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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Colorado

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03/07/23 - Cormani McClain, Fr/2027, Colorado + More +

Getting two of the best young cornerbacks in the country to come to Boulder was the first step. Now, the Colorado coaches have to get them ready to play. "Those guys are young and they've got a lot of technique work that they need to work on, but that's what I'm here for," CU cornerbacks coach Kevin Mathis said during a press conference last week. "Those guys" could include the Buffaloes' entire cornerback group in general, but more specifically, it will be Travis Hunter and Cormani McClain in the spotlight. Hunter was rated the No. 1 prospect in the nation for the class of 2022 before signing with Jackson State to play for head coach Deion Sanders and Mathis. After a year at JSU, Hunter is now at CU after Sanders took over as the Buffaloes' head coach in December.

McClain is ranked as the No. 1 cornerback in the class of 2023 and had been committed to Miami before Sanders took the job at CU. He flipped to the Buffs last month and will arrive in Boulder this summer. A lot of football coaches talk about building a defense from the inside (defensive line and linebackers) out. But, not at CU. "We're probably the only place in America that's gonna start from the outside-in with our corners, because that's who (Sanders) is, that's what we want to build our brand on," Mathis said. "We want to make sure our guys on the outside are locked down and we've got two good ones. "Now, they need work and they're going to get work, but we've got two good ones on the outside that's gonna allow us do what we need to do on the inside of the defense to make plays." - Daily Camera

Fr/2027

CB Cormani McClain, Colorado
News Source: Daily Camera
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02/27/23 - Shedeur Sanders, Jr/2025, Colorado + More +

When asked by reporters for a fair quarterback comp for incoming CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the new QB1 and son of first-year coach Deion Sanders, Buffs wide receivers coach Brett Bartolone went long. And Strong. As in, former Nevada great Carson Strong. "As far as arm talent goes (the younger Sanders) is as good as I've seen at this level," Bartolone said during a meet-the-assistants news conference for Coach Prime's new hires this past Thursday, the staff's first engagement with Colorado media. "I've been around guys (such as) Carson Strong, who was a two-time (first-team) Mountain West player at Nevada. And I mean, (Strong) could touch anywhere on the field (with a ball) … "(Sanders) understands what defenses are trying to do to him. You know, as a quarterback, he has a very, very high IQ level, he really does." With Sanders, Buffs fans would happily take the second coming of Cam Ward, especially as their backstories share more than a few parallels.

Like the younger Sanders, Ward is a talented Texan who transferred from an FCS power (Incarnate Word) to the Pac-12 (Washington State), only his move was between the 2021 and '22 seasons. And like Sanders now, there were questions as to whether the latter would have the same success at Wazzu as he did against lower-level competition. The short version? Ward delivered. After throwing for 47 scores and 4,678 yards at the FCS level in 2021, the young quarterback had 3,231 yards through the air with 23 TD passes during his first season with the Cougars last fall, helping steer Wazzu to a win at Wisconsin, a 7-6 record and a berth in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl. Coming off a 1-11 season, Buffs fans would savor seven wins and a postseason berth this fall. "Shedeur is good. He's been very good," Brandon Huffman, 247Sports.com national recruiting analyst, told The Post recently. "Sure, it will be a jump, like Cam Ward's was from Incarnate Word to Washington State. "The difference (between Sanders and former Michigan and UNC Bears QB Dylan McCaffrey is that) McCaffrey was pretty average in college and didn't 'wow' you, even in high school - at major events, he struggled and saw his stock plunge. Sanders is much better and (was) far more successful in college." - Denver Post

Jr/2025

QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
News Source: Denver Post
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02/24/23 - Xavier Weaver, rSr/2024, Colorado + More +

Colorado's talented receiving corps got even better Wednesday. Former South Florida standout Xavier Weaver announced on social media that he is transferring to Colorado. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder is the second USF receiver to transfer to CU this winter, as Weaver will join former teammate Jimmy Horn Jr., in Boulder. Weaver earned second-team All-American Athletic Conference honors this past season after leading USF in catches (53), receiving yards (718) and receiving touchdowns (six) - despite playing in only nine of the Bulls' 12 games.

Horn was second on the team in all three categories, with 37 catches for 551 yards and three touchdowns. Horn enrolled at CU in January, while Weaver will arrive in the summer. A fifth-year senior, Weaver is taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA to all players from the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Weaver became one of the top receivers in USF history during his four seasons with the Bulls. Playing in 40 games, with 21 starts, Weaver caught 116 passes for 1,735 yards and eight touchdowns. - Daily Camera

rSr/2024

WR Xavier Weaver, Colorado
News Source: Daily Camera
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02/02/23 - Shedeur Sanders, Jr/2025, Colorado + More +

Shedeur Sanders had yet to play his final game at Jackson State before Fox Sports in December labeled him as a favorite to win the 2023 Heisman Trophy for Colorado. Throwing that type of hype on Sanders right away might be a bit much, but the fact that CU has a quarterback being talked about nationally is rare and it's a big deal for the Pac-12 Conference. "The conference will have the greatest collection of quarterbacks going into the season, as far as athletes ready to make sure their universities are in contention," Merton Hanks, the Pac-12's senior associate commissioner for football operations, said to BuffZone in a recent interview.

Without having played a snap at the FBS level, Sanders may not be at the top of that list yet, but he's one of the most intriguing quarterbacks in the country going into next season. In two seasons at Jackson State, Sanders threw for 6,963 yards, 70 touchdowns and only 14 interceptions. He added nine rushing touchdowns, including six this past season. In 2022, he ranked third in the FCS in passing touchdowns (40) and fourth in passing yards (3,732) and completion percentage (70.6%). "I'm looking forward to seeing Shedeur against the Pac-12 defenses," Hanks said. "That's going to be something that I'll be certainly paying close attention to." - Daily Camera

Jr/2025

QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
News Source: Daily Camera
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01/30/23 - Jordan Domineck, rSr/2024, Colorado + More +

A sixth-year senior, Domineck is a 6-foot-3, 251-pound edge rusher who had a stellar season for Arkansas. He wasn't a starter, but he played in all 13 games and posted 34 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. Only three players in the SEC had more sacks. Prior to his one year at Arkansas, he played four seasons (2018-21) at Georgia Tech, seeing action in 31 games, with 15 starts, recording 101 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks. Domineck comes to CU loaded with confidence and the ability to boost what was a dismal pass rush last year. "Personally, I have a lot of confidence in myself and what I can do," he said. "I feel like if I can't go out there and truly be the person that (CU coaches) look at and they call on, then what am I doing? That's how I really want to be able to carry myself. "I just want to have (my confidence) grow even more as long as I'm developing both physically, mentally, emotionally; everything."

That's why he is eager for a new challenge - even if it's one he didn't expect. "Honestly when I first entered the portal I didn't know where I wanted to go," he said. It wasn't long before the CU staff contacted him, however. Sanders and a large chunk of the CU staff came from Jackson State and they recruited Domineck a year ago. "They almost flipped me from Arkansas my first time in the portal," Domineck said. "Their impact just stuck with me. I realize how truly friendly and how everybody just is really keen on relationships, but also come in to work. - Daily Camera

rSr/2024

DE Jordan Domineck, Colorado
News Source: Daily Camera
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01/30/23 - Travis Hunter, So/2026, Colorado + More +

Because of its stringent admissions and transfer rules, Colorado historically had trouble getting in on that game. Enter new head coach Deion "Prime" Sanders. In the span of a month, changes happened quickly thanks to a new initiative that makes credit review for transfer students a more seamless process. CU has received commitments from around 20 players off the transfer portal and is ranked first by 247 Sports on its transfer football team rankings.

That includes one of the top transfers, cornerback Travis Hunter, who followed Sanders from Jackson State. "This is a game-changer," university Chancellor Philip DiStefano said in an interview with The Associated Press. "They (transfers) want to know immediately if (their credits) are acceptable, and if they're eligible to play. They don't want to wait two weeks, three weeks, or five weeks." For years, a key disadvantage in luring transfer students to Colorado was that it didn't have a streamlined way to accept credits from varying classes from different schools. Under the new rules in this pilot program, transfers will be able to more easily move credits from their previous schools that don't have a matching major at CU and this gives Sanders on a more level playing field. - AP College Football

So/2026

CB Travis Hunter, Colorado
News Source: AP College Football
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01/19/23 - Demouy Kennedy, rJr/2025, Colorado + More +

Alabama inside linebacker Demouy Kennedy entered the NCAA transfer portal on Tuesday, On3 Sports reported. Kennedy, a junior who played at Theodore High School, was the No. 39 overall-rated player in 247 Sports' composite ranking of the 2020 recruiting class. Kennedy tore his ACL during an Oct. 1 game at Arkansas and missed the remainder of the season.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Kennedy worked primarily on special teams in three seasons for Alabama. He appeared in 23 games, all as a reserve. Some of his playing time in 2021 came as a running back after injuries at that position thinned Alabama's depth. Undergraduate players have until Wednesday to enter the portal under the NCAA's new transfer portal window, which opened for 45 days beginning Dec. 5. It will re-open April 15-30, although players transferring as graduates can enter at any time. - Birmingham News

rJr/2025

ILB Demouy Kennedy, Colorado
News Source: Birmingham News
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01/18/23 - Kyndrich Breedlove, Jr/2025, Colorado + More +

Another experienced defender is coming to Colorado. On Monday, former Mississippi cornerback Kyndrich Breedlove announced that he has verbally committed to transfer to CU. A 5-foot-11, 180-pound sophomore, Breedlove played the last two seasons at Ole Miss, mainly on special teams. As a true freshman in 2021, he played in nine games, with almost all of his time on special teams. This past year, he suffered a wrist injury according to reports and was limited to one game, playing on special teams against Arkansas in November. Coming out of Pearl-Cohn (Tenn.) High School in 2021, Breedlove was rated a four-star prospect by Rivals.com and a three-star by 247Sports.com. He had 20 scholarship offers, including from 11 SEC schools. - Daily Camera

Jr/2025

CB Kyndrich Breedlove, Colorado
News Source: Daily Camera
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01/16/23 - Jordan Domineck, rSr/2024, Colorado + More +

Colorado didn't have much success getting to quarterbacks last season and new head coach Deion Sanders is aiming to change that. On Saturday night, Sanders and the Buffs landed two experienced pass rushers. Taylor Upshaw announced that he'll be transferring to CU from Michigan on Saturday evening. Shortly after midnight on Sunday, Jordan Domineck announced he has committed to CU after playing last year at Arkansas. Both players are graduate students with one of year of eligibility remaining and both were in Boulder on Saturday for a recruiting visit.

Domineck, listed at 6-foot-3, 251 pounds, played four seasons (2018-21) at Georgia Tech before transferring to Arkansas last year. With the Razorbacks this past season, he didn't start, but played in all 13 games and posted 34 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. During his time at Georgia Tech, Domineck played in 31 games, with 15 starts, recording 101 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks. Domineck is the second player from Arkansas to transfer to the Buffs this winter, joining safety Myles Slusher. - Daily Camera

rSr/2024

DE Jordan Domineck, Colorado
News Source: Daily Camera
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01/14/23 - CamRon Silmon-Craig, rJr/2025, Colorado + More +

At 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig knows he's not the ideal size to play safety in college football. He's never let that get in his way, though. "I've always been the smallest guy, so it's nothing new," said Silmon-Craig, who is transferring to the Colorado Buffaloes this month after two seasons at Jackson State. "I was a small guy in the SWAC." Small or not, Silmon-Craig has always played well enough to be wanted by new CU head coach Deion Sanders. Silmon-Craig is one of 21 scholarship transfers committed to CU this winter, including seven that have followed Sanders from Jackson State.

For Silmon-Craig, the relationship with Sanders goes back several years. A native of Birmingham, Ala., Silmon-Craig moved away from home as a high school junior to play at Trinity Christian High School in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Sanders was one of the coaches at Trinity Christian, along with Kevin Mathis and Andre' Hart, who are now on CU's coaching staff. - Daily Camera

rJr/2025

FS CamRon Silmon-Craig, Colorado
News Source: Daily Camera
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01/13/23 - Kavosiey Smoke, rSr/2024, Colorado + More +

Colorado has added some experience to its backfield. On Wednesday, former Kentucky running back Kavosiey Smoke announced that he will transfer to CU to play his sixth and final season of college football. The 5-foot-9, 209-pound Smoke rushed for 1,583 yards and 12 touchdowns during his time at Kentucky, ranking 21st in program history in rushing yards.

With the graduation of Alex Fontenot, Smoke becomes the most experienced running back on the Buffs' roster. A three-star recruit coming out of Wetumpka (Ala.) High School in 2018, Smoke played in 46 games with five starts at Kentucky. He started the first four games this past season, finishing the year with 277 yards and a touchdown on 59 carries. Smoke's had the seventh-best yards-per-carry average (5.42) in Kentucky history. His best season came in 2019, when he rushed for 616 yards and six touchdowns. - Daily Camera

rSr/2024

RB Kavosiey Smoke, Colorado
News Source: Daily Camera
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01/13/23 - Deion Smith, rSr/2024, Colorado + More +

Deion Smith, who led Colorado with 393 rushing yards this past season, is slated to return for his sixth season, as well. Smith has 653 yards and four touchdowns during his career. Sophomore Anthony Hankerson (274 yards, team-best three TDs last season), junior Jayle Stacks (114 yards, 1 TD) and freshman Victor Venn, who redshirted, are also slated to return for the Buffs. - Daily Camera

rSr/2024

RB Deion Smith, Colorado
News Source: Daily Camera
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01/09/23 - Yousef Mugharbil, rSo/2026, Colorado + More +

Colorado is continuing to bolster its offensive line. On Saturday night, former Florida lineman Yousef Mugharbil announced on social media that he has committed to transfer to the Buffs. Mugharbil did not appear in a game during his two years at Florida and he has three years of eligibility remaining. Listed by Florida at 6-foot-5, 311 pounds, Mugharbil missed almost the entire 2021 season after an automobile accident.

In August of 2011, he was driving a scooter in Gainesville, Fla., when he collided with a semi truck and injuries prevented him from playing during the regular season. He returned to practice before the Gators' bowl game, but did not play. As a redshirt freshman this year, he did not appear in any games. Coming out of Murphy (N.C.) High School in 2021, Mugharbil was a four-star recruit who chose Florida over offers from Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Louisville, North Carolina State, North Carolina and Penn State, Tennessee and Virginia Tech, among others. - Daily Camera

rSo/2026

OG Yousef Mugharbil, Colorado
News Source: Daily Camera
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01/05/23 - Taylor Upshaw, rSr/2024, Colorado + More +

The post-playoff exodus continues at Michigan, where a second edge rusher has signaled plans to transfer today. Defensive end Taylor Upshaw entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal on Tuesday, a team spokesman confirmed to MLive on Tuesday. Upshaw, who appeared in 36 games over five seasons, is a graduate student with a year of eligibility remaining. Upshaw has not yet announced the move, but it's not totally unexpected given his backup role in 2022. He has two career starts (none this year) and never seemed to crack a starting spot in Michigan's revamped defense the past two seasons.

This year, with Michigan going 13-1 and winning its second straight Big Ten title, the 6-foot-4, 255-pound Upshaw tallied 12 tackles (4 1/2 for a loss), two sacks and an interception as a backup edge rusher. His highlight of the season came Nov. 26 against Ohio State, when he notched his first career interception in the win over the Buckeyes. Upshaw follows fellow edge rusher Julius Welschof, who entered the portal earlier Tuesday. He is the eighth Michigan player total to enter the portal since the end of the regular season, allowing him the opportunity to get a jump-start on finding a new place to play in 2023. - Ann Arbor News

rSr/2024

DE Taylor Upshaw, Colorado
News Source: Ann Arbor News
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01/04/23 - Jordan Domineck, rSr/2024, Colorado + More +

Senior defensive end Jordan Domineck has entered the transfer portal, continuing the strong outflow for University of Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman. Domineck is at least the 24th Arkansas player to enter the transfer portal since fall camp and the fourth defensive lineman, joining Isaiah Nichols, Eric Thomas and Taylor Lewis.

Domineck, a transfer from Georgia Tech, did not go through spring ball with the Razorbacks but had an impact with big plays in the season opener and the Liberty Bowl despite not starting a game. The 6-3, 251-pounder from Lakeland, Fla., had 34 tackles, 9.5 for lost yardage, 7.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery. - Northwest Arkansas Times

rSr/2024