Final Recruiting Push

UPDATED: 1/26/12

February 1^st fast approaches as coaches make their last pitches and prospects will make their last official recruiting visits this coming weekend before signing day next Wednesday.  The Buffs currently have 25 verbal commitments (see full list at right in “2012 Commitments” box) who they believe will sign a Letter of Intent and fax it in to the CU Athletic Department.  They were expecting to sign 26-28 total so the slots are filling up quickly now, although one site reports that they are planning on sending out 32 Letters of Intent to recruits, not expecting all of those to fax them back.  This group includes a few academic questions that may never qualify and make it to campus and will have at least a couple of greyshirts, who will postpone enrollment until January 2013, count against that class, thus allowing CU to sign more than the maximum 25.  Those recruits can get acclimated academically and usually put on weight, but cannot practice until the spring and would still have five full seasons to play 4, meaning they can still redshirt and continue to develop also. (O-lineman Alex Kelley did that this year after getting injured during the summer).  There could also be visits and commitments after signing day-remember, they signed a few guys late last year (Buffscoop.com reports there is a bigger name who may fir this category).

I will try to update as much information as possible about where prospects stand and who is committing where.  For more on this recruiting cycle and the general state of the CU football program, read previous posts in the “Archives” on the right side of the page. I will provide a full class overview after everyine is signed.

The Buffs picked up two huge commitments from nationally coveted 4-star cornerbacks early in the week, jumping their national class ranking back into the low 30’s.  Both Yuri Wright (NJ) and Kenneth Crawley (DC) are confident, fast and fairly polished corners, and both expect to come right in and compete for playing time.  I have read two different places that Crawley may even be underrated. They also have given CU some national exposure and credibility by snagging these two on back-to-back days at crunch time. 
They also may have snagged another DB/WR in 3-star Jeffrey Hall (La Place, LA)-he will officially announce Friday supposedly but CU's biggest competition is Indiana and maybe San Jose St. and Frseno St.
TEAM NEWS: OG Paulay Asiata (4/5-star Hawaiian recruit that CU "flipped" from Washington last year) reportedly has been dismissed from the team for missing classes and workouts and may be ineligible.  Also, Fr. WR Austin Vincent has been officially suspended for the spring (no surprise for his shower antics and academic problems) and it doesn't look like either will be back. That would open up another scholarship spot or two that could help next year's recruiting with such a small risng senior class  However, Asiata was thought to compete for a starting guard spot this spring/fall.  It also appears WR/DB Makiri Pugh is also gone for good.
Weekend of January 27: This is the last weekend to visit and only a couple will venture to Boulder. However, many rumors will be flying throughout the week as final decisions are being weighed and teams are making their final convincing arguments. Here's who is rumored to be visiting Boulder:
star TE Vincent Hobbs (Mesquite, TX) might be the only visitor, although he doesn’t have an official CU offer yet; he had been really hoping for a Texas offer, which didn't happen, so CU might be frontrunner if they do offer;

4-star DE Luke Kaumatule (Honolulu-teammate of current Buffs KT Tu'umalo) said he would visit this weekend if he wasn't cleared by Stanford admissions, but unfortunately (for the Buffs) he was;

FB Psalm Wooching (HI) was set to visit but committed to Washington on his visit there.

Many recruits visited the previous 2 weekends:

Weekend of January 13 visitors: Only 4 prospects visited but…

3-star ATH/CB/WR Jeffrey Hall (LaPlace LA) will announce Friday between CU, Indiana and maybe Arizona; he very well may have been one of the alleged "silent" commits who was either holding out for something or likes the attention.

3-star CB/S Chris Solomon (West Covina, CA) seemed very interested in CU but DB slots are filling;

3-star RB and CU verbal commit Davien Payne (Perrius, CA) was there as was TE Cope –Fitzpatrick who then solidified his soft verbal to USC;

Weekend of January 20: There were eight in Boulder that weekend:

NEW: 3-star OG Isaiah Folasa (Corona, CA), has DE-committed to UCLA and CU is his favorite, but will take last visit to New Mexico St. and actually consider San Jose St. and Fresno St?  Hopefully he’s not set on going to a small “state” school and I would be surprised if he didn’t sign here;

3-star 6'0" 175 pound CB/S John Walker (DC) committed even before his visit to Boulder (following teammate CU commit De'Jon Wilson, and preceding another teammate Kenneth Crawley)

QB commit Shane Dillon (El Cajon, CA) took his "official"(paid) visit, even though he has been here on numerous "unofficial" visits.

Fellow CU commit and future target, 3-star WR Peyton Williams (Southlake, TX) visited on crutches after having his ACL repaired. He ran a 4.4 40 and starred in track before the injury and he claims he does not plan to redshirt and anticipates being ready to go in August.

4-star DB/LB Seth Jacobs (Arroyo Grande, CA), 6'2" 215, 4.55 in the 40, is the biggest name left and that is considering CU and would really top off the class well;  he said his visit was great and will announce on Feb. 1 between CU, Arkansas, Oklahoma St., and UCLA (visit this weekend);  Buffscoop.com has hinted a few things that point to him committing to CU and 2 of the 7 ESPN analysts polled think he'll end up in Boulder;

3-star DE Ewing Simmons (Stockton, CA), 6'3" 225 is deciding between a few Pac-12 schools;

Unrated WR Jason Gaines (El Cajon, CA) came with high school teammate Shane Dillon; otherwise there is not much known about him-it looks like he is planning to enroll in JC to work way into CU later.

Unrated DE/TE Derek McCartney (Faith Christian, CO), son of former Buff Shannon Clavelle and grandson of Coach Mac, officially committed. He is 6'4" but only 218 and will greyshirt to put on weight and will end up counting against 2013 class.

 Other Prospects still looking at CU: These are all prospects that have been recruited hard by CU and allegedly still have them on their short list, at least according to someone:

4-star: LB Deaysean Rippy (PA), cousin of LB Doug Rippy, has been rumored to be “silent commit” but also that he is not that serious academically and CU may have backed off; last week, he tweeted that his final four were CU, West Virginia, Arizona and Pitt but Thurs. night he tweeted "Pitt, WVU and Arizona" only.

3-stars: CB Jonavaughn Williams (CA)-was thought to be likely to commit to CU but has been silent and now CU has been telling prospects (see Ryan Lewis below) that their CB slots are filled;

ATH/CB Dalis Bruce (Bellflower, CA), will supposedly choose between Cal and UCLA Friday;

O-lineman Shane Brostek (HI);

WR Javon Williams (Chandler, AZ) doubtful-down to Arkansas and UCLA;

2/3-star RB Jeffrey Coprich (CA) visited here in November but appears down to Cal or Hawaii;

2-stars: S Ilaiu Moeakiola Euless, TX) de-committed (de-offered?) from UCLA and could look at CU?
CB Bryan Harper (Ontario, CA) is likely to go UCLA or Oregon;

RB David Greene (Dallas, TX)-UNLV commit but still in contact with CU and others pending SAT score;

TE/DE Trevor Stevens (TX)-has not been officially offered by CU, otherwise will go to start-up Texas-San Antonio or...Harvard;

Unrated FB Keith Parker (CA-teammate of Jonavaughn Williams) visited in December and may be slated to come in as a preferred walk-on, or if no other FB prospects are signed, even to possibly greyshirt.
OT Ed Caldwell (Highlands Ranch, CO) is likely to enroll as a preferred walk-on (no scholarship).

The ones that got away:

4-star TE Jalen Cope-FitzPatrick (Rocklin, CA) made his soft verbal official with USC;
2-star CB  Ryan Lewis (WA) was told by CU that their cornerback spots were full so he committed to Pitt, where a cousin attends;

3-star S Leo Thomas re-committed to Arizona;

Hawaii’s Psalm Wooching, a 6-3, 205 pound 3-star FB, previously a UCLA commit, committed to Washington during his visit Jan. 20-21 and cancelled his trip to Boulder;

3-star Highlands Ranch QB Steve Donatell (also all-state punter) is going to Wake Forest [Embree supposedly asked him to greyshirt here];

3-star DB Tyler Hasty (Bellvue, WA) committed to the other other OSU (Oregon St.);

4-star LB Rashawn Hooker (Fontana, CA) finally announced he is going to go to Utah (at least it wasn't another prospect saying he was going to UCLA);

3-star OT Nico Siragusa (San Diego, CA)-wanted to stay close to home and committed to San Diego St;

4-star DE Kyle Kelley, who had been a "soft" commit to Arizona, made it official;

4-star RB Wes Brown was scheduled to visit 1/13 but committed to home state Maryland;

3-stars OT Colby Cyburt (Mission Viejo, CA) & FB Cristian Powell (Upland, CA) both going to UCLA;

3-star LB Lavell Sanders (Compton, CA) did not end up making his visit, likely because his SAT score would not enable him to qualify at CU;

3-star WR Gabriel Marks (Venice, CA) committed to Washington St;

3-star S Ma’ne Manaea (WA) was asked to greyshirt is going to Idaho.