December 4th 2024.
For the past two years, the Colorado fans have been treated to some of the most talented players to ever grace the field in Boulder. Players like Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, along with many others, have helped the 20th-ranked Buffaloes achieve great success. As their collegiate careers come to an end with a bowl game later this month, the focus now shifts to their future in the NFL.
However, while Coach Deion Sanders, his staff, and the entire Buff Nation are still savoring the success of the current team, they are already looking ahead to 2025. This past Wednesday marked the beginning of the three-day early signing period for high school players, and Coach Prime wasted no time in securing 14 talented recruits for the next season.
In the ever-changing world of college football, this is the earliest signing period to date, taking place more than two weeks earlier than last year. This is the first step in building a new CU roster without stars like Shedeur at quarterback and Hunter at cornerback and receiver. As of Wednesday, the Buffs' class ranks 37th nationally and fourth in the Big 12 Conference, according to 247Sports. This ranking takes into account the size of the class, and Coach Prime has never been one to prioritize quantity over quality. In terms of average player rating, the Buffs are leading the Big 12 and rank 21st nationally.
The highlight of this year's class is undoubtedly quarterback Julian "JuJu" Lewis from Carrollton High School. With a rating of .9831 on 247Sports.com, Lewis is the highest-rated high school quarterback to ever commit to the Buffs. He had been verbally committed to USC for 15 months before making the switch to CU last month.
Before Wednesday, Coach Prime was not allowed to speak about specific recruits. However, during his coaches' show on November 21, he couldn't help but mention the newest commit, without actually saying his name. He expressed his excitement for the program and the great kid with exceptional talent who had been in the works for a while. He also mentioned the recruit's positive qualities and family structure, and shared his anticipation for coaching him.
Interestingly, Lewis has a connection with former CU quarterback Kordell Stewart, who is also a friend of Coach Prime. It's clear that the Buffs have not only secured a top quarterback but also a player with strong support and mentorship from those who have been successful in the program.
While Lewis will certainly be a key player for the Buffs in the future, the team has also focused on protecting him. Of the 14 recruits, three are offensive linemen, and two are tight ends. Two four-star linemen, Chauncey Gooden and Carde Smith, lead the way in the offensive line. Together, they received 73 scholarship offers. Smith, like Lewis, had been committed to USC before changing his mind, while Gooden was highly sought after by top programs like Clemson before ultimately choosing CU last summer.
Another notable addition to the offensive line is 6-foot-8, 330-pound tackle Jay Gardenhire from West Bloomfield, Mich. The Buffs have also secured three receivers from Texas high schools, including four-star prospects Quanell Farrakhan Jr. and Adrian Wilson, and three-star Quentin Gibson.
On the defensive side, the Buffs have added two linemen, an edge rusher, a linebacker, and a safety. The standout in this group is four-star edge London Merritt, who had initially committed to Ohio State but ultimately chose CU last week.
As the new recruits prepare to join the program, the outgoing seniors have expressed their confidence in the future success of the team. Players like Hunter and Silmon-Craig have laid a strong foundation for the younger players to continue building on and have high hopes for the program's future success.
Shedeur, who is projected to be a top-five draft pick in 2025, has even pledged to support the Buffs by donating to the NIL collective to ensure their continued success. He has expressed his desire to provide the new players with everything he wished he had when he was in their position and is determined to see the team thrive.
Despite losing one commit to USC, the Buffs have still managed to secure a strong class, including one in-state recruit, tight end Zayne DeSouza from Loveland High School. This is only the second in-state recruit for Coach Prime in three recruiting cycles, with the other being current sophomore center Hank Zilinskas from the 2023 class. It's worth noting that while California used to be a popular recruiting spot for the Buffs, they have not signed any players from the Golden State in the last two classes.
The future looks bright for the Buffs, and the entire program is eagerly anticipating the arrival of the new recruits. With the right guidance and support, these young players have the potential to continue the legacy of success at CU and bring home more trophies in the years to come. As senior safety Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig said, "That's the standard, to win, at the end of the day." And with players like Shedeur leading the way, the Buffs are determined to maintain that standard for years to come.
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