Colorado’s 2027 wide receiver board took a hit on Nov. 5, but the Buffaloes still have time to steady the class before the early signing period arrives.
Ryan Ferdinand, a three-star receiver from Palm Beach Lakes High in West Palm Beach, Florida, flipped his commitment from Colorado to Cincinnati, keeping him in the Big 12 but knocking one of Deion Sanders’ verbal pledges out of the Buffaloes’ class. Ferdinand had committed to Colorado on June 26, and the Buffs had beaten out North Carolina State, Pittsburgh, UCF and Cincinnati the first time around.
According to Zach Blostein of 247Sports, Cincinnati never really went away. “In October, Ferdinand told 247Sports that Cincinnati was among the schools still reaching out to him, even as he publicly reaffirmed his Colorado commitment during the Buffaloes’ rough start to the season,” Blostein said.
Cincinnati gets a receiver with speed and production. Ferdinand is listed at 5-10 and 170 pounds, and he first drew national attention after posting 57 catches for 755 yards and seven touchdowns. Blostein also noted that he has since pushed those numbers to 40 catches for 808 yards and 10 touchdowns.
With Ferdinand gone, Colorado now has just one verbally committed wide receiver in the 2027 class: four-star Jaiden Kelly-Murray of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Kelly-Murray’s path to Boulder was its own twist, since he originally committed to South Carolina before reopening his recruitment and choosing Colorado on May 25.
Kelly-Murray has flashed plenty at Oceanside Collegiate Academy, and he was in Boulder for the Oct. 3 game against Texas Tech, a 29-7 loss for Colorado.
The Buffaloes have cast a wide net at receiver in this cycle, offering 45 different wideouts, according to 247Sports. Still, several of the biggest names they chased are already off the board. Colorado made a push for five-star Monshun Sales of Lawrence North High in Indianapolis, while fellow five-star Easton Royal also received an early offer before landing at Florida.
There are still a few names in play. Three-star Antayvious Ellis of Millard South High in Omaha, Nebraska remains uncommitted, though 247Sports lists Nebraska as the trending favorite.
Colorado has also offered Nick Weaver, a three-star from Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day, and 247Sports now has him marked as “warm” on the Buffaloes.
At 6-2 and 178 pounds, Weaver would bring more size to the room if Colorado can land him.
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