This year on Feb. 3, recruits from California to New Jersey are expected to sign with the Colorado Buffaloes football squad.
Here, we have broken the high school prospects down into three categories–“locks,” “50/50” and “doubtful or no shot”–, according to the likelihood of them signing with CU on Wednesday.
Locks:
Tony Jones (RB) – Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco Prep: Jones plans to sign with Colorado on National Signing Day this Wednesday. He’s been committed to CU since Jan. 5th and visited Boulder on Jan. 15. Jones says he has no other schools pursuing him. He is one of two running backs expected to sign with CU.
“CU is a very good school academic-wise and football-wise,” Jones said. “I know I will be able to play there because they didn’t have any other running backs that were committed when I chose them.”
Kyle Slavin (TE) – Littleton (Colo.) Chatfield: Slavin always knew the right school for him.
“I’ve been crazed about CU since I can remember,” Slavin said. “It was kind of a no-brainer for me.”
One of only two in-state commitments for the Buffs, Slavin has been a verbal commit since June. He also holds an offer from Syracuse.
Justin Castor (K) – Arvada (Colo.) Arvada West: The in-state kicker was once thought to be headed to Kansas. But after Mark Mangino was fired, he reopened his recruitment and is now Boulder-bound. He holds offers from Arizona State, Kansas and Wyoming and claims the calls stopped once he decided on CU.
“Once I gave my verbal to Colorado, the other schools stopped calling me,” Castor said. “I grew up here and staying in-state was always a dream for me, so it worked out.”
Justin Favors (TE) – Trotwood (Ohio) Trotwood-Madison: After losing three tight ends to graduation, the CU coaches made it a priority to recruit that position. With Signing Day approaching, they have three tight ends committed, one of them being Favors. Though Ohio is a long way from Boulder, Favors said his family wasn’t worried a bit.
“They were happy because they told me I needed to travel anyways,” Favors said. “They wanted me to exceed farther than Ohio.”
Other CU locks: Cordary Clark (FB), Jered Bell (CB), Chidera Uzo-Diribe (DE).
50/50:
Munchie Legaux (QB) – New Orleans (La.) Edna Karr: Legaux has been committed to CU since he visited back in early November. But his decision will still come down to Signing Day on Wednesday. The quarterback recently told Rivals.com that his decision will be between Colorado and Arizona. His high school teammate, wide receiver Keenan Canty is also committed to the Buffs.
Brandon Golden (Ath) – Covina (Calif.) Charter Oak: Golden and three of his high school teammates visited CU in December. The two-way star was committed to Washington State at that time, and is still pledged to the Cougars now. But his coach at Charter Oak, Lou Farrar, said Golden’s decision would come down to Signing Day.
“Brandon is torn between Washington State and Colorado,” Farrar said. “He is torn right now.”
Farrar said he believes Golden is 60/40 in favor of Washington State. What also doesn’t help the Buffs is that the coach who was recruiting him for CU, Greg Brown, is now at Arizona.
Others who are 50/50: James McConico (RB), Kris Rice (LB), Harold Mobley (TE).
Doubtful or No shot:
Dave Clark (CB) – Independence (Kan.) Independence C.C.: CU defensive technical intern Ashley Ambrose is recruiting the talented junior college cornerback, and although he hasn’t visited Boulder, Clark claims that on National Signing Day his decision will come down to Colorado and Tennessee. The Buffs are desperate in the secondary, and could use a player with Clark’s attitude to contribute right away.
“I’m the type of player that doesn’t want it to be handed out,” Clark said. “I want to earn my playing time.”
Clark reportedly committed to Tennessee and head coach Derek Dooley on Sunday, but anything could happen up to Wednesday.
Mister Jones (RB) – Littleton (Colo.) Littleton: Jones was at one time a CU commit. Now, it doesn’t appear as if the Buffs have any shot at the huge 6-foot-2 running back. Jones is committed to Texas A&M and intends to sign his Letter of Intent with the Aggies on Wednesday. He is one of the many highly regarded instate talents not going to CU.
“I just want to get away from Colorado and try something new,” Jones told Rivals.com earlier this month.
Adam Muema (RB) – Covina (Calif.) Charter Oak: The talented running back is currently committed to San Diego State. His other offers include Nevada, UTEP, Washington State, and Colorado. However, according to Muema’s head coach Lou Farrar, it’s unlikely he’ll be going anywhere but to San Diego State.
“I know Adam is committed to San Diego State and that’s not going to change,” Farrar said.
Others who are doubtful: Trayvon Henry (LB), Jonathan McKnight (CB), Sealii Epenesa (DT).
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Michael Krumholtz at Michael.krumholtz@colorado.edu or Contributing Writer Cheng Sio at Cheng.sio@colorado.edu.
