Preston Ashley’s Journey to Colorado: Loyalty, Legacy, and a Dream Fulfilled
Preston Ashley didn’t just accept a scholarship offer from Colorado - he embraced it with the kind of passion that turns heads in high school hallways.
Back in March, the Brandon (Mississippi) High School standout had just been pulled out of class when he got the call. On the other end of the line?
The University of Colorado, offering him a scholarship to play football under none other than Deion Sanders. The reaction was instant and unforgettable.
“I just remember screaming down the middle of the hallway,” Ashley recalled. “Teachers were opening their doors like, ‘Is everything okay?’ I was just so excited and so blessed.”
For Ashley, a four-star defensive back with a reputation for toughness and versatility, this wasn’t just another offer. This was the one. On Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period, he’ll make it official, signing his financial aid agreement with Colorado as part of the Buffs’ 2026 recruiting class - a group that currently includes 10 committed players.
“It just really came down to what place fit me,” Ashley said. “There were so many good schools that recruited me. My parents and I sat down and prayed, and God really gave us the answer that Colorado was home.”
That choice doesn’t come without context. Colorado is fresh off a 3-9 season (1-8 in Big 12 play), and the program has seen some turbulence on the recruiting trail, losing three commits in recent weeks.
The class is currently ranked 107th nationally by 247Sports and 15th in the Big 12 - a number more reflective of quantity than quality. The average player rating for CU’s class sits at 87.71, good for seventh in the conference.
Ashley is one of the cornerstones of that group. Projected to play nickel back at the next level, he’s one of just two four-star prospects in the class, joining linebacker Carson Crawford out of Carthage, Texas - who, fittingly, will also be Ashley’s roommate in Boulder.
And if you’re wondering how committed Ashley is, just ask anyone in his SEC-heavy hometown.
“A lot of people down here were like, ‘Man, did you see Colorado’s record?’” Ashley said.
“I said, ‘Man, I bleed Black and Gold.’ If I could get a tattoo of a buffalo on my face right now, I would.
It’s Colorado, and that’s just me.”
That kind of loyalty doesn’t come out of nowhere. For Ashley, this is about more than football - it’s about playing for a coach he’s idolized since childhood. Deion Sanders, the Hall of Famer and arguably the greatest cornerback to ever play the game, is a major reason Ashley is headed to Boulder.
Still, Ashley didn’t want to make a decision based on name recognition alone. He visited Colorado in June to make sure it felt right - and it did.
“I told my mom and dad and I started crying,” he said. “‘This is where I want to spend my college career.’ … Boulder is just such a great place and I felt it fit me so well.”
The mountains, the scenery, the energy - it all clicked. A return trip in October sealed it.
Ashley was in the stands at Folsom Field when Colorado knocked off then-No. 22 Iowa State, 24-17.
The experience only deepened his connection to the program.
“I love the fans so much. I love the stadium,” he said.
“It just gives me a vibe of, ‘This is the place to be.’ Every time I talk about Boulder, it’s hard not to keep a smile on my face.”
Even with the Buffs’ late-season struggles - they dropped their final five games after that Iowa State win - Ashley never wavered. If anything, it lit a fire.
“My thing was, we have a tough time, but that’s life,” he said. “Life is gonna throw rocks and stones at you. You just gotta maneuver and twist and turn, bend backwards to do everything that you can do to get it done.”
Ashley sees himself as part of a bigger movement in Boulder. With a young core already in place, including five-star quarterback Julian Lewis, he believes this next wave of talent can help build something lasting.
“We’re trying to make a dynasty up there,” he said. “Because I don’t want when people hear ‘Colorado’ to be like, ‘Ugh, that team?’ I want people to say, ‘Oh, I want to go to Colorado because Preston Ashley paved the way up there so I can be a great DB.’”
That’s the goal - not just to play, but to lead. And Ashley’s mindset reflects that.
“The sky’s the limit for us,” he said. “That’s our mentality every day when we go to the facility - we have a job, and that’s to win and ball out at all costs.”
For Colorado, it’s not just about flipping a program. It’s about bringing in players like Preston Ashley - talented, driven, and all-in.