For the Colorado Buffaloes, this one hits a little closer to home-literally. In a recruiting cycle that’s been defined by national reach and high-profile commitments from across the country, the Buffs just landed a local standout: Josiah Manu, an in-state lineman from Thompson Valley High School in Loveland.
It’s not often you see the Buffs pull from their own backyard these days, especially under Deion Sanders, whose recruiting efforts have stretched coast to coast. But Manu is bucking that trend. He’s currently the only Colorado native on the Buffs’ board, and his commitment is a reminder that there’s still plenty of football talent tucked away in the Centennial State.
Manu is a classic trench warrior-6-foot-5, 295 pounds, and already showing the kind of physicality and mobility that coaches love to mold. He plays both sides of the line at the high school level, but Colorado sees him as an interior offensive lineman, a future road grader in the middle of the action.
What makes Manu’s path even more interesting is his recruiting profile. His offer sheet reads like a who’s who of programs that know how to find hidden gems in Colorado: Arizona, Fresno State, Wyoming.
Those schools have long done their homework in the region, and when they’re in on a guy, it usually means he can play. But Manu shut it all down early-he committed this past summer and didn’t entertain any new offers during his senior season.
That’s rare in today’s recruiting world, where decommitments and late flips are almost expected.
Now, with his high school career winding down, Manu is set to take the next step. He’s got the size, he’s got the frame, and he’s got the mindset.
The next phase? Add some mass, refine the technique, and get ready to compete in the trenches in Boulder.
For a program that’s been looking far and wide for talent, this commitment is a welcome reminder that sometimes, you don’t have to look beyond state lines to find a difference-maker.