Colorado has added another young defensive back to its recruiting board, and this one comes with a fresh look at Folsom Field.
Tanner Hardy, a 2028 defensive back from Brookhaven High School in Mississippi, shared a game invitation for Saturday’s home opener against Weber State, giving the Buffaloes a shot to get him on campus while he continues to sort through his options this fall.
“Thanks for the game invite to come check out Colorado #skobuffs,” Hardy wrote on X. He tagged coach Deion Sanders in the post and attached a graphic for the Sept. 12 matchup, which is set for 1:30 p.m. MT.
Hardy’s Colorado note came after a productive night of his own. In a Sept. 5 post recapping his Week 2 outing against Franklin County, he said he finished with three touchdowns, an interception, a pass breakup, and five tackles.
At 5-11 and 170 pounds, Hardy lists himself as both a defensive back and punt returner on his public profile. On3’s Brookhaven roster also lists him as a 2028 cornerback at those same measurements, leaving Colorado with a prospect who still has plenty of high school football ahead of him.
His sophomore highlight post backs up the idea that he’s been active on both sides of the ball and in the open field. Hardy listed 67 tackles and six tackles for loss, numbers that show he’s not just making plays in coverage but also showing up as a tackler.
Colorado isn’t the only school in the mix. Hardy also posted a Louisiana Tech visit plan earlier this month and thanked Mississippi State for a game invitation. The Buffaloes now have a chance to put their own game-day experience in front of him.
The Weber State game is shaping up as more than just a matchup on the schedule. Colorado Buffaloes on SI previously reported that 2029 edge rusher Jayden Bates plans to visit, giving the Buffaloes another young prospect to host. Bates plays at Cherry Creek High School, so Colorado will have a local recruit in the building as well.
Hardy and Bates are in different classes, but they fit the same bigger picture: a September home game can double as a recruiting stop. Colorado can introduce younger players to the staff and campus while continuing to watch their development unfold.
For Hardy, though, the invitation is only the first step. His post does not confirm a visit, a scholarship offer, or a commitment. It simply opens the door for him to learn more about CU while keeping his recruiting picture wide open.
If he does make the trip, Hardy would get a closer look at defensive coordinator Chris Marve’s group in its second game. Colorado has also added experienced newcomers like safety Randon Fontenette to the secondary, giving a young defensive back another part of the roster to study.
The atmosphere would be part of the pitch too. Sanders said at his Tuesday press conference before the home opener that he wants the crowd to show up the way Colorado fans did in the season-opening win at Georgia Tech.
“We want our fans to come out in droves, as they did in Atlanta,” Sanders said.
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