Colorado didn’t get a big bump to its 2025 recruiting class on the first day of the early signing period like it has in the past under Deion Sanders.
There was no last-gasp five-star addition this time. In fact, USC flipped four-star safety Alex Graham, a standout from Detroit, away from Colorado on Wednesday.
But it still turned out to be a pretty good day for the Buffaloes, whose 13-man class is headlined by quarterback Julian Lewis.
With Shedeur Sanders headed to the NFL, Lewis — a four-star prospect who ranks No. 36 overall in the 247Sports Composite — is expected to step in and immediately compete for the starting job with rising sophomore Ryan Staub.
Lewis was a star at Carrollton High School in Georgia, throwing for 10,484 yards, 140 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in his prep career. Lewis, who was originally a member of the Class of 2026, had been committed to USC for much of the cycle before announcing his intention to sign with Colorado two weeks ago.
There are five other four-star prospects in the class: edge rusher London Merritt, offensive tackle Carde Smith, receivers Adrian Wilson and Quanell Farrakhan Jr. and interior offensive lineman Chauncey Gooden.
If there’s one thing Sanders made abundantly clear during his first two years as coach at Colorado, it’s that he’ll go anywhere to find and cultivate talent. The Buffs’ 13 signees come from seven different states.
Sanders is not afraid to play freshmen, and nobody has used the transfer portal more. Its paid off with the Buffaloes improving from 1-11 the year before he arrived to 9-3 in his second season in Boulder. His son, Shedeur, and Heisman frontrunner Travis Hunter had a lot to do with that.
Those big-name transfers weren’t alone — and it wasn’t just transfers who contributed to Colorado’s success. Yes, nine of the 27 high school recruits Colorado signed in Sanders’ first two cycles have already left the program.
Others, however, have become important contributors.
Jordan Seaton, last year’s five-star signing day splash, started 12 games at left tackle this season. Kareem Harden, a three-star recruit in the 2023 class, started six games at right guard and has 11 starts in two years. Hank Zilinskas, another three-star from the 2023 cycle and a former defensive lineman, started nine games at center this season.
Carter Stoutmire, a three-star defensive back from the 2023 class, started six games this season at safety. Receiver Drelon Miller (three starts in 2024) and running back Micah Welch (two starts in 2024) were among the true freshmen who made splashes this season.
Perhaps Lewis will join this list next fall.
Required reading
- Early signing day primer: Recruiting thoughts on Georgia, Alabama, Colorado, USC and more
(Photo of Deion Sanders: Nick Tre. Smith / Imagn Images)
