Overview
Coming off a 1-11 season with a mid-season coach-firing, the administration knew they had to make a splash in the coaching carousel, and they did just that with the hiring of the highly sought-after Head Coach of Jackson State, Deion Sanders.
Sanders made it known from day one that he would be attempting to fix the roster immediately and he did by telling a good majority of the former players to enter the transfer portal, followed by signing 44 players in the 2023 class. 19 high school and 25 transfers being signed allows Colorado to lay a foundation for future classes while also quickly rebuilding all three phases of the game with starting caliber transfers.
Most Underrated
Kasen Weisman
With the amount of talent being brought in, there are a lot of players not getting the praise they deserve and one of these players is Kasen Weisman. Weisman, out of Douglasville, Georgia, was highly sought out by Kansas and had him committed until Sanders got to Colorado and knew Kasen was his guy, leading to a late flip.
Scouting Report
A dynamic QB with a slight frame, Weisman shows arm strength that causes the ball to jump out of his hand. He delivers throws at all levels of the field with very good accuracy whether he is in the pocket or on the run. Technically sound QB that defenses will struggle to contain in the pocket and get their hands on him. Will wait his turn behind Shedeur Sanders, but if he keeps his head down and puts in the work, there is no reason why he shouldn’t be QB1 heading into the season following Shedeur’s departure.
https://twitter.com/kasenweisman12/status/1628791522496856066
Best Get
Cormani McClain
Not long ago, Sanders shocked the college football world by flipping the best corner in the class from Florida State to Jackson State, and he was essentially able to do the same this year. Last year, it was Travis Hunter (who followed Sanders to Colorado), and this year it is Cormani McClain out of Lakeland, Florida.
Scouting Report
McClain is a versatile corner that has elite length and changes his alignment consistently while maintaining a press depth. Uses his good foot quickness and hip fluidity to keep receivers in front of him and mirror their routes. Once receivers commit to their route, he displays good acceleration and top-end speed to stay in phase making opposing QBs look to their next option. McClain and Hunter playing across from each other will be intimidating to opposing offenses. And Coach Prime knows a thing or two about playing that position.
More Sports News
Best Out of State Addition
Dylan Edwards
Going out-of-state was all Sanders did with this class once he got to Colorado. There are a lot of players to choose from, but without a doubt, Dylan Edwards out of Derby, Kansas is at the top of the list next to McClain. Edwards shows the highest potential to have an early impact on the team and its overall success in 2023. Colorado was the third school Dylan had committed to during his recruiting process, but most importantly for Coach Prime and the Buffs, it was the final one, as he put pen to paper on signing day.
Scouting Report
Edwards aligns at both receiver and running back where he displays very good acceleration, top-end speed, and COD. Not only does he win due to his speed, but he also wins due to his body control and ability to adjust when catching passes. One of the most dynamic players in this class and is capable of scoring on every play that he touches the ball. It is expected that he will have a significant impact in year one for Colorado.
https://twitter.com/JakeDNVR/status/1610428550238306305
Best In-State Addition
Hank Zilinskas
Deciding the best in-state signing was not difficult after Sanders pulled the majority of the scholarships offered by previous coach Karl Dorrell’s administration. In fact, the new regime only kept one, leaving the three-star center Zilinskas the winner by default.
Scouting Report
Displays good initial quickness off the ball and is light on his feet which allows him to consistently get to and make second-level defenders obsolete. Shows good bend in his knees and ankles presnap, while also shows in his ability to keep a good pad level for leverage during engages. Demonstrates a powerful punch and good hand placement, allowing him to sustain and finish blocks as he continues to run his feet on contact. His level of athleticism at the center position, while also being very physical and technically sound, will allow him to see the field once his body develops more through the strength program. It will take him time to get on the field, but once he is ready, he will not look back.
https://twitter.com/CUBuffsFootball/status/1605573099260215296
