there.”
Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.
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Running Back …
Victor Venn – RB
… Official CU Signing Day bio …
Just the facts … Committed March 19th … Venn is a 5’10”, 170-pound running back from Buford, Georgia … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Venn … Venn is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Venn is considered to be the No. 16 all-purpose back in the nation, and the No. 67 player out of the talent-rich state of Georgia. At 247 Sports, Venn is rated as the No. 69 running back in the country, the No. 80 player out of Georgia, and the No. 860 overall prospect in the nation.
Venn helped Buford to a Georgia 6A state championship in both 2020 and 2021, is noted for his speed (in the quarterfinals of the state championship, Venn rushed for 195 yards on 19 carries as Buford defeated Lee County, 27-0. In Buford’s nail-biting 21-20 championship victory over Langston Hughes in the 6A title game, Venn had 46 rushing yards.
Venn is part of a 4×2 relay team that is ranked No. 3 in the nation early on during track season and he aspires to run a 10.8 in the 100-meter dash this spring.
“I love how they see me in their offense”, Venn told Rivals.com. They want to use me at running back, move me out to the slot, and really move me around to make me more valuable. I love their offense, I love the style of play in the Pac 12, and I love that fit”.
“I am being recruited mostly as an all-purpose back, so I can do more things like catch the ball out of the backfield or even go out to the slot sometimes”, Venn told BuffStampede.com.
Venn had other offers from .. over two dozen schools. From Power Five conferences, Venn had offers from USC, Arizona State, Florida State, Michigan State, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Mississippi, Rutgers, Duke, Boston College, Pittsburgh and Virginia. By Venn’s count, he had 26 total offers.
In his own words … “I really just want to have an opportunity to be an impact player in their offense in many ways” Venn told 247 Sports. “The fact they see me as a versatile player that can help them really stood out. I am anxious to get to know the new offensive coordinator when he gets hired because he will be calling the plays and putting me in the right positions along with Coach Dorrell.”
Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.
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Wide Receivers …
Grant Page – WR
… Official CU Signing Day bio …
Just the facts … Committed December 15th … Page is a 6’3″, 185-pound wide receiver from Boulder, Colorado (Fairview) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Page … Page is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and Scout. At Rivals, Page is listed as the No. 4 overall recruit out of the state of Colorado. At 247 Sports, Page is listed as the No. 3 recruit out of Colorado, the No. 63 “athlete” in the country, and the No. 880 overall prospect in the nation.
In seven games as a junior last season, Page was credited with 58 receptions for 815 yards and nine touchdowns. He had over 1,200 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns in nearly twice as many games as a sophomore.
Page had other offers from … a dozen Power Five schools, including Utah and Washington State from the Pac-12. Page had offers from (Mel Tucker’s) Michigan State, Missouri, Georgia Tech, Iowa, Kansas State, Wisconsin and Wake Forest. His most significant offer, however, came from Nebraska, with Page being a Nebraska commit since June 20, 2021.
Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.
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Chase Sowell – WR
… Official CU Signing Day bio …
Just the facts … Committed December 14th … Sowell is a 6’1″, 185-pound wide receiver from Humble, Texas (Asascoctia) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Sowell … Committing the day before Signing Day, Sowell remained an unrated prospect by 247 Sports. At Rivals, however, Sowell was rated as a three-star player. Sowell was Texas District 21-6A first-team selection as a junior. Sowell is a standout baseball player, and he has considered a future on the diamond, as well.
Sowell had roughly 1,400 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior, prompting Colorado to extend an offer on Dec. 4th. The Buffs have complimented him on his football IQ and his ability to make plays downfield.
Sowell had other offers from … only a handful of schools. The only other Power Five school expressing interest was Indiana (and that was for baseball), with offers from Northern Iowa, UT-San Antonio, Sam Houston and Incarnate Word. If you are looking for solace, the sentiment is that Sowell wasn’t actively pursued as he was looking more at pursuing a baseball career, but a breakout senior year turned some heads and changed some minds.
In his own words … “I am still deciding what I want to do,” Sowell told 247 Sports two days before he committed to Colorado. “I don’t really have an answer but I will continue talking with my family and I think I should be making a decision soon. But I am not planning to sign Dec. 15. I am actually waiting until February.”
Two days later … “The coaches at Colorado like my film and know what ‘m capable of,” Sowell told CUSportsNation. “I’ll always have to prove myself but I don’t think I really have to put on too much. The coaches at Colorado, coach Dorrell, coach (Reggie) Moore, they trust me and they believe in me.”
Here is a link to Sowell’s Hudl.com highlights.
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Jordyn Tyson – WR
… Official CU Signing Day bio …
Just the facts … Committed August 12th … Tyson is a 6’2″, 170-pound wide receiver from Allen, Texas … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Tyson … Tyson was considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Tyson is rated as the 87 wide receiver nationally, and the No. 89 overall prospect out of Texas. At 247 Sports, Tyson was listed as the No. 173 wide receiver nationally, the No. 186 prospect out of Texas, and the No. 1287 player nationally.
Tyson had 70 catches in his senior campaign, and his 1,294 receiving yards this fall were 976 more than any other Allen player. He also completed a 33-yard touchdown pass and made plays for the Eagles as a kickoff returner.
Tyson competes in track and field, with a long jump of 21-7 as a junior in Spring 2021.
Young for his grade, Tyson will not turn 18 years old until two months after he joins the Buffaloes this coming summer.
Tyson had other offers from … seven other schools, though none of them being Power Five conference schools. The best other offers came from schools like Tulsa, New Mexico and Colorado State.
In his own words … “The way Colorado believed in my talent and how they brought me into the family really stood out,” Tyson told BuffStampede.com. “How nice the facilities and campus are stood out also. We got a chance to look around Boulder quite a bit because we were out there for three or four days. Really, everything is nice out there.
On the firing of offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini … “(CU head) coach (Karl) Dorrell was out here (in early December) talking to me about his intentions with me, how he is going to coach me and we were talking about the situation at Colorado with Coach (Darrin) Chiaverini getting fired. Coach Dorrell likes my game” Tyson told BuffStampede.com. “He wants to take all the little, tiny details and just take it to the next level so that I can be great.
“I just have to trust Coach Dorrell, that he is going to bring in somebody good for me. It was weird that their offensive coordinator was their receivers coach before so I am glad that he is going to bring in two different ones, an offensive coordinator and a receivers coach. I am still committed and I am planning on signing next week. I am going to be in there in June ready to compete.”
Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.
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Tight end …
Zach Courtney – TE
… Official CU Signing Day bio …
Just the facts … Committed June 7th … Courtney is a 6’7″, 235-pound tight end from Post, Texas … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Courtney … Courtney is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Courtney is listed as the No. 54 tight end in the nation, the No. 144 prospect out of Texas, and the No. 1019 player in the country. The Post, Texas, Antelopes started out the season 1-6 before winning four in a row. Courtney had two-thirds of the team’s receptions and he had over 100 tackles on defense over the course of his senior season.
Courtney is a three-sport athlete who competes in basketball and track and field (200 meters, 300 hurdles, shot put, discus).
Courtney had other offers from … five other schools, with BYU the only other “Power Five” offer. Other offers were from Fresno State, Texas State, Northern Arizona and Western Kentucky.
In his own words … Courtney took an unofficial visit to Boulder to watch CU compete against USC earlier this fall. “I’m still with Colorado,” he told BuffStampede.com after the game. “They just show me a lot of attention and make me feel like I am home when I am out there. It is great that they make me feel comfortable in the area since it is so far from home.
“The fans were awesome when I went out there for the game, and I really enjoyed the whole pre-game and post-game experience. It was pretty cool. (Tight ends) coach (Bryan) Cook tells me I am going to be a big part of their program and he can’t wait to work with me. They think I’ll help out the team a lot.”
Here is a link to Courtney’s Hudl.com highlights.
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Offensive Linemen …
Carter Edwards – OL
… Official CU Signing Day bio …
Just the facts … Committed June 21st … Edwards is a 6’6″, 275-pound offensive lineman from Hattiesburg, Mississippi … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Edwards … Edwards is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Edwards is listed as the No. 26 overall prospect out of the state of Mississippi, the No. 93 offensive tackle in the nation, and the No. 1044 overall prospect in the country. Edwards was an All-State selection for the past three seasons (second-team All-State in 2021) for 6A Presbyterian Christian high school, which runs an almost exclusively run-based offense. In 2020, Edwards helped clear the way for future Louisiana Tech running back Marquis Crosby, who broke the single-season Mississippi rushing record with 3,678 yards. Colleges have complimented Edwards the most on his “flexibility and quick feet.”
Edwards had other offers from … several other Power Five conference schools, including both of his home state SEC schools – Mississippi and Mississippi State. Edwards also had offers from Kansas State and Louisville, as well as schools like UCF, UAB, Southern Miss and Princeton. Edwards took official visits to Kansas State and Louisville before committing to Colorado. Auburn and Ole Miss reached out to Edwards this fall, but he stayed with his commitment to the Buffs.
In his own words … “When I saw the Aerospace Engineering building, they have a great Aerospace Engineering program, I knew I wanted to commit,” Edwards told BuffStampede.com. “And I just love all the coaches. (Offensive line) coach (Mitch) Rod(rigue) and (head) coach (Karl) Dorrell… I really like them, and I like their strength program (which is led by Shannon Turley).
Edwards took four trips to Colorado throughout the course of his recruitment, including a four-and-a-half day trip to Boulder in November. “It was a smooth transition, with no hiccups or anything, after coach (Mitch) Rod(rigue) was let go,” Edwards told 247 Sports. “Coach Vlachos watched my film like a year-and-a-half ago so when he sat down with (Dorrell) to watch film and go over my tape, he said, ‘I don’t have to see him. I already know he is good.’ Dorrell said, ‘Are you sure?’ And Vlachos was like, ‘Yeah, I know he is good.’ So they turned it off after two clips. That meant a lot to me.”
Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.
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Travis Gray – OL
… Official CU Signing Day bio …
Just the facts … Committed August 4th … Gray is a 6’6″, 300-pound offensive lineman from Aurora, Colorado (Cherokee Trail) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio
What others say about Gray … Gray is rated as three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Gray is listed as the No. 8 overall prospect out of the state of Colorado, the No. 119 offensive tackle in the nation, and the No. 1210 overall prospect in the country.
His father, Lamarr, played outside linebacker on Colorado’s 1990 national championship team. His cousin, Joshua, signed with Oregon State in the 2018 class and, per the 247Sports Composite, was rated a three-star offensive tackle out of Rancho Cucamonga, CA.
Gray had other offers from … at least four other Power Five conference schools, including both of the Arizona schools from the Pac-12, along with , Missouri, Kansas and Maryland. Gray was also being recruited by schools like Nebraska, Utah and Oregon State.
In his own words … “I worked on my footwork a lot… I didn’t feel my footwork wasn’t as good last season because I was still growing into my body. I am still getting used to it,” Gray told BuffStampede.com. “Footwork is a huge thing, and I feel I improved on my run game and my pass game, and I will be more violent at the line of scrimmage as a senior. Colleges like my length and my ability to recognize defenses. They think I can be a really good team player at tackle.”
Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights
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Defensive Lineman …
Aaron Austin – DE
… Official CU Signing Day bio …
Just the facts … Committed July 6th … Austin is 6’3″, 255-pound defensive lineman from Ft. Worth, Texas (North Crowley) … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Austin … Austin is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Austin is considered to be the No. 139 defensive lineman in the country, the No. 156 overall prospect out of Texas, and the No. 1088 player in the country.
Austin had other offers from … some 20 schools nationally, including a number of Power Five schools. From the Pac-12, Austin had offers from Washington State and Arizona. Austin had other offers from Boston College, Illinois, Kansas, Kansas State, Minnesota and Nebraska.
In his own words … “I had been out of the (Dallas-Fort Worth) metroplex before but I had never been that far,” Austin told BuffStampede.com. “Na’im Rodman showed me the ropes, how it is like living out there in Boulder and other things like coach. I met with (defensive coordinator and defensive line) coach (Chris) Wilson and (recruiting assistant) D.J. Bryant and their message was that I can be there and be successful and I can be part of a family.”
Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.
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Linebackers …
Shakaun Bowser – LB
… Official CU Signing Day bio …
Just the facts … Committed September 20th … Bowser is 6’4″, 225-pound linebacker from Gilbert, Arizona … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Bowser … Bowser is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Bowser is considered to be the 44th-best outside linebacker in the nation, and the No. 10 player out of the state of Arizona. According to 247 Sports, Bowser is rated as the No. 79 linebacker in the nation, the No. 11 player out of Arizona, and the No. 832 player overall in the country. Bowser recorded 77 tackles, 11 sacks, and 12 total tackles for loss in his 2020-2021 season.
Bowser had other offers from … a good number of Power Five schools. From the Pac-12, Bowser had offers from both Arizona schools, Utah and Oregon State. Other offers came in from Michigan, Iowa State, and both Kansas schools. Bowser’s final three came down to Colorado, Kansas State and Oregon State.
In his own words … “So my family and I sat down and talked about it,” Bowser told BuffStampede.com. after his commitment in September. “Altogether, Colorado and Boulder is just best for me to grow not only as a football player but as a person and man because that is what college is also about. It is not just about football.”
Bowser took his official visit during the Homecoming win over Oregon State, and the double-overtime win helped to solidify his commitment. “It was definitely different (than his official visit in June) … I felt a lot more comfortable and at ease,” Bowser said. “I didn’t have to stress about things like, oh, is this the place I want to go to? It was more like, okay, this is my home, let’s just enjoy it. It was great to see a lot of people on campus because when we went up there in June, there weren’t a lot of students around.
“Seeing the game, seeing how packed it was, and the energy there was just amazing. And then going on the field after their double overtime win over Oregon State and being in the locker room and feeling all the players’ energy was really fun.”
Bowser said he has been keeping tabs on Colorado’s other games and he is optimistic about the future.
“What I have been seeing from them is a lot of young guys developing,” he said. “They are having a tough season right now but in one or two years, it might be one of the top teams in the Pac-12. They are playing a ton of freshmen and sophomores, so they are building, and that’s what I have been focusing on. I have complete trust in the program.”
Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.
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Eoghan Kerry – LB
… Official CU Signing Day bio …
Just the facts … Committed December 1st … Kerry is a 6’3″, 225-pound linebacker from Santa Ana, California (and recruiting hotbed Mater Dei) .. Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Kerry … Kerry is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Kerry is listed as the No. 48 outside linebacker in the nation, and the No. 40 overall prospect out of the state of California. At 247 Sports, Kerry is rated as the No. 66 linebacker nationally, the No. 54 prospect out of California, and the No. 684 player in the nation.
Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Adam Gorney describes Eoghan Kerry as a physical player that flies around and makes plays all over the field.
“I’ve always been surprised that Kerry has not seen his recruitment take off even more because he can move well, he’s physical and Kerry flies around the field to make plays all the time,” said Gorney last summer, before Kerry’s senior season. “Maybe it’s because Kerry has only played football for a few years or because of the Covid shutdown but once coaches see him in person, they become interested.”
Kerry had other offers from … from five other Power Five schools, most notably Texas, which was seen as CU’s greatest competition. Kerry was a Texas commit from August until November 27th, when he de-committed. From the Pac-12, Kerry had offers from UCLA, Utah and Arizona, with other offers from schools like Boston College, Colorado State, and Nevada. Kerry also had offers from the likes of Yale and Penn – so we know academics won’t be an issue.
In his own words … “Colorado was amazing, even better then I expected,” Kerry told 247Sports in the summer. “Boulder is Beautiful, the Flatirons, the mountains and just the overall environment there was incredible and I really had a good time.
“The coaches are awesome and have created a great culture there. That’s a big thing there, the coaches are really focusing on the culture of the program and bringing in guys that fit that and that’s something that’s important to me too.”
Here is a link to Kerry’s Hudl.com highlights.
A You Tube video: A day in the life of Eoghan Kerry
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Kaden Ludwick – LB
… Official CU Signing Day bio …
Just the facts … Committed June 16th … Ludwick is a 6’4″, 245-pound linebacker from Clackamas, Oregon … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Ludwick … Ludwick is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Ludwick is considered to be the No.115 outside linebacker in the nation, the No. 7 overall prospect out of the state of Oregon, and the No. 1109 player nationaly. Ludwick has reported gaining 45 pounds in the last year or so, and, while he is currently listed as a linebacker prospect, he may be a defensive end by the time he gets to Boulder.
“It all started last offseason, getting in the weight room and also honing my craft,” Ludwick told CUSportsNation. “It definitely seemed like crazy improvement throughout this season, just using different moves and techniques on offensive linemen to get myself to the ball. I think I made a huge improvement but there’s always stuff to work on.”
Ludwick had other offers from … four other schools, including Washington State from the Pac-12. Other offers were from Air Force, Nevada and Idaho.
In his own words … “The coaching staff and especially coach Mike (Brian Michalowski) really cares for me and wants me to get better as a player and a person,” Ludwick told 247Sports. “They’re recruiting me as an edge/outside line backer, with the occasional pass drop here and there, but mostly going all the time after the quarterback.”
Ludwick said head coach Karl Dorrell played a role in his decision.
“Coach Dorrell was a factor for sure,” said Ludwick. “Him getting on the phone with me means a lot. I know he is busy but he is a great dude who really knows the game of football.”
Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.
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Aubrey Smith – LB
… Official CU Signing Day bio …
Just the facts … Committed October 22nd … Smith is a 6’2″, 210-pound linebacker from Buford, Georgia … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Smith … Smith is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At Rivals, Aubrey is rated as the No. 21 inside linebacker in the nation, and the No. 62 player in the talent-rich state of Georgia. According to 247 Sports, Smith is the No. 60 linebacker in the nation, the No. 61 player out of Georgia, and the No. 607 player overall in the country.
The 6-foot-2, 217-pound Smith helped the Wolves to a nail-biting 21-20 victory over Langston Hughes in the 6A title game last Friday night. Fellow future Buff Victor Venn had 46 rushing yards for Buford in the championship contest.
“That feeling of winning it was the best feeling I have had in my life so far,” said Smith. “It was extra special because it is my senior year and just the way we won it. We all went back to our stadium after the game and celebrated. We rung the bell and had all the fans cheering us on for a great season.”
On the recruiting trail, Smith said that Colorado’s coaches told him he’d be utilized both in man and zone coverages as well as performing the duties of a more traditional inside linebacker, i.e. stopping the run.
“Aubrey is a hard hitting linebacker. He’s really physical,” teammate Victor Venn said. “He is also versatile. He can guard outside, he’s got some speed, and he can come downhill. It has been great going against him in practice every day, challenging him, trying to make moves on him.”
Smith had other offers from … an impressive list of schools, including Alabama, Georgia, Auburn and Mississippi from the SEC. There were also offers from Florida State, Michigan State (and Mel Tucker), Nebraska, Arizona State, Baylor, Georgia Tech and Indiana.
In his own words … “Knowing the coaches has been a great experience,” he told CUSportsNation after his official visit. “The relationships with the coaches have been good so far. My vibe with (inside linebackers coach Mark) Smith is A1 — I have a good relationship with him.”
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Defensive Backs …
Dylan Dixson – DB
… Official CU Signing Day bio …
Just the facts … Committed February 4th … Dixson is a 6’2″, 190-pound defensive back from Pearland, Texas … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio
What others say about Dixson … Dixson is listed as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. Dixson was given a fourth star in late February by 247 Sports, but later went back to three stars. Rivals rates Dixson as the No. 72 overall player out of the state of Texas, and the No. 45 safety prospect in the country. At 247 Sports, Dixson is rated as the No. 47 safety in the nation, the No. 78player overall out of Texas, and the No. 560 player in the nation.
Dixson was second-team all-district pick at safety as a junior, and was Texas District 23-6A first-team selection at outside linebacker as a sophomore.
“Colorado said they would like me to play their strong safety position,” Dixson told BuffStampede.com. “I did play outside linebacker my sophomore year, but aside from that I have been playing safety since I was 12 years old.”
Dixson accounted for 52 tackles, four interceptions, 11 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in nine games as a junior. He also had 10 receptions on offense.
“I have good tackling skills, I don’t get tired, and I like being physical,” said Dixson, a second-team all-district selection in 2020.
In 2021, the Pearland Oilers finished with a 7-4 record. Dixson finished with 109 tackles, three interceptions, seven pass break ups, two forced fumbles and one touchdown.
Dixson had other offers from … From eight other schools, including six other Power Five schools. Dixson had offers from Arizona State, Florida State, Iowa State, Missouri, Virginia Tech and Tennessee.
In his own words … “It seems I’m going to play the strong safety position, which I think best fits me because it’s closest to the line,” Dixson told the Daily Camera. “I’m more of a run fit/tight end type guy. I felt that best fits me because as a linebacker, I feel like I’m more of a coverage linebacker in the first place. It really wouldn’t be a big adaptation to move to strong safety.”
Really, there’s not much Dixson doesn’t like about CU.
“I feel like it best fit me as a player,” he said.
Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.
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Simeon Harris – DB
… Official CU Signing Day bio …
Just the facts … Committed July 21st … Harris is a 6’0″, 170-pound defensive back from Benicia, California (near San Francisco) Rivals bio 247 Sports bio
What others say about Harris … Harris is rated as a three-star prospect by 247 Sports, but only a two-star prospect by Rivals. At 247 Sports, Harris is considered to be the No. 100 cornerback prospect in the nation, the No. 83 overall prospect out of the state of California, and the No. 1074 prospect nationally.
This season at Benicia, Harris has shined on both sides of the ball, as he also played wide receiver in addition to defensive back. Offensively, he has caught 39 passes for 602 yards and nine touchdowns, leading the Panthers in every category. As a defensive back, he’s had 40 tackles as well as two picks and four passes defended.
Harris had other offers from … four Mountain West schools: Colorado State; Fresno State; Utah State and Air Force. Reportedly, however, Harris’ stock has gone up considerably this summer, as he has been hitting the summer camps (including the one at CU). Harris had been a Fresno State commit since February, but decommitted shortly after receiving CU’s offer. Several Pac-12 schools, including Washington and Oregon State, had interest. Due to issues related to his transferring schools last fall, Harris was only allowed to play in two games, which may have cut down on the number of schools willing to make him an offer before the start of his senior year in high school.
In his own words … Harris said that he’s played with a chip on his shoulder this past year and aims to “leave no doubt in the other team’s coach’s mind that I was the best player on the field.”
For Harris, whose other offers besides Fresno State and the Buffs came from Air Force, Colorado State and Utah State, proving that he belongs at the Power Five level is a major goal of his every time he steps on the gridiron.
“I want to show why I’m a Colorado commit,” he said. “When you play against teams, and a lot of their dudes don’t have offers, and they want offers, they want to know why I have offers that I have and why I’m committed to a Pac-12 school.”
“I just got to show them that it’s not just a post on Twitter — it’s really real.”
Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.
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Keyshon Mills – DB
… Official CU Signing Day bio …
Just the facts … Committed March 27th … Mills is a 6’1″, 190-pound defensive back from Little Elm, Texas (a suburb of Dallas) Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Mills … Mills was rated as a three-star wide receiver prospect by Rivals, but a three-star cornerback prospect by 247 Sports. Mills, who is expected to be a defensive back for the Buffs, is considered by 247 Sports to be the No. 85 cornerback in the nation, the No. 134 overall prospect out of Texas, and the No. 1140 prospect nationally.
Mills and his Little Elm (Texas) High teammates finished the 2021 season with a 5-5 record. Mills had 40 tackles, two interceptions, four pass breakups and one forced fumble as a senior.
From Gabe Brooks at 247 Sports … Mills can get a little grabby at times, but that also falls in line with the more physical style of cornerback he plays like at this point in his development. Along those same lines, Mills is a willing participant against the perimeter run game. His technique consistency in that department can improve, but he will stick his nose in there vs. the run, an encouraging trait for a young corner.
Right now, Mills looks like a boundary type of corner who can mix it up at the line of scrimmage with bigger receivers, while also being able to keep you out of trouble in the perimeter run game. He gets his hands on a good number of throws and if he can develop his ball skills that will aid his playmaking ability.
Mills had other offers from … only Kansas and Liberty, while there was interest from schools like UCLA, TCU, Minnesota and Wyoming.
In his own words … “Colorado is a very good school and they play in the Pac-12, which I like”, Mills told BuffStampede.com. “I did research on the school and looked at their roster. (CU defensive backs coach Demetrice) Martin really wants me up there. He told me he needs another lockdown corner for the future to be on the other side of Christian Gonzalez.”
Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights
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Oakie Salave’a – Ath/DB/QB
Just the facts … Committed December 13th … Salave’a is a 6’2″, 185-pound athlete from Pago Pago, American Samoa … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Salave’a … Smith was rated as a three-star athlete by 247 Sports, but a two-star quarterback by Rivals. At 247 Sports, Salave’a was considered to be the No. 1 overall prospect out of American Samoa, the No. 129 “athlete” in the nation, and the No. 1529 overall prospect.
Salave’a was a do-it-all type of player at Tafuna High School in American Samoa, affectionally known as ‘Motu o Fiafiaga’ or the island of paradise and happiness. He made the biggest impact at quarterback while leading the Warriors to back-to-back championships and winning ASHSAA Most Valuable Player honors in 2020 and 2021.
Salave’a is a CU legacy. His father, Okland Salave’a, Sr., played defensive tackle for Colorado from 1987-89 and was a close friend of former CU quarterback Sal Aunese.
Salave’a had other offers from … San Diego State and Hawai’i. Salave’a was a San Diego State commit from June 20th until his commitment to Colorado on December 13th.
In his own words … “(My had has) been telling me that Colorado’s coaches are really great,” Salave’a previously told CUSportsNation. “The campus is really good, Boulder is really nice and he told me that it was like a family when he went there. He got really close to his teammates and that they’ve been like another family to him besides his real family.”
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Xavier Smith – Ath/S
… Official CU Signing Day bio …
Just the facts … Committed December 9th … Smith is a 6’2″, 185-pound athlete from Fairburn, Georgia … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Smith … Well, you’re not gonna like it. Despite Smith’s late-in-the-process commitment, Smith remains an unrated prospect by 247 Sports, and only a two-star prospect by Rivals.
Smith spent time playing safety (where he is projected to play at Colorado), nickel back, quarterback, running back, and kickoff returner this fall. Some good news: Smith was named his region’s Player of the Year for his performance as a senior. Oh, and he is fast: Smith broke three school records in track last year, and qualified for the 6A state meet in both the 200-meter and 400-meter dash.
Smith will be graduating high school early with two AA degrees from dual enrollment, and is expected to enroll at CU in January.
Smith had other offers from … Well, you’re not gonna like this, either. Smith had an offer from Army, but, after that … Middle Tennessee, Charlotte, Liberty, Tennessee State … you get the idea.
Here is a link to Smith’s Hudl.com highlights.
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Joshua Wiggins – DB
… Official CU Signing Day bio …
Just the facts … Committed June 27th … Wiggins is a 6’1″, 178-pound defensive back from Spring, Texas … Rivals bio … 247 Sports bio …
What others say about Wiggins … Wiggins is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. Rivals has Wiggins listed as the No. 96 overall prospect out of the state of Texas, while 247 Sports has the No. 87 cornerback in the nation, the No. 137 player out of Texas, and the No. 976 overall prospect in the country.
Wiggins played the role of cover corner well for Klein Oak, as the Panthers won six games this fall, including a victory over Cypress Ranch in the first-round of the Texas 6A D1 playoffs.
“Even though we didn’t get as far as we wanted in the playoffs, I had a good season and learned a lot of things and got better,” Wiggins said. “I got better at staying patient, keeping my eye on my guy, watching for double moves, things like that.
“Colorado said they like my speed, my technique, how I am engaged in the game all the time… they basically just like how I play overall.”
Wiggins had other offers from … two SEC schools – Kentucky and Mississippi. In addition, Wiggins had offers from Group of Five schools like Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Monroe (where his brother played), and Toledo. Jackson State (and head coach Deion Sanders) made a late push for Wiggins as well.
“I am locked in with Colorado,” Wiggins said in early December about the extra attention he received after his early (June) commitment to Colorado. “I will be signing with Colorado on Dec. 15 and then I will be enrolling there in January. It is hard to believe that I go to college next month but I am excited for it. I am excited to be there and get started with the program.”
In his own words … “The culture, the coaches and whole staff, the family part of it, the players… I just liked everything about it,” Wiggins told BuffStampede.com. “(Running back) Jarek Broussard was my player host and he showed me it is a place that can feel like home. It is a very good place to be at. They are trying to build the program back up to where it needs to be. It was a good reaction when I committed. Everybody was happy. It is a blessing.”
Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.
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Specialist …
Ashton Logan – P
… Official CU Signing Day bio …
Just the facts … Committed September 1, 2020 … Logan is 6’2″, 185-pound punter from Orange, California … Rivals bio 247 Sports bio
What others say about Logan … Logan was rated as a two-star prospect by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At 247 Sports, Logan was listed as the No. 15 punter in the nation, and the No. 183 overall prospect out of the state of California.
As a grey-shirt, Logan delayed his enrollment, preserving his ability to enroll as a freshman in January. Logan spent the fall working with his former high school coach and punting guru Aaron Perez, who runs The Punt Factory.
“Ashton is very quiet, very humble. He is very hard working. But from a technical perspective, his leg speed is insane”, Aaron Perez 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.”
“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 ranked Logan No. 9 nationally among punters for the 2021 class.
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 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 … “It has been difficult to wait, but also a blessing in disguise because I have been able to work on my craft and better prepare for the next level; being able to prepare to perform at a high level,” Logan said. “I have been really excited to get out there. Excited is probably an understatement, but I am really looking forward to it. I have to just wait three months now before I’ll be able to get out there and start to get ready for the following season.”
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12 Replies to “CU Class of 2022 – Signed Letters of Intent”
The DP article was right on. I spoke with a CO HC that has a team in the top four this year. He said CSU never showed up and CU did once in a while. Good god recruit the state when these kids are early in their HS careers. As a said before, every new CU coach say there are going to recruit CO and the reality is that is does not happen. Just look at the past. BTW, two O-line and on D-line recruits, what the heck!
sure glad Bowser surfaced
he has the stats
the size to play right away
Wittingham, Campbell and Harbaugh offered him
What happened to Shakaun Bowser? I haven’t seen anything about if he signed with another school or just delayed signing to nay school.
Given how poor out play was this year and the number of open coaches, I’m surprised we recruited as well as we did. Go Buffs!
He is still showing as committed to CU. He has not signed elsewhere.
I haven’t seen it reported, but he may be delaying his signing until the February Signing Day … though I don’t know why.
Didn’t he go to Pitt around 3 pm yesterday?
You’re thinking of Samuel Okunlola, who was on CU’s wish list, but committed to Pitt on Signing Day.
Shakaun Bowser is still on the board as a CU commit … but an unsigned commit.
Why can’t we recruit a RB that can get one yard when needed? Did any of you read Sean Keelers article in the Denver Post today. He was right on about CU & CSU not recruiting Colorado O-line. kids Same crap every year CU does not recruit Colorado kids. So sick of this neglecting in state talent.
Watch the Signing Day video … there was a piece about how great the Class of ’87 was … While showing clips, there is a headline from a local paper: “Coloradans spurn CU” – Even when CU signs a great Class, there are stories about how CU doesn’t sign Colorado kids …
Yup 5 oline guys left the state.
Most aren’t originally from Colorado. Moved here at some point in their lives.
Parents have different loyalties to schools and states. You can look that up throughout the years.
And the kids? Welp?
And Stuart, the New York Times Best Book List Writer is correct.
With the DP the Buffs can’t win even when even when the Buffs win.
You need to find a new paper.
Go Buffs
Happens every year.
There were 6 OTs in the top 10 players in the state ranked by 24/7. CU offered all except a kid named Connors who probably told the Buffs to forget it right at the beginning. He was a Michigan guy. Whatta ya gonna do when Ohio State and Michigan come calling?
Naturally we dont know the entire behind the scenes story with the Buffs attempt to persuade these kids …but just like VK said….the DP probably doesnt either and even if they did it wouldnt prevent them from embellishing it in a negative fashion anyway when it comes to the Buffs.
I would bet the farm that they weren’t “neglected” by CU. Probably the other way around
I’m liking Gray.
Colorado Kid O lineman that didnt leave the state
position of biggest need
6’6″ 300 lbs ….and still growing !!!
Did Bowser stand us up or is he just dragging his ass to the table?
In state recruit stolen from Kornholers! Double bonus!!