Deion's first signing day at Colorado: The recruits and transfers starting a new era

December 23, 2022 ndowd

Deion Sanders’ first national signing day at Colorado featured the Buffaloes’ first ESPN 300 signees since the 2020 recruiting cycle and two of the biggest transfers to date — both from his previous stop at Jackson State.

Sanders’ son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, announced Wednesday afternoon that he would follow his father to Boulder, and several hours later, Travis Hunter, the No. 2-ranked recruit overall in the 2022 class who famously flipped his commitment from Florida State to Jackson State during last year’s early signing period, committed as well.

Shedeur, who threw for 3,732 yards and 40 touchdowns with six interceptions at Jackson State in 2022, entered the portal Saturday following the Tigers’ loss to NC Central in the Cricket Celebration Bowl. He was ranked as the No. 61 overall recruit in the 2021 ESPN 300.

Legendary #gobuffs pic.twitter.com/2rlXLriYB9

— Shedeur Sanders (@ShedeurSanders) December 21, 2022

The 6-foot-1, 165-pound Hunter had two interceptions and broke up 10 passes at cornerback, and also caught 18 passes for 188 yards and four touchdowns as a wide receiver in 2022.

Colorado signed 16 high school recruits as Sanders — hired earlier this month after spending three years as head coach at Jackson State — worked feverishly to put a class together. The top signees are four-star wide receiver Adam Hopkins (No. 74 overall in 2023) and four-star running back Dylan Edwards (No. 156 overall in 2023).

The Buffaloes’ class ended the first day of the early signing period ranked 50th in ESPN’s class rankings.

Hopkins originally committed to Auburn in September only to reopen his recruitment on Dec. 1, while Edwards, committed to Notre Dame since Aug. 6, flipped to the Buffaloes on Dec. 10.

Edwards, the eighth-best running back in the class, rushed for 1,900 yards and 32 touchdowns for Derby High School (Kansas) as a senior.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Hopkins caught 33 passes for 490 yards and six touchdowns in nine games for Thomas County Central High School (Georgia) in 2022. Jaden Milliner -Jones, a three-star safety from DeSoto High School (Texas), flipped from SMU.

Shane Cokes, a defensive lineman who was a two-time All-Ivy League selection at Dartmouth, was one of five players Sanders was able to secure through the portal. Offensive tackle Savion Washington (Kent State), defensive end Taijh Alston (West Virginia), inside linebacker LaVonta Bentley (Clemson) and center Landon Bebee (Missouri State/West Plains) were the other transfers welcomed into the program.