Freshman Phenom Buchanan Already Drawing Power 4 Attention, Adds Colorado Offer
He’s just a freshman at Victor Valley High School in Victorville, California-but the recruiting world is already watching closely. With two dozen scholarship offers on the table, including 18 from Power 4 programs, 2029 prospect Buchanan is making waves early. And this week, he added another big name to the list: Colorado.
The Buffaloes reached out through director of player personnel Darrius Darden-Box, offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, and running backs coach Johnnie Mack. The offer caught Buchanan by surprise.
“I was at track practice after school and they called me to the locker room,” he said. “I didn’t know what was going on, but I talked to Colorado and they said my film looked really good. They like that I’m versatile, told me to keep working and that we’ll stay in touch and build a relationship.”
Colorado’s interest carries extra weight with Deion Sanders at the helm. While Buchanan hasn’t spent time in Boulder beyond a layover, he’s intrigued by what he’s heard about the program and how it’s run.
But Colorado’s not the only school on his radar. Buchanan is gearing up for a round of unofficial visits in the Midwest, with stops planned at Purdue, Indiana, and Notre Dame. He’s looking to get a feel for each program’s environment, coaching staff, and-most importantly-the way they develop running backs.
“I’m hoping to see who shows me the most love,” Buchanan said. “The facilities, the running backs coach, how they develop their guys-that’s big for me.
Notre Dame had Jeremiyah Love, who did great this year and is headed to the NFL. That’s something I really look up to.
And Indiana has a running back that just won the national championship. I want to see what they’re doing to develop players like that.”
Buchanan’s offer list already reads like a who’s who of college football: Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Texas A&M, and USC are just a few of the major programs that have extended early interest.
Despite the attention, Buchanan is staying grounded. At 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, he put up 958 yards and nine touchdowns in 11 varsity games as a freshman, helping Victor Valley to six wins. He also contributed on special teams as a punt returner, but it’s his versatility on offense that’s turning heads.
“My main position is running back, but I’m versatile and that’s why I’m listed as an athlete,” he said. “I can line up in the slot and at outside receiver, too.
That’s something my high school team used me for this year. I’m not just one-dimensional.”
That flexibility is a major asset in today’s game, and it’s part of what makes Buchanan such an intriguing prospect so early in his high school career. But he knows the work is just beginning.
“My pops always tells me to stay grounded because it could all go away in a snap,” Buchanan said. “I have to stay focused.
Even though I have all these offers, this is just the start. I can’t really commit until after next year or my junior year.
I have to keep working because somebody is looking to take my spot.”
As he continues to navigate the early stages of his recruitment, Buchanan already has a clear idea of what he’s looking for in a college program.
“A lot of it is who loves me the most,” he said. “Also, where I can go my first year and play.
I don’t want to redshirt. I’m trying to play my freshman year and go crazy.
I want to build a good bond with the staff and my coach. I have to be able to look up to them as mentors.”
There’s still a long road ahead, but Buchanan is already showing the mindset-and the talent-of a player ready to make a serious impact at the next level.