In a stunning turn of events that sent shockwaves rippling through the college football recruiting landscape, the University of Colorado Buffaloes landed verbal commitments from four coveted prospects Thursday night, all within the span of a mere 30 minutes. The jaw-dropping sequence unfolded live on “Nightcap,” a popular evening talk show hosted by former NFL stars Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, leaving fans and pundits alike scrambling to make sense of the seismic shift in fortune for a program that had long struggled to attract top-tier talent.
Colorado Corrals a Quartet of Elite Recruits
Headlining the sudden deluge of pledges was London Merritt, a five-star defensive end from IMG Academy ranked as the nation’s No. 5 prospect at his position and No. 52 recruit overall in the class of 2025 according to ESPN. Merritt, who had been committed to Ohio State since February, sent tremors through the recruiting realm when he abruptly withdrew his pledge to the Buckeyes just 48 hours prior to his live announcement in favor of the Buffaloes.
Joining Merritt in Colorado’s spur-of-the-moment haul were three more gems plucked from the prep powerhouse in Bradenton, Florida:
- Alexander McPherson, a four-star pass rusher who decommitted from Oklahoma State one day prior
- Carde Smith, ESPN’s No. 32 offensive tackle and No. 293 overall prospect who flipped from USC
- Quentin Gibson, a dynamic three-star wide receiver with offers from several Power Five contenders
We’ve been building something special in Boulder, and these young men recognized it’s their time to be part of that groundswell. They’re buying into our vision, our culture – and most importantly, they’re buying into themselves and each other.
– Anonymous source close to the Colorado program
The quartet of future Buffaloes, all rising seniors, mark a major coup for second-year head coach Deion “Prime Time” Sanders as he aims to resuscitate a long dormant program that last won a national championship in 1990. The NFL Hall of Famer and two-time Super Bowl champion took the reins in Boulder in December 2023 following a wildly successful three-year stint at FCS upstart Jackson State.
Stacking Stars in the 2025 Class
Colorado’s 2025 recruiting class now stands at fifteen verbal commitments, with Merritt and Smith becoming the second and third ESPN 300 prospects to cast their lot with Sanders and the Buffaloes during this cycle. The budding haul is headlined by five-star quarterback Julian Lewis, the nation’s No. 2 overall recruit who sent similar tremors through the sport when he spurned offers from perennial contenders like Alabama, Georgia, and Texas to pledge his services to Coach Prime back on November 22nd.
Building upon the momentum of a 2024 class that ranked 21st nationally and included crown jewels like five-star offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, Sanders and his staff have now stockpiled six four-star-or-better commitments between the two classes as they aim to vault Colorado into the top echelon of the Pac-12 and beyond.
A Glimpse at What’s to Come?
With the early signing period for the class of 2025 still more than a year away and the whirlwind finish to the 2024 cycle rapidly approaching, Colorado suddenly finds itself positioned as one of the most alluring destinations for the nation’s premier prospects. The Buffaloes’ 2024 class, heavy on potential difference-makers along both lines of scrimmage, currently ranks 50th in the nation according to ESPN, a standing that is expected to surge in the coming days.
Riding the coattails of their scintillating recruiting success, Sanders and company now turn their attention to the gridiron, where the 5-6 Buffaloes close out the regular season with a visit from Oklahoma State on Senior Day this Friday. With a victory over their old Big Eight adversary, Colorado would secure its first bowl bid since 2020 – and deliver yet another compelling sign to prep stars across the nation that “Prime Time” in the Rockies may have only just begun.
