Colorado’s 2027 recruiting class took a hit Tuesday when three-star linebacker Jahmiere Daniels-Portis backed off his pledge to the Buffaloes.
Daniels-Portis, who attends Springfield High School in Ohio, had committed to Colorado four months ago after choosing the Buffs over Indiana. On social media, he made the change plain, writing that his “RECRUITMENT 100% OPEN” and noting “22 + Offers” under his name.
RECRUITMENT 100% OPEN‼️2027 OLB/MLB😈😈22 + Offers 🅾️https://t.co/GUc7D1wXCN pic.twitter.com/3Qqu2lbjmG
The loss does not wreck the class by itself, but it does trim the margin for error. Daniels-Portis was one of 21 recruits previously listed in Colorado’s group, so the Buffaloes would be down to 20 commitments if everyone else stays put.
That matters more now because Colorado is trying to hold together a class while the team is mired in a five-game losing streak and the early signing period is getting closer. The program has leaned hard into the spotlight around coach Deion Sanders, and a decommitment in this stretch is the kind of blow staffs try to avoid.
Daniels-Portis’ production helps explain why Colorado went after him in the first place. As a junior, he posted 88 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, two interceptions and six forced fumbles.
That last number jumps off the page. Six forced fumbles in a season says a lot about a linebacker’s instincts, and Daniels-Portis also brings position flexibility, with his own post listing him as an outside and middle linebacker.
The recruiting services are split on where he stands nationally, but both see him as a real prospect. Rivals Industry Ranking has him at 6-foot, 210 pounds and labels him the No. 951 player in the country, the No. 79 linebacker and the No. 35 prospect in Ohio. ESPN is higher on him at linebacker, ranking him No. 62 at the position.
When he picked Colorado in June, director of recruiting Rashad Rich and assistant linebackers coach Andre’ Hart helped lead the effort. The Buffaloes beat out Indiana, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Duke, NC State and Syracuse for his commitment.
Now the focus shifts to where he lands next. Daniels-Portis did not explain why he reopened his recruitment, but the current board points to familiar names. Rivals has Cincinnati and Indiana as the leading alternatives, and the Rivals Prediction Machine gives Cincinnati a 26% percent chance and Indiana a 23 percent chance to land him.
Colorado still has some defensive front-seven pieces in the class, including three-star edge rusher Ba’Roc Willis, who flipped from Alabama in May, and three-star edge rusher Jovon Pulliam of Hoover High School in Alabama, who committed on June 6.
Even so, losing Daniels-Portis changes the feel of the class. What looked like a June win for Colorado may not stay that way all the way to signing day.
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