CU Recruiting Class of 2017

—

Colorado Recruiting Class of 2017

—

Jared Poplawski – TE

Just the facts … Committed January 30th … Poplawski is a 6’4″, 220-pound tight end from Scottsdale, Arizona Rivals bio Scout bio 247 Sports bio

What others have to say about Poplawski … Poplawski is considered to be a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247 Sports. Poplawski is rated as the No. 22 tight end in the nation by Rivals, and the No. 12 player overall out of the state of Arizona. Scout lists Poplawski as the No. 64 tight end nationally, and the No. 14 tight end in the west. At 247 Sports, Poplawski is listed as the No. 27 tight end in the nation, and the No. 9 prospect overall out of the state of Arizona.

From Scout … Overall, Poplawski has decent tools for his size as a Pac-12 tight end prospect. He’s not at the higher end of the scale in terms of athleticism or size at the major college level, so he’ll have to be technically proficient and maximize his potential to be successful. But he’s further ahead than a lot of tight ends because of what he’s been asked to do at a winning Saguaro program and there are some intangibles that resonate as well.

Poplawski had other offers from … a number of Power Five conference schools, including Arizona State, Oregon and Oregon State from the Pac-12. Other schools, including Illinois, Louisville, San Diego State, Memphis and Nevada also offered. Poplawski committed to Arizona State on June 16, 2016.

Here is a link to Hudl.com highlights.

—–

Jalen Sami – DL

Just the facts … Committed January 30th … Sami is a 6’6″, 320-pound defensive tackle from Vista Ridge high in Colorado Springs …  Rivals bio Scout bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Sami … Sami is rated as a two-star prospect by Rivals, but was unrated by either Scout or 247 Sports at the time of his commitment.  Sami was a first-team all-conference and second-team all-state selection this past fall.

Sami may be a candidate for a grey-shirt, depending on how the scholarship numbers look this summer, when CU must be at 85 scholarship players.

Sami had other offers from … only from Northern Colorado and Colorado State-Pueblo, at least until Colorado took an interest. Sami received a late offer from Mississippi, but decided to stick with the first Division 1 school to offer him a scholarship.

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

–

–

Kevin George – DB

Just the facts … Committed January 21st … George is Nixon is a 6’3″, 185-pound cornerback from Georgia Military College in Milledeville, Georgia Rivals bio Scout bio 247 Sports bio

What others have to say about George … George was unranked by Rivals, Scout or 247 Sports at the time of his commitment. Soon thereafter, but was given a two-star ranking by Rivals and a three-star ranking by Scout. A full qualifier out of high school last year, George will not have to graduate from Georgia Military College to come to Colorado. He can be in Boulder this summer, with four years to play three at Colorado.

In eight games this fall, George had ten tackles, seven passes broken up, and two interceptions, with one of those picks returned for a touchdown. George runs a reported 4.49 in the 40.

George had other offers from … only Delta State College and Georgia State College, though other schools, most notably Oregon, took a late interest in signing George. He is originally from Carencro, Louisiana, but was lightly recruited out of high school.

In his own words … George doesn’t lack for confidence. Some tweets: “For everybody that doubted me I’ll make sure to sign y’all a autograph!!!” … “Don’t ever let Someone tell You That u cant do something” … “Rankings really can’t save u !! U can keep that”.

Here is a link to Hudl.com highlights of George in action.

–

—–

–

K.D. Nixon – WR

–

Just the facts … Committed October 18th … Nixon is a 5’8″, 181-pound wide receiver from DeSoto, Texas Rivals bio Scout bio 247 Sports bio 

What others have to say about Nixon … Nixon is considered to be a four-star wide receiver by Rivals, Scout and 247 Sports. Nixon is considered by Rivals to be the No. 47 wide receiver in the nation, and the No. 48 player overall in the state of Texas this year. According to Scout, Nixon is the No. 13 athlete in the country, the No. 3 athlete out of the state of Texas, and the No. 191 player overall in the entire nation. At 247 Sports, Nixon is considered to be the No. 41 wide receiver in the nation, and the No. 44 player out of the state of Texas.

According to MaxPreps.com, Nixon had 63 receptions for 1,100 yards (a 17.5 yard average) and 11 touchdowns. The senior also had 29 carries for 356 yards (a 12.3 yard average) and five more scores. Nixon was named to the Scout All-Midlands team as an athlete. DeSoto finished the 2016 season with the school’s first state championship, with the 16-0 Eagles being rated by MaxPreps as the No. 2 high school team in the nation.

Nixon had other offers from … over two dozen other Power-Five conference schools. From the Pac-12, Nixon had offers from Arizona State, Cal, Oregon State and Utah. Other schools which offered Nixon included Baylor, Texas, Tennessee, Houston, Louisville, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.

In his own words … “I owe this opportunity to my family and friends, coaches, and of course God,” Nixon tweeted. “Now that I have been blessed with this chance I am overwhelmingly excited to say I have committed to The University of Colorado!”

Here are some YouTube highlights of Nixon in action:

—–

Laviska Shenault, Jr. – WR

Just the facts … Committed April 21st … Laviska Shenault, Jr. is a 6’2″, 205-pound wide receiver from Desoto, Texas  Rivals bio  Scout bio 247 Sports bio

What others have to say about Shenault … Shenault is considered to be a four-star prospect by Scout, and a three-star prospect by Rivals and 247 Sports (Shenault was considered a four-star prospect by Rivals when he committed in April, but was later downgraded).

In the view of Scout, is the No. 41 wide receiver prospect in the country, and the No. 276 overall player. 247 Sports rates Shenault as the No. 72 wide receiver in the nation, and the No. 63 prospect overall out of the state of Texas.

From Scout … Shenault Jr. is a versatile pass-catcher who has played several roles for his high school team, but likely translates best at the next level as an outside receiver. Plays tight end, H-back, outside receiver, and slot for powerhouse Texas high school program. Good size with enough space on frame to get bigger. Tough, well-rounded player who knows how to block from perimeter and a 3-point stance. Deceptively good long speed. Not a dart-and-dodge receiver, but flashes a strong stiff-arm and straight-line speed to be capable of pulling away from DB’s once he’s in the open. Can improve quickness off the ball when split wide. Overall, a high-major receiver prospect with toughness and versatility that is not easy to find. 

Senior season statistics … Shenault had 40 catches for 721 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 18 yards per catch for the 16-0 DeSoto Eagles. DeSoto won its first-ever state championship, and was rated by MaxPreps as the No. 2 team overall in the entire country.

Junior season statistics … Playing receiver, tight end, and H-back, Shenault finished his junior season with 28 catches for 494 yards and three touchdowns, averaging better than 17 yards per reception. He has run a verified 4.59 in the 40.

Shenault had other offers from … all over the country, including an offer from Alabama. Other Power-Five offers came from Arizona State, Arkansas, Iowa State, Kansas State, Kansas, LSU and Oklahoma State.

In his own words … “When I was out there (for his unofficial visit the week before committing), (Buffaloes co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers) coach (Darrin)] Chiaverini showed me where I would be and what I would be doing in their offense as a wide out,” Shenault told BuffStampede.com. “He is really excited about me and what I can bring to their program. I am excited, too, and relieved (to have my college decision made).”

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

—–

Morrell Osling – CB – De-committed (UCLA)

Just the facts … Committed July 24th … Osling is a 6’2″, 185-pound athlete from Lancaster, California Rivals bio Scout bio

What others say about Osling … Osling was unrated by Rivals at the time of his commitment, but was rated as a two-star athlete by Scout. A week after his commitment, Osling was re-evaluated by Scout as a cornerback, and his rating was raised to three stars.

Osling is playing quarterback in high school, but is being recruited by Colorado to play cornerback. An athlete, Osling performed well in track this spring, including a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash, 12.54 in the 100-meters and over 49 feet in the triple jump. This spring, he was listed as the No. 4 triple jumper in the nation (check out his stats here).

Osling capped of his junior campaign by leading his team to the playoffs and finishing the season with an 8-4 record. In that same season, he made First Team All-League and First Team All Valley and racked up 2,238 passing yards, rushed for 711 rushing yards, and accumulated 29 total touchdowns (21 passing and seven rushing).

Osling had other offers from … eight other schools when he committed in July, though none of them were from Power-Five conferences. Osling had offers from a good selection of Mountain West teams, including Fresno State, Nevada, New Mexico and UNLV.

In his own words … “On the field, I try to be the best I can and I push my teammates to their maximum abilities and just be the open ear that people can talk to because I know a lot of them go through stuff outside of school,” told The Left Bench.

Osling is a bright individual who prides himself on his academics. As a result, helping his teammates reach the same level of success is a priority of his.

“I have a 3.7 GPA. Last semester, I had a 4.4 overall GPA with my AP classes added,” he said. “We have after school study hall so I help my teammates who are struggling academically get their GPAs up.”

Here is the YouTube video highlights from Osling’s junior year:

—–

Xavier Newman – OL – De-committed (Baylor)

Tweet by Newman … January 6th … “After a lot of prayer and talking with my family, I have decided to de-commit from the University of Colorado”

(Note … Newman was one of three commitments from DeSoto high school in Texas. The other two, four-star wide receiver K.D. Nixon and three-star wide receiver Laviska Shenault, remained committed to CU … for now)

Just the facts … Committed October 17th … De-Committed January 6th … Newman is a 6’4, 285-pound offensive lineman from DeSoto, Texas Rivals bio Scout bio 247Sports bio

What others have to say about Newman … Newman is considered by both Rivals and Scout to be a three-star prospect. Scout has Newman listed as the No. 6 center in the nation, and the No. 2 center out of the state of Texas this year. According to the 247Sports rankings, Newman  is considered to be the No. 525 prospect nationally, the No. 27 offensive guard, and the No. 68 player in Texas.

Analysis from Gabe Brooks at Scout.com: “Xavier Newman is a quality Power Five-caliber offensive lineman with playing experience at left tackle in Texas high school football’s largest classification. Newman is an established drive-blocker who thrives in the run game. He gets his hands inside his target and consistently steers opponents where he wants them to go. He also does a good job of staying on his blocks and finishing them through the whistle”. 

From CampusInsiders.com … “He’s the No. 2-ranked center in the state of Texas for a reason. Newman has experience playing left tackle and can bring versatility to an offensive line, which is always important as a season progresses and injuries occur. He has the potential to be a quality pass blocker, but his real strength is his ability to push defensive linemen off the ball and create holes in the running game. If your pad level is too high, Newman will turn you into a pancake.”

From ESPN … “Newman comes out of a program that produces a good deal of FBS talent. He shows versatility playing multiple spots along the offensive line, but will develop as an interior player in college. Guard could end up being the fit, but with some experience, could fit well with some more development at center. A good, tough lineman”.

Newman had other offers from … over two dozen schools. Newman committed to Texas in April, but de-committed after taking an official visit to Colorado for the Arizona State game. Newman had offers from numerous Power-Five conference schools, including Arizona State, Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas State, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and others.

Here is a link to Hudl.com highlights of Newman in action.

—–

Dante Wigley – DB

Just the facts … Committed December 1st … Wigley is a 6’1″, 184-pound defensive back from Holmes Community College in Goodman, Mississippi  Rivals bio  Scout bio  247Sports bio

What others have to say about Wigley … Wigley is rated as a three-star junior college prospect by Scout and 247Sports, but was unrated by Rivals. Wigley originally signed with Georgia Tech out of high school, but, after a red-shirt season, transferred to Holmes Community College in in Goodman, Mississippi. According to Scout, Wigley is the fourth-best junior college defensive back in the nation this year, while 247Sports rates Wigley as the 41st-best junior college player overall, and the fifth-best cornerback.

With a red-shirt year and a year of junior college behind him, Wigley will have three years to play three at Colorado.

Wigley had other offers from … almost two dozen schools, though most were in Group of Five Conferences. Cincinnati and Mississippi State were two of the higher profile offers, with Wigley also reporting offers from schools like Louisiana Tech, New Mexico, Southern Mississippi and Troy.

Here is a link to Hudl.com highlights from Wigley.

—–

Jake Moretti – OL

Just the facts … Committed November 17th … Moretti is 6’5″, 280-pound offensive tackle from Pomona high in Aravada, Colorado  Rivals bio  Scout bio 247 Sports bio

What others have to say about Moretti … Moretti is considered to be a four-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247 Sports. Rivals ranks Moretti as the No. 13 offensive tackle in the nation, the No. 2 overall prospect out of the state of Colorado, and the No. 103 overall prospect in the country. Scout, meanwhile, has Moretti as the No. 14 offensive tackle in the nation, the No. 1 overall prospect out of Colorado and the No. 104 overall prospect in the country. 247 Sports rates Moretti as the No. 13 offensive tackle, the No. 2 state prospect, and the No. 83 overall player in the nation.

While attending an Ohio State Football Camp in late June this past summer, Moretti suffered a torn ACL in a non-contact drill. As a result, Moretti missed his senior season. As an early enrollee, he’ll be taking advantage of CU’s world class medical facilities as he prepares for his CU career.

Moretti had other offers from … most notably, Ohio State. Moretti verbally committed to the Buckeyes in July, but committed to Colorado. Moretti had offers from around the nation, including most of the Pac-12 – USC, UCLA, Oregon, Arizona and Cal all offered. Other Power-Five conference offers came in from schools like Florida, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin.

In his own words … “After a great deal of thought and discussion with my family and Coach Madden, I have made the decision to attend the University of Colorado in January of 2017. I am grateful for my experience with Ohio State and a sincere thank you to Urban Meyer and The Ohio State staff. I am looking forward to representing my home state as a Buff! A sincere thanks to Coach MacIntyre, Coach Adams, and the CU Staff for this opportunity,” Said Moretti via his twitter account.

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

—–

Jacob Callier – DE

Just the facts … Committed November 1st … Callier is a 6’2″, 250-pound defensive end from Bellflower, California Rivals bio  Scout bio 247Sports bio

What others have to say about Callier … Callier is considered to be a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports. Rivals has Callier as the No. 26 strongside defensive end in the nation, and the No. 48 overall prospect out of the state of California this year. Scout considers Callier to be the No. 46 defensive end in the country, and the No. 4 defensive end out of California. According to 247Sports, Callier is the No. 31 strongside linebacker in the nation, and the No. 65 player overall out of California.

Rivals Adam Gorney on Callier: “Callier has had a fantastic senior season and I love that he has the speed to beat offensive tackles to the edge and the power to bull rush them and push the pocket to force the quarterback into hurried throws. It baffled me why more Pac-12 programs haven’t offered because I’ve liked him for a couple seasons and he’s a very productive and hard-working defensive end but this is definitely to Colorado’s gain.”

Scout’s analysis: “Callier is one of the most versatile defensive linemen in the West region. He lines up all across the defensive line and shows the ability to rush off the edge or move inside and cause havoc at the tackle position. He’s a solid 6-2, 250 pounds, plays with a relentless motor, is very physical and is equally strong stopping the run as he is rushing the passer.”

Callier had other offers from … a pair of Pac-12 schools, Arizona and Arizona State. The only other known Power-Five conference was from Boston College, with other offers from San Diego State, San Jose State, Hawai’i, and Nevada.

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

—–

Carson Wells – DE

Just the facts … Committed August 2nd … Wells is a 6’4″, 235-pound defensive end from Bushnell, Florida Rivals bio  Scout bio 247Sports bio

What others have to say about Wells … Wells is considered to be a two-star prospect by Rivals, but a three-star prospect by Scout and 247Sports. Scout lists Wells as the No. 28 defensive end out of the state of Florida, and the No. 161 defensive end in the nation. At 247 Sports, Wells is ranked as the No. 138 outside linebacker in the country.

Scout analysis of Wells … Strengths: Athleticism; Hand Quickness; Intensity/Effort; Speed; Suddenness … Weaknesses: Size; Strength; Techniques and Moves.

Wondering how a defensive end from Bushnell, Florida, found his way to Boulder? According to Kyle McCall at BuffStampede.com, Wells’ head coach, Inman Sherman, was recruited as a player by CU’s former defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt.

Wells had other offers from … over a dozen schools, though none were from a Power-Five conference … until Jim Leavitt left for Oregon, at which time Oregon also offered Wells.  South Florida and Southern Mississippi are perhaps the most recognizable of the remaining schools who offered, with the rest coming from Group Five schools or lower. The one positive you can take from the offer sheet is that academics was never an issue … Wells had offers from Army, Air Force, Harvard and Yale.

Here is a link to the Hudl.com highlights of Wells in action.

—–

Nate Landman – LB

Just the facts … Committed July 30th … Landman is a 6’3″, 212-pound linebacker from Danville, California  Rivals bio  Scout bio 247Sports bio

What others say about Landman … Landman is considered to be a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports. Rivals rates Landman as the No. 43 outside linebacker in the nation, and the No. 58 player overall out of the state of California.  Scout has Landman listed as the No. 58 outside linebacker prospect in the nation, the No. 5 outside linebacker out of California, and the No. 7 outside linebacker in the west. 247Sports has Landman listed as the No. 43 outside linebacker in the country, and the No. 64 overall player outside of the state of California. Landman runs a reported 4.88 in the 40.

Landman had other offers from … over a dozen schools, including Washington State, Oregon State and Arizona from the Pac-12. Other offers came from schools such as Pittsburgh, Colorado State, San Diego State and Nevada.

In his own words … “I get after the QB pretty well,” Landman told GoAZCats.com. “I have pretty good speed, and I would say my best attribute is wrapping up and making a full tackle. … A lot of schools see me as a standup outside linebacker and sometimes inside the box helping with the run but other times outside in coverage and with how I can tackle it’s something I should be able to manage.”

Here is a link to the Hudl.com highlights of Landman in action.

—–

William Sherman – OL

Just the facts … Committed July 26th … Sherman is a 6’3″, 294-pound offensive lineman from Allen, Texas Rivals bio  Scout bio  247 Sports bio

What others say about Sherman … Sherman is considered to be a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247 Sports. Rivals lists Sherman as the No. 33 offensive guard in the nation, and the No. 97 prospect out of the state of Texas. Scout considers Sherman to be the No. 44 guard in the nation, and the No. 7 guard out of the state of Texas. 247 Sports rates Sherman as the No. 36 guard in the country, and the No. 112 prospect out of the state of Texas. Sherman runs a reported 5.57 in the 40.

Playing right tackle at Allen, Sherman helped lead his team to a 14-1 record in 2015 and a trip to the Texas 6A D1 state semi-finals. This past fall, the Allen Mustangs again went 14-1, and were ranked as the No. 3 team in the state of Texas.

From Scout.com analyst Greg Powers … Sherman is a well-rounded offensive lineman. Good in run blocking and pass pro. He plays right tackle in high school, but probably projects best as an interior offensive lineman on the next level … His quickness off of the ball allows him to get great positioning. He runs the field well and pulls well. He can make blocks in open areas and on the second and third levels. He is tested against the very top levels of 6A competition in Texas, which is the highest classification.  

At a camp this spring in Dallas, 247Sports had this to say about Sherman: One of the sleepers out of the offensive line group, Sherman did well in the Final 5 one-on-one battles and he showed a polish that very few others in attendance could match. Hailing from Allen High School where he was overshadowed by Gregory Little last fall, he looks poised to make a name for himself.

Sherman had other offers from … a number of other Power-Five conference schools, most notably California, Mississippi State, Illinois and Kansas State. Other offers came from schools like Houston, Nevada and New Mexico (a reported 18 offers in all).

Here is a link to Hudl.com highlights of Sherman in action.

—–

Shamar Hamilton – DE

Just the facts … Committed July 24th … Hamilton is a 6’5″, 235-pound defensive end from ASA college in Miami, Florida  Rivals bio Scout bio 247 Sports

What others have to say about Hamilton … Hamilton is rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout, and 247 Sports. Rivals rates Hamilton as the No. 97 prospect in the nation, while 247 Sports has Hamilton as the No. 1 strong defensive end junior college prospect out of the state of Florida, the No. 13 strong defensive end nationally, and the No. 115 overall prospect.

Hamilton is another “under-the-radar” player. Hamilton ranks second all-time in ASA College history with 10 career sacks, and he also tallied 65 tackles in two seasons. He put up those numbers while being raw in his role as a pass rusher. Hamilton was initially recruited to ASA College as a tight end.

As a freshman in 2015, Hamilton, who has only played three years of football, totaled 32 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 6.5 tackles-for-loss and one fumble recovery (in nine games) from his defensive end spot. This past fall, in eight games, Hamilton registered 5.5 sacks. He runs a reported 4.7 in the 40.

Hamilton prepped at Santaluces High School in Lantana, Florida and he was lightly recruited because of his lack of experience

Hamilton had other offers from … no one. The only reported offer for Hamilton was from the University of Colorado.

In his own words … “I’m ecstatic,” said Hamilton of his commitment. “I’m finally able to make one part of my dreams come true. The first step into the first turn of the door knob to what I need to really become in life … I think it was all meant to be. In football you have to leave for somewhere and you don’t necessarily know where you’re going to go, but you just know you’re going to go make a difference.”

Here is a link to Hudl.com highlights of Hamilton in action.

—–

Grant Polley – OL

Just the facts … Committed July 11th … Polley is a 6’5″, 275-pound offensive lineman from Denton, Texas  Rivals bio  Scout bio 247Sports bio

What others have to say about Polley … Polley is rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports. Rivals considers Polley to be the No. 46 offensive tackle in the nation, and the No. 58 overall prospect out of the state of Texas. 247Sports ranks Polley as the No. 49 offensive tackle, and the No. 62 overall prospect out fo the state of Texas. In Scout’s view, Polley is the No. 29 guard in the country, and the No. 5 guard out of Texas this year.

From Gabe Brooks at Scout.com … Grant Polley is a potentially position-versatile offensive linemen who thrives in the run game and plays through the whistle. Plays left tackle for his high school squad and could possibly play outside in college, or move inside to a guard position. Light on his feet, especially running straight line to block at the second level. High-intensity, high-motor player who doesn’t stop blocking until he’s put his opponent on the ground.

Polley had other offers from … over a dozen Power-Five conference schools. Included on the list of suitors was Michigan, Arizona State, Baylor, TCU, California, North Carolina, Indiana, Kansas State, Minnesota, Kansas, Texas Tech, Mississippi State, Purdue, and Missouri.

Polley originally committed to Kansas in January, but re-opened his recruitment in May. Polley participated in the prestigious Under Armour All-American game in December.

Here is a link to the Hudl.com highlights from Polley’s career at Denton.

—–

Isaiah Lewis – DB

The official CU Signing Day biography of Lewis can be found here

Just the facts … Committed July 2nd … Isaiah Lewis is a 6’0″, 197-pound defensive back from Granite Bay, California. Lewis runs a reported 4.75 in the 40 yard dash. Rivals bio  Scout bio 247Sports bio

What others have to say about Lewis … Lewis is rated as a three-star prospect by Scout and 247Sports, but only a two-star player by Rivals (after being a three-star recruit when he committed last July). Scout has Lewis rated as the No. 13 safety out of the state of California this year, and the No. 119 safety in the nation. 247 Sports rates Lewis as the No. 106 safety in the nation, and the No. 133 player overall out of the state of California.

Lewis played in only four games his senior season, missing the latter part of the year due to a shoulder injury. Despite that fact, he still garnered All-State honorable mention accolades his senior year. As a senior, he rushed the ball 31 times for 134 yards with 122 of that yardage coming on 22 carries in a 27-14 win over Oak Grove. His junior season he earned most of his 321 rush yards from his flyback position, where he added 21 receptions for 338 yards, a 16.1 yards per reception average. He was picked to the Sacramento Bee’s 2015 All-Metro Football honorable mention team as a defensive back.

Lewis had other offers from … only Wyoming, though Lewis did report interest from Pac-12 schools, including Washington State and Cal.

In his own words … According to the Granite Bay Press Tribune … “They project me on defense at safety or nickel back, and they want me to get up there as soon as possible,” Lewis confirmed. “So we’re going to try to make that happen. I’m 100 percent good to (graduate early), I just need to take care of what’s required for my senior year, but when it comes to all the classes I need for graduation, I’m good to go.”

Here is a link to his Hudl.com highlights.

—–

Sebastian Olver – TE/DL

Just the facts … Committed June 28th … Sebastian Olver is a 6’4″, 248-pound athlete/tight end from Kentfield, California  Rivals bio Scout bio 247 Sports bio

What others have to say about Olver … Olver is rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247 Sports. Scout considers Olver to be the No. 12 tight end out of California this season, and the No. 70 tight end nationally. 24 Sports, meanwhile, has Olver as the No. 50 tight end in the nation, and the No. 104 overall player out of the state of Califonia.

This past season, Olver played full time at defensive end, and “about 50 percent” of his team’s plays on offense as a tight end. “I definitely feel like this year was a real learning experience for me, getting more games under my belt,” Olver told BuffStampede.com. “I am learning things about the game every day. It is a wonderful game. I love it. I think I am starting to understand the technique and the concepts and my assignment on the defense. On offense, I have been working a lot on my speed.”

In his first season playing American football after moving from Australia, Olver had five receptions for 134 yards and two touchdowns for the 12-2 Marin Catholic Wildcats. As a defensive end, Olver had 58 tackles (14 solo), including eight sacks and 16 quarterback hurries.

In his own words … “I would say I am pretty competitive,” Olver told CUSportsNation. “There is something about football where you fight for the person next to you. I love the brotherhood, the camaraderie. There is something about fighting for your mates. A switch with my personality definitely changes when I get on the field. I like hitting people.”

Olver had other offers from … Only Iowa State from the Power-Five conference, though he was showing offers from a good chunk of the Mountain West, including Fresno State, Nevada, UNLV, Utah State and Hawai’i.

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

—–

Maurice Bell – WR

Just the facts … Committed June 27th … Maurice Bell is a 6’0″, 175-pound wide receiver from Murrieta, California  Rivals bio Scout bio 247Sports bio

What others have to say about Bell … Bell is rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247 Sports. Rivals lists Bell as the No. 88 wide receiver this recruiting cycle, while Scout has Bell as the No. 69 wide receiver in the nation, and the No. 11 wide receiver in the West. At 247Sports, Bell checks in as the No. 98 wide receiver overall, and the No. 69 athlete overall out of the state of California.

This past season, Bell had 69 receptions for 1,083 yards and seven touchdowns for the 11-3 Nighthawks. As a junior, Bell caught 56 balls for 986 yards and 16 touchdowns. Bell runs a reported 4.5 in the 40.

According to Rivals …  In the mold of current Colorado receiver Shay Fields, Bell can stretch the field with his speed, he has great hands and he is a competitor. For the Buffaloes to land the high three-star receiver was a steal, and he could step in at that position right away to help turn around that program.

Bell had other offers from … a significant list of Power Five conference schools. From the Pac-12, Bell had offers from Arizona, Washington State and Arizona State. He also had offers from Michigan, Iowa, Missouri, Boston College, and Nebraska.

In his own words … “From the beginning, Colorado recruited me extremely hard,” Bell told Scout.com. “They made me a priority and that was important. I like the coaching staff a lot and have a strong relationship with Coach Chiv (Darren Chiaverini).

“I like that Coach Chiv is the WR coach and the OC so I think if you’re a receiver in the offense, there’s a good chance we’ll be featured and have a chance to make a lot of plays. The whole staff was always great with me and it just feels like home.”

… “Colorado just felt right for me and I’m thrilled to be a Buff. I’m shutting my recruitment down and I’m not looking at any other schools. I’m glad the process is over, it’s a relief for me and now I can focus on my senior year without worrying any more about recruiting.”

A personal statement, from ncsa.org  … “My collegiate goals are to go to a college on a scholarship and get an education. I would be a good candidate for a team because I believe I can compete at a high level and be a hard worker and a good role model on and off the field. What makes me different from other recruits in character is I am a good leader, role model, someone people can look up to, and always respectful. In athletics I am very  competitive I love competition, working hard, and hate losing no matter what, also I am a team player. Academic wise is the most important thing to getting all of these things accomplished you cannot succeed without good grades. The classroom always comes first before anything I am always told, “you are a student-athlete not an athlete-student.”  and that is what I go by“.

—

Here are YouTube highlights from Bell’s junior year:

—–

Heston Paige – OL

Just the facts … Committed June 24th … Heston Paige is a 6’5″, 270-pound offensive lineman from Thunder Ridge high school in Highlands Ranch, Colorado  Rivals bio  Scout bio 247Sports bio

What others have to say about Paige … Paige is rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports. Scout has Paige as the No. 2 offensive tackle out of the state of Colorado (behind only CU commit Jake Moretti), and the No. 115 offensive tackle in the nation. 247 Sports lists Paige as the 10th-best player out of Colorado overall, and the No. 171 offensive tackle nationally. Paige was named to several Colorado All-State teams, including the Denver Post and MaxPreps.

Paige had other offers from … only one other FBS school, and that was Air Force. Paige also had offers from Northern Colorado, North Dakota, and Northern Arizona from the FCS.

With the lack of FBS offers, Paige acknowledges he has work to do to improve. “I think I need to improve on pass blocking against speed rushers. Every offensive lineman can be nastier, I think it would be a good thing to focus on,” Paige told RecruitingColorado.com in February. “One of my main focuses when I’m playing is my footwork. I think I have some of the best footwork in the state. I’m able to make contact with the defender before they’re willing to attack me.”

In his own words … “I’m mostly a UCLA fan because my dad played football there. If I had to choose a team other than UCLA, it would be CU,” Paige said. Paige’s father, Bill, started on the offensive line for the Bruins in the 1980s, blocking for quarterback Troy Aikman.

Here is a link to the Hudl.com highlights from Paige’s career.

—–

Chris Miller – CB

Just the facts … Committed June 22nd … Chris Miller is a 6’0″, 175-pound cornerback from Denton, Texas  Rivals bio  Scout bio 247 Sports bio

What others have to say about Miller … Miller is rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247 Sports. In the eyes of 247Sports, Miller is the 46th-highest rated athlete in the nation, and the No. 89 athlete out of the state of Texas. Scout has Miller as the No. 11 athlete out of the state of Texas, and 63rd-ranked athlete in the country.

According to Scout, Miller ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and recorded a 40.2-inch vertical leap at The Opening regional in March in Dallas. His scores there left him as the fourth highest overall rating among the prospects there. He had a 118.77 Nike+ Football rating.

“He’s just been a very dynamic player for us the last three years,” Kevin Atkinson, his coach at Denton, said. “He’s the kind of kid that can go the distance any time he touches the ball. He’s started every game for us as cornerback and receiver. If we were playing someone that had someone special at wide receiver, we just put him at corner. He’s that guy. He’s just a difference maker.”

Miller had other offers from … a number Power-Five schools, including Baylor, Mississippi, Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas, along with high profile G-5 conference schools like Boise State, Houston, Fresno State and Nevada.

Here is a link to the Hudl.com highlights of Miller in action.

—–

Tyler Lytle – QB

Just the facts … Committed June 21st … Tyler Lytle is a 6’5″, 205-pound quarterback from Anaheim, California Rivals bio  Scout bio  247Sports bio

What others have to say about Lytle … Lytle is rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports. Rivals has Lytle ranked as the No. 21 pro-style quarterback in the nation. Scout, meanwhile, has Lytle rated as the No. 38 quarterback in the nation, and the No. 10 quarterback out of the west this recruiting cycle. At 247Sports, Lytle is considered the 28th-best quarterback in the nation.

Servite High School finished the 2016 season with a 4-7 record after losing to Mission Viejo in the CIF Southern Section Playoffs. Lytle finished 170-of-288 passing for 2,424-yards and 17 touchdowns. Lytle threw for 331-yards in his final high school football game.

Here is an evaluation from Greg Biggins at Scout.com … Lytle is a big, strong kid with the ability to get the ball down the field. He shows good touch on the deep ball and can make every throw you want to see on the field. He has improved his accuracy and can fit the ball in to some tight windows because of the amount of zip he possesses. He’s a very confident quarterback who will stand in the pocket and shows better mobility than given credit for. As he continues to improve his ability to anticipate and throw the ball early, his game will move to another level.

Lytle had other offers from … about half of the country. Out of the Pac-12, Lytle had offers from California, Washington State, Oregon State, and Arizona State. Other offers from Power-Five conference schools came from Miami (Fla.), Boston College, Illinois, Indiana, Pitt, Purdue, and Vanderbilt.

In his own words … “Colorado felt like home to me,” Lytle told Scout.com upon his commitment. “I have a great relationship with the coaches, that was key. They communicated with me on a daily basis and Coach Mac (Mike MacIntyre), Coach Chev (Darrin Chiaverini) and Coach (Brian) Lindgren went out of their way to let me know I was their guy for the 2017 class.

“They were great throughout this entire process and made it clear to me that I was the top guy on their board. They also made sure I knew that there was an opportunity to compete for playing time early and I’m definitely excited about that opportunity.”

On coming to Boulder, Lytle told CUSportsNation … “It is going to be a great ride and (the Buff Nation) should expect nothing less than championships and bowl games over the years. It can and will be done. I am going to give it all I have to deliver beyond their expectations.”

Here are Hudl.com highlights of Lytle in action:

—–

Chase Newman – LB

Just the facts … Committed June 19th … Chase Newman is a 6’1, 205-pound linebacker from La Mirada, California Rivals bio Scout bio 247Sports bio

What 0thers have to say about Newman … Newman is rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports. Scout has Newman as the No. 84 outside linebacker in the nation, and the No. 7 outside linebacker out of the state of California. 247 Sports has Newman as the No. 72 outside linebacker in the country, and the No. 95 player out of the state over California overall.

This past season, Newman only played in seven games, with 28 tackles, four tackles for loss, and a sack.

In 2015, in 16 games, Newman had 77 tackles (26 solo) for La Mirada, to go with nine quarterback hurries, one sack and two interceptions. The Matadores, with former Buff Mike Moschetti as their head coach, went 13-3 and won the California State Division III-AA state championship.

Newman had other offers from … at least two other Pac-12 schools, Washington State and Oregon State, along with a number of Mountain West schools, including Colorado State, Nevada, Fresno State, Wyoming and New Mexico.

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

—–

Jalin Burrell – DB – Junior College

Just the facts … Committed June 14th … Jalin Burrell is a 6’2″, 192-pound defensive back who comes to Colorado from Moonpark College. Burrell in on track to graduate in December, will be a mid-year transfer, and will have two years to play two.

What we know about Burrell … Last season, while playing both free safety and cornerback, Burrell led the team with seven pass breakups while finishing second with 48 tackles and also posting two interceptions, four tackles-for-loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

“I played both (free safety and corner) this year,” Burrell told JCFootball.com. “When we faced teams with top receivers, that’s when I mostly played corner, but against run-based temas, I played free safety.

“I did finish the last five games of the season at corner though.”

Burrell had other offers from … At least a few other Power-Five schools, including Oregon State, Purdue, and Iowa State, along with schools like Arkansas State, New Mexico and Hawai’i.

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

—–

Alex Fontenot – RB

Just the facts … Committed June 14th … Alex Fontenot is a 6’0″, 185-pound running back from Richmond, Texas. He has run a verified 4.62 in the 40. Rivals bio  Scout bio 247 Sports bio

What others have to say about Fontenot … Fontenot is listed as a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247 Sports.  Scout has Fontenot listed as the No. 64 running back in the nation, and the No. 10 running back in the Midlands area of the country. 247Sports rates as the No. 45 running back in the country, and the No. 102 overall prospect out of the state of Texas.

Fontenot enjoyed a breakout junior season that saw him rush for 1,408 yards and 21 touchdowns on 8.9 yards per carry. He also caught six passes for 46 yards and one touchdown as he helped Richmond George Ranch win the Texas Class 5A Division I state championship with a perfect 16-0 record. The Longhorns did not fare as well this past fall, going 6-5, but Fontenot did account for over 1,000 yards in total offense.

Fontenot a first-team all-district selection as a junior despite playing behind state Player of the Year and TCU signee Darius Anderson. He is the son of former Baylor defensive end Al Fontenot.

Scout’s analysis … “Fontenot is a well-rounded running back prospect who’s posted good numbers in one of Texas’ largest classifications for a state championship team,” analyst Gabe Brooks wrote. “Fontenot possesses adequate size and impressive testing numbers. That gives Fontenot very good burst as a hole-puncher and the top-end speed to outrun defensive backs at the second level. He shows good balance and can gain dirty yardage.”

Fontenot had other offers from … At least a few other Power-Five schools, including Oklahoma State and Purdue, and had other offers from schools like Colorado State, New Mexico, and Texas State.

In his own words … “Colorado said they like how I keep my balance and my vision, and that people, they just can’t tackle me,” Fontenot told Rivals. “I feel like I can line up anywhere in their offense. I can line up in the slot and run routes and catch passes. I can line up in the backfield and turn it up the middle.”

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

—–

Jonathan Van Diest – DL/LB

Just the facts … Committed February 28th … Jonathan Van Diest is a 6’2″, 235-pound defensive end from Cherry Creek high school in Greenwood Village, Colorado  Rivals bio Scout bio 247Sports bio

What others have to say about Van Diest … Van Diest is considered to be a three-star prospect according to Rivals, Scout and 247 Sports. Scout has Van Diest as the No. 2 outside linebacker from the state of Colorado and the No. 65 outside linebacker in the nation. 247 Sports has Van Diest as the No. 3 overall prospect out of Colorado, and the No. 26 weakside defensive end in the nation.

Van Diest broke his elbow and had to have surgery, but should be healed up soon. Had a strong senior season recording 74 tackles through 11 games before his injury.

Van Diest had other offers from … several Power-Five conference schools, including Nebraska, Iowa State, Louisville and Washington State. Other schools Van Diest was talking to included numerous Pac-12 schools, including UCLA, Washington, Stanford, Utah, Arizona State and Cal. Considering how early Van Diest committed in the recruiting cycle, it is a pretty impressive list.

In his own words … “I knew when I committed early, that the program would turn around. I could see small indicators of that happening and now that it has and will continue I’m really excited and lucky to be going there”.

Here is a link to Van Diest’s Hudl.com highlights.

And here is a YouTube video of Van Diest at the 9NEWS Scouting combine (from February, 2015):

—–

Dante Sparaco – DE/TE

Just the facts … Committed February 28th … Dante Sparaco is a 6’4″, 235-pound athlete from IMG Academy in Brandento, Florida, by way of Cherry Creek high school in Greenwood Village, Colorado  Rivals bio Scout bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Sparaco … Sparaco is considered to be a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout, and 247 Sports. Scout considers Sparaco to be the 129th-best defensive end in the nation, while 247Sports has him as the No. 41 tight end prospect in the country.

Sparaco transferred from Cherry Creek to IMG Academy last fall, to get better prepared for college. His move to Florida caused some worry in the Buff Nation about Sparaco changing his commitment, but he never wavered in his commitment to the Buffs.

Evaluation by Scout.com … Sparaco is a disciplined defender that does a nice job of setting the edge and flashing relentlessness until the play is whistled dead. Sparaco is more athletic than given credit for, and contains the ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage by breaking down and changing direction to the football. He also impresses with the ability to disengage and make a play on the ball. He keeps his eyes on the football while tangled up with linemen in the trenches, but also does a good job of holding his own by stacking and shedding the opponent. Sparaco flashes good hand placement while getting underneath with leverage.

Sparaco had other offers from … numerous schools, including numerous Ivy League schools (so qualifying was never an issue). Sparaco also had offers from Utah, Purdue, Colorado State and Utah State. Several other Pac-12 schools, including Cal, UCLA, and Stanford (the academic schools in the conference) expressed interest in Sparaco, but with his early (February 28th) commitment to Colorado, his offer sheet wasn’t as long as it would have been otherwise.

Regarding his recruiting Sparaco told PrepColorado.com in December, 2015: “I have been in contact with so many schools recently, it has been kind of crazy!  UCLA, Cal, Penn State, Clemson and since I got my ACT scores back, Stanford, Vanderbilt and Northwestern have been pretty hot. I really like Colorado too, the staff has been great”.

Here is an analysis of Sparaco from YouTube, courtesy of Rivals.com:

—–

Kyle Trego – DB

… A late commitment for the Class of 2016 …

Just the facts … Committed February 28th … Kyle Trego is a 6’0″, 190-pound defensive back who comes to Colorado from Diablo Community College in Pleasant Hill, California  Rivals bio

What others say about Trego … Trego is an unrated prospect. As a prep at Liberty High School in Brentwood, California, Trego had a couple of offers to play college football, but he wanted to give himself a chance to play at the highest level possible, so he decided to head to Diablo Valley to give himself that opportunity.

“I wanted to prove myself at the next level so I could get bigger so Diablo Valley was my choice,” Trego told JCFootball.com. “A big reason was because of their high recruiting looks from Division One schools.”

Trego manned the strong safety spot for DVC and finished second on the team with 50 tackles to go along with half a sack, 10 tackles-for-loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and he led the team with four interceptions and three blocked kicks.

Being a freshman qualifier, Trego did not have to graduate from Diablo, and does not have to sit out a year. He will have four years to play three at Colorado.

Trego had other offers from … no other Power-Five conference schools. Trego did have offers from Eastern Michigan and Air Force, and was talking with schools like San Diego State and Middle Tennessee.

Here is a link to Hudl.com highlights of Trego in action.

—–

Tags: Alex Fontenot, Carson Wells, Chase Newman, Chris Miller, Dante Sparaco, Dante Wigley, Grant Polley, Jacob Callier, Jake Moretti, Jalen Sami, Jalin Burrell, Jared Poplawski, Jaylon Jackson, Jonathan Van Diest, K.D. Nixon, Kevin George, Kyle Trego, Laviska Shenault, Maurice Bell, Nate Landman, Shamar Hamilton, Tyler Lytle, William Sherman, Xavier Newman
This post, about the Recruiting - Class of 2017 game, from the 2017 Season, is filed under Article.
You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment.