Colorado’s 2027 recruiting class took another hit on Monday when four-star offensive tackle Li’Marcus Jones backed off his pledge and flipped to Mississippi State.
Jones, a Mississippi native, made the move public on social media and said in part, "I want to start by thanking the University of Colorado, Coach Prime, the entire coaching staff, and everyone who has supported me during my time committed to Boulder," he wrote. "After a lot of prayer, conversations with my family, and careful consideration, I have decided to go back home."
The 6-foot-5, 285-pound lineman had committed to Colorado on May 24, choosing the Buffaloes over Mississippi State, Ole Miss and several other schools. This time, the Bulldogs stayed in the picture and ultimately landed him after Colorado’s struggles on the field gave them an opening.
Jones is ranked No. 389 overall in the 247Sports composite and comes in as the No. 39 offensive tackle nationally. He’s also listed as the No. 17 player from Tennessee.
For Colorado, the loss is a significant one. Jones is the program’s seventh decommitment in the 2027 cycle and the second four-star prospect to pull back. The Buffaloes now sit at 18 commits, with 247Sports ranking the class 46th nationally and fifth in the Big 12.
Even with Jones gone, Colorado still has a solid offensive line group in place. Four-star offensive tackle Dewey Young remains the headliner, and the class also includes three-star offensive tackles Coderro McDaniel and Zaquan Linton, along with three-star interior offensive lineman Jayin Talib.
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