Colorado will have more than just football fans in the stands when Weber State comes to Folsom Field on Saturday. The Buffaloes are expecting a big recruiting crowd for their home opener, with BuffStampede reporting that more than 70 in-state prospects will be on hand, including several young names who fit far beyond the immediate future.
That list stretches all the way into the 2029 class. It’s a clear sign of how Colorado’s recruiting approach is evolving under Deion Sanders, moving from the transfer-portal-heavy roster construction of those early teams toward a longer high school pipeline.
One of the most notable visitors is 2027 safety Winston Jenkins. The 6-2, 187-pound defensive back from Imani Christian Academy in Pittsburgh is already committed to Colorado, but Saturday still matters.
247Sports rates Jenkins as a four-star prospect, and he picked the Buffaloes on May 20 after an official visit to Boulder. Colorado beat out Penn State, Michigan and Georgia for him after he had previously been committed to the Nittany Lions.
He’s part of a CU class that has climbed into the national top 40 with 20 commitments, and game-day visits give the staff another chance to keep that relationship strong.
Jenkins won’t be the only 2027 prospect in the building. Defensive lineman Xavier Brooks of Laguna Beach High School is also expected to make the trip.
Colorado offered Brooks on Aug. 21, and BuffStampede said he had 25 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks through his first three games this season. With CU listed as his only reported offer, the Buffaloes have an early shot to build a foundation there.
Colorado is also bringing in talent from closer to home. Arapahoe High School quarterback Lee, a 2028 prospect, has already made himself visible around the program.
A 9News reporter photographed him wearing a Colorado towel and Buffaloes cleats before Arapahoe’s Week 1 game, and he followed that up with seven touchdown passes in a Week 2 win after Colorado offered him in June. Saturday gives him another chance to see the program in action.
Fairview offensive lineman Colton Ott is another local name to watch. The Boulder prospect holds offers from Colorado, Georgia Tech, Kansas and Kansas State, and BuffStampede reported that he will make the short drive to Folsom Field. His visit adds another nearby piece to a position group Colorado has rebuilt heavily through the portal.
The youngest player drawing attention is Cherry Creek edge rusher Bates, who does not graduate until 2029. At 6-4 and 230 pounds, he’s rated by 247Sports as the No. 2 edge rusher in the 2029 class and the top prospect in Colorado. He moved to the Front Range from Minnesota, so the in-state tag is a recent one rather than something he grew up with.
Colorado has not offered Bates yet, according to BuffStampede, while Wisconsin, Georgia Tech, Auburn and Colorado State have. Even so, the visit gives the Buffaloes a live look at one of the state’s most intriguing young defenders, and it gives Bates a chance to watch defensive coordinator Chris Marve’s front up close.
The setting lines up with the pitch. Pro Football Network graded Colorado’s defensive line the best in the country after Week 1, and Lamont Lester Jr.’s three sacks led the way.
247Sports analyst TJ Randall offered an early evaluation that helps explain why a sophomore is already on so many radars: “Big, long, and strong,” Randall wrote, also pointing to a relentless motor and hand power that can create knockback against older competition.
Colorado signed 14 high school players in its 2025 class, but the current board looks far more expansive. With 20 commitments already in the 2027 group before the first home game of the season, plus 2028 and 2029 visitors coming through this weekend, the Buffaloes are clearly working several cycles ahead.
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