Coach Prime’s CU Buffs set to add young talent as signing period begins

Under the direction of head coach Deion Sanders, the Colorado football program has gone through a remarkable transformation in two years, mainly bolstering the roster through the transfer portal.

Sanders’ recruiting of the high school ranks has been underrated nationally, though, and on Wednesday – the two-year anniversary of his introductory press conference – the Buffs are set to sign one of the best groups in the Big 12 for the class of 2025.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the 20th-ranked Buffs (9-3, 7-2 Big 12), had 15 prep players verbally committed for the 2025 class. Four-star quarterback Julian Lewis (Carrollton, Ga.) headlines a class set to officially become Buffs when the early signing period opens on Wednesday.

“We’re going to be straight. We got what we want,” Sanders said last week when asked about the early signing day. “You know, we don’t take a lot of high school players, and the ones that we take, we want them to play immediately. We want them to produce, be productive.”

CU’s class ranks 33rd nationally and second in the Big 12, behind TCU, per 247Sports.com. The average player rating of 89.27, however, leads the Big 12 and ranks 20th nationally.

Led by Lewis, the Buffs have seven players who are rated as four-star recruits, per 247. That group includes receivers Adrian Wilson (Pflugerville, Texas) and Quanell X Farrakhan Jr. (Houston, Texas); offensive linemen Carde Smith (Mobile, Ala.) and Chauncey Gooden (Nashville, Tenn.); edge defender London Merritt (Bradenton, Fla.); and cornerback Alex Graham (Detroit).

The others in the class all have three-star ratings on 247Sports. That group includes: Safety Antonio Branch Jr. (Miami, Fla.); tight ends Zayne DeSouza (Loveland) and Corbin Laisure (Johnson City, Tenn.); offensive lineman Jay Gardenhire (West Bloomfiled, Mich.); receiver Quentin Gibson (Fort Worth, Texas); defensive linemen Christian Hudson (Daytona Beach, Fla.) and Alexander McPherson (Bradenton, Fla.); and linebacker Mantrez Walker (Buford, Ga.).

On Sunday, Sanders and the Buffs will find out where this year’s team will be headed for a bowl game, and that will impact the incoming recruits. Early enrollee signees can practice with the team before the bowl game (but can’t play in the game).

“They get to get an early start and get here and we can see what they’re working with,” Sanders said. “So we’re excited about that.”

A year ago, CU signed only 11 players from high school, but that group included five-star lineman Jordan Seaton, who has started all season at left tackle; four-star receiver Drelon Miller, who has become a big part of the offense in the second half of the season; and three-star running Micah Welch, who has played quite a bit when healthy.

In the 2023 class, which was put together in just a few weeks after Sanders was hired, the Buffs signed 21 high school recruits. Some have already moved on, but that class includes receiver Omarion Miller, edge rusher Taje McCoy, athlete Isaiah Hardge, offensive lineman Hank Zilinskas and Stoutmire, all of which have made impacts on the Buffs already.

Many of the high school players signed by Sanders took a shot on Sanders’ vision, signing with CU rather than more proven winners. But, it’s paying off.

“You see what happens when you believe,” said Seaton, who was the top-rated lineman in the 2024 class. “You really just got to believe. I took a big risk coming here. (Travis Hunter) took a big risk at Jackson State. I feel like no risk for no reward. So don’t go where it’s, like, everybody goes there. I feel like you should just come here, bet on yourself. And as you see, we bet on ourselves and we’re starting to win aome games.

“I feel like you just got to find what works for you, and Colorado worked for me.”

As the Buffs begin the 2025 signing period, more highly-rated recruits, such as Seaton, are seeing the vision. Of course, Sanders and his staff will continue to build through the portal, especially with several stars graduating.

“You know we’re gonna hit that portal like it hadn’t been hit before,” Sanders said. “You know that. That’s what we do. And we have certain positions, we know everything we want. We know what we’re going to get. … We’re going to do some good things and replace some players that pretty much are darn near irreplaceable, you know?

“It’s some wonderful talent that’s walking out the door, but we plan on bringing some tremendous talent, as we did last year.”