Deion Sanders’ Colorado recruiting class has its share of obvious attention-grabbers, but the real value may be hiding in the names that don’t always jump off the rankings page. The Buffaloes have landed several prospects with strong high school production, and five commitments in the 2027 class stand out as underrated pieces who could end up mattering a lot in Boulder.
One of the biggest of those names is Willis, who is listed as a three-star recruit by all of the major recruiting sites but has put up numbers that look anything but ordinary. As a junior, he piled up 125 total tackles, including 86 unassisted stops, 23 tackles for loss, nine sacks, 26 quarterback hurries, a pass breakup and two forced fumbles, according to 247Sports.
That came on the heels of a 17-sack season in 2024. At 6-4, 220 pounds, Willis brings the kind of frame and production that could make him Colorado’s answer off the edge after several years of struggle there.
On the other side of the ball, Bobo brings a similar kind of under-the-radar appeal. He’s also a three-star prospect across the major recruiting services, yet his junior season at Tupelo High School in Tupelo, Mississippi, was loaded with production.
He rushed for 1,726 yards and 28 touchdowns on 197 carries, averaging six yards per carry as Tupelo’s workhorse back, according to 247Sports. He runs with patience, finds his lanes quickly and has the burst to finish once they open.
With the offensive line Colorado has built in the 2027 class, the fit in Boulder looks especially natural.
Fairley may be the most physically imposing player in the group. He’s another three-star recruit by all of the major recruiting sites, but his high school production and raw power make him hard to ignore.
According to MaxPreps, he finished with 68 tackles, 22 unassisted, 20.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. At 6-0, 270 pounds, he already has the kind of strength that stands out, and his recorded one-rep max of 405 pounds on the bench press, according to his X account, only adds to the appeal.
By the time he gets to Boulder, he could be a force inside.
Washington sits at the bottom of Colorado’s commitments in the rankings from all three major recruiting sites, but the ceiling is still there. He’s a 6-1, 180-pound defensive back who has shown he can handle both man and zone coverage, and that versatility should translate well against Big 12 receivers. Injuries have been part of his story, though if he can put together a strong senior year and stay healthy in Colorado, he has a chance to outplay his ranking.
Daniels-Portis rounds out the list as another productive linebacker with a chance to become a real piece of the Buffs’ future defense. He’s a three-star recruit across the board and sits near the top of Colorado’s three-star group.
In high school, he was a tackling machine who also held his own in zone coverage. At 6-1, 205 pounds, he still has room to grow physically before he’s ready for the Big 12, but the tools are there for him to develop into much more than the ratings suggest.
In Other News...
DeAndre Moore Jr. Is Already Carrying Major Weight For Colorado's Offense
Colorados roster churn has become a defining part of the Deion Sanders era, and the 2026 group is no exception with another wave of transfers reshaping both sides of the ball. Among the newcomers is DeAndre Moore Jr., the former Texas wideout who arrives with real expectations attached after being tabbed by Brett McMurphy as one of the Big 12s most impactful portal additions. The Buffaloes have leaned hard into the transfer market since Sanders took over in 2023, and Moore is the kind of receiver who can help justify that approach.
Moore also steps into a Colorado offense that is already adjusting to a new look under offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, while the defense gets a reset with Chris Marve promoted to coordinator. What makes Moore especially interesting is the level of production he brings with him from Texas, where he was a steady target over the last two seasons, and the fact that he is being mentioned in the same conversation as other high-profile league transfers. Colorado has plenty of moving parts again, but Moore looks like one of the pieces the Buffaloes may need to anchor the receiving corps right away. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Just Lost A Receiver Arizona State Fans Will Love
Colorados roster churn keeps hitting the skill spots, and the latest wave of departures underscores how much turnover this program is navigating through the 2026 transfer portal. Several impact players are already out the door, including a receiver headed to Arizona State, along with a cornerback who flashed playmaking ability and a running back who was positioned to fight for a bigger role next season.
For Colorado, the challenge is bigger than replacing bodies. These exits come on top of other notable losses across the roster, even as the staff has worked to plug some holes with incoming transfers. The result is a familiar offseason balancing act: keep the cupboard from thinning too much while trying to preserve enough continuity for the next step forward. [Read more 🡒]