Tag: Colorado football recruiting

Deion Sanders sends encouraging message to high school recruits

Coach Prime let high school recruits know that freshmen play at Colorado

The Colorado Buffaloes have become the poster child of the transfer portal since hiring Deion Sanders. But at Big 12 football media days, Coach Prime let high school recruits know that freshmen get playing time at CU.

Sanders has completely remade Colorado’s roster over the past two offseasons, pulling most of the talent from the transfer portal. Because of this, CU has signed two of the best transfer classes in the past two cycles.

Along with that transfer talent, the Buffs have added several high school players. Earlier this week, Coach Prime was quick to point out that plenty of young players saw the field last season in Boulder:

“To you all that say we only go in the portal: We signed 17 high school players last year and 13 played. When we sign a kid out of high school, the expectancy is for him to play,” Sanders said. “All you kids in high school right now, when we sign you, we want you to play. Seventeeen kids, 13 played. We played a total of 20 freshmen last season, including seven walk-ons. So if you’re a freshman and you walk on, you have an opportunity to play.”

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What is cooking in the recruitment of Wilnerson Telemaque? Florida three-star talks Colorado, LSU

Wilnerson Telemaque has several official visits planned.

Wilnerson Telemaque is seeing his recruitment continue to heat up, this following an impressive weekend at the Rivals Camp in Miami.

A three-star defensive lineman from Monsignor Pace (Opa Locka, Florida), Telemaque had 16 total tackles and three sacks in eight games last year.

He recently announced a top six of Colorado, Florida, LSU, Minnesota, Missouri and West Virginia

Telemaque will definitely be taking official visits to LSU, Minnesota and West Virginia. He said he is looking “for a school to develop me for the next level.”

Colorado is one of the programs that is trending well, Telemaque says, and he cites the impact of head coach Deion Sanders in his recruitment.

“Being able to be coached by an NFL Hall of Famer is always going to be something special,” Telemaque told USA TODAY High School Sports.

“Also knowing that it is a program that is rebuilding. If Coach Prime stays there, I feel like they will be a contender for a national championship and they’ll get guys ready for the NFL.”

LSU is trending well in Telemaque’s recruitment. Brian Kelly, now in his third year as head coach at LSU, has made Telemaque feel like a priority.

The entire staff at LSU has left this impression on Telemaque, who also says that the incoming 2025 recruiting class has caught his attention as well.

“I feel like our relationship has always been good since they’ve known me since earlier when they were at their other schools,” Telemaque said.

“It is one of the top schools in the country. They have the No. 1 recruiting class in the country I think. Bryce Underwood and Dakorien Moore are top guys to play with.”

One school that may be a surprise to see in Telemaque’s recruitment is Minnesota. The Big Ten program historically recruits Florida hard and that includes their efforts in trying to land Telemaque.

Head coach P.J. Fleck has left an impression on Telemaque so far.

“I feel like Minnesota, that staff connection with P.J. Fleck is strong,” Telemaque said.

“It is a program that a lot of people aren’t talking about them as much but I feel like they have one of the top defensive line staffs in the country.”

But as good of a football player as Telemque is, he says he has a hidden talent that not many people outside his inner circle known about.

“I’m really a better cook than a football player,” Telemaque said.

“Specialty – I’m good with ribs, I’m good with anything with chicken, mac and cheese and stuff like that. Now we have a smoker at the house.”

He said the smoker might make its way to his next college destination.

Eight notable prospects who’ve planned spring visits to Colorado

These talented prospects are set to visit Colorado this spring

On the field and in terms of recruiting, this spring is another big one for head coach Deion Sanders’ Colorado football program.

The Buffs are coming off a four-win campaign but certainly don’t lack momentum with the 2024 season looming.

While Coach Prime has heavily recruited the transfer portal again this offseason, getting a few class of 2025 prospects to commit would be more than welcome. Fortunately, several highly-ranked 2025 prospects have scheduled spring visits to Boulder, including multiple four/five-stars.

Colorado is currently without any 2025 commits as of this writing.

Below are eight notable class of 2025 prospects who plan on visiting CU this spring:

Colorado predicted to land recent Arkansas decommit Gregory Genross

Colorado is predicted to land a tall TE who recently decommitted from Arkansas

On Tuesday, Steve Robertson of 247Sports dropped a crystal ball prediction for Colorado to land 2024 junior college tight end Gregory Genross.

Genross was an Arkansas commit for about two weeks before reopening his recruitment on Dec. 12. He then announced an offer from Colorado three days later.

In his two seasons at Dodge City Community College, Genross recorded 26 catches for 265 yards and three touchdowns, but his size is what impresses me the most. The Bronx, New York native lists himself at 6-foot-7, 230 pounds on his X page, giving him a significant height advantage over most defenders.

247Sports ranks Genross as the No. 1 junior college tight end.

Colorado, which has yet to announce a new tight ends coach after Tim Brewster left for Charlotte, managed to sign four-star Cincinnati transfer TE Chamon Metayer last month. Former Buffs starting TE Michael Harrison also followed Sean Lewis to San Diego State via the transfer portal.

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Tony’s Take: Only time will tell how Coach Prime’s recruiting strategy pans out

Will Coach Prime’s unique recruiting strategy prove successful?

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders and his staff have put together a highly rated but rather unconventional recruiting class this year, and just about everyone is sharing their two cents on Coach Prime’s tactics. As the saying goes, opinions are like elbows: everyone has at least one.

From analysts such as Geoff Schwartz to rival fanbases, the reviews regarding Colorado’s 2024 recruiting class have been primarily negative, mainly because the Buffs have signed only five players from the high school ranks (at least so far). Comparatively, powerhouse programs such as Georgia, Alabama, Texas and Ohio State have each added over 20 high school signees.

Traditionally, programs have been built through high school recruiting, but we aren’t living in your father’s era of college football. The transfer portal has changed everything, and Sanders is embracing that. It seems strange to dismiss the talent CU has brought in through the portal, especially with 12 of the 16 transfer additions having multiple years of eligibility remaining.

On the flip side, Buffs fans are celebrating that Sanders brought in the top-ranked transfer class for the second season in a row, and rightfully so.

Last year’s No. 1 class amounted to four wins on the season, an improvement over 1-11. However, four wins is four wins. While I believe that Colorado has patched up major issues on the offensive and defensive lines, only one thing will matter when judging Coach Prime’s recruiting tactics: wins and losses.

So, to borrow another often-used phrase, it’s time to hurry up and wait.

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2023 early signing period tracker: Which recruits are making things official with Colorado?

These commits have made things official with the Buffs during the early signing period

Deion Sanders’ second early signing period as Colorado’s head football coach has arrived.

Through Friday, recruits have the opportunity to ink their national letter of intent, making things official with the college of their choice. High school prospects who don’t sign during the early period will get another chance to do so on national signing day (Feb. 7).

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Buffaloes have nine class of 2024 commits, including top-ranked offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, who will likely sign with Coach Prime’s Buffs at some point this week.

Below is our Colorado football 2023 early signing period tracker (rankings courtesy of the 247Sports Composite):

Colorado football recruiting roundup: What you may have missed so far this summer

Been out of town this summer? Here’s a recap of what you may have missed from the busy world of CU football recruiting:

There’s not much downtime in the current state of college football recruiting. Yes, there are dead periods, but the best coaches are always thinking about how to keep their program moving in the right direction with each incoming class.

For Colorado and head coach Deion Sanders, things have remained active on the recruiting front so far this summer. Three 2024 recruits committed in June and a number of transfers have also joined the Buffs’ revitalized roster, including former Jackson State safety Shilo Sanders and JUCO OT Gavin Layton.

Below is a quick recap of the most notable recruiting news coming out of Boulder over the past month-plus:

Broomfield OL Landen Davidson joins Cornhuskers’ 2024 class

Broomfield offensive lineman Landen Davidson is headed to the Huskers

About one week after receiving an offer from Colorado, local class of 2024 OL prospect Landen Davidson announced his commitment to the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Tuesday.

The 6-foot-4, 308-pound rising senior at Broomfield High School helped the Eagles secure a state championship last fall and was later a first-team All-State selection.

Davidson visited Lincoln over the weekend and apparently saw enough to join head coach Matt Rhule’s Huskers, who now own the No. 27 ranked 2024 recruiting class (247Sports) with 14 commits.

Colorado, meanwhile, has eight 2024 commits, including one offensive lineman: Nevada three-star Talan Chandler.

Davidson held other offers from Colorado State, Iowa State, Kansas, Washington State and Wyoming, to name a few.

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Colorado commit Zycarl Lewis transfers high schools, joins Charles Lester III

Colorado commit Zycarl Lewis is joining recent #cubuffs visitor and five-star CB Charles Lester III at Venice High School

Class of 2024 Colorado football commit Zycarl Lewis revealed on Tuesday that he’ll be transferring from Carrollwood Day to Venice High School for his senior year. This move means that the Florida wide receiver will soon be playing alongside five-star cornerback Charles Lester III, a recent Colorado visitor who also transferred into Venice ahead of his own senior season.

Lester is heavily favored to land at Florida State, but there’s now a greater possibility that Lewis can persuade his new Venice teammate to join him in Boulder.

Lester plans to announce his college commitment on July 29.

As of Wednesday, Colorado’s 2024 class features eight commits and is ranked No. 41 nationwide, per 247Sports.

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Rising prospect Jalani Culpepper takes repeat visit to Colorado

Colorado is building an early relationship with a highly sought-after young prospect

Colorado football recruiting has been flipped on its head since the hiring of Deion Sanders, and that includes looking way down the line for talent.

On Monday, Jimmie Searfoss of BuffStampede reported that class of 2027 athlete Jalani Culpepper recently took a second recruiting visit with the Buffaloes. The incoming high school freshman has already received 11 Division I offers despite having yet to play a high school snap.

Currently listed at 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds, the Georgetown, Texas prospect holds offers from Florida State, Michigan State, Arizona and Texas Tech, to name a few. Culpepper was first offered by Colorado earlier this month.

“I had a little chat with Coach Prime, but I had a great conversation with Brett Bartolone, the receivers coach,” Culpepper told BuffStampede regarding his most recent trip to Colorado. “We’ve got a great chemistry,”

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