Something is missing from the top-10 prospect list for Colorado: the schools CU or CSU attached to any names.
For the first time since archived online lists started in 2003, neither Colorado nor Colorado State is the preference of any top-10 in-state recruit.
CU’s highest-ranked Colorado recruit is No. 11: tight end Kyle Slavin of Chatfield. CSU is nowhere to be found, although the final top-15 list may include early commitment Kivon Cartwright of Pueblo South.
Chalk it up to 3-9 records, two highly ranked prospects already decommitting from the Buffs and a relatively new CSU staff looking at lean in-state pickings for the second consecutive year.
“It’s not for lack of trying. We’d love to get in-state guys who can help us win,” said Tom Ehlers, CSU’s director of football operations.
The state’s top two prospects, defensive end Chris Martin of Grandview and quarterback Austin Hinder of Steamboat Springs, are headed to Cal. No. 3 Danny Spond, a Columbine quarterback who decommitted from CU, is strongly considering Stanford, where he would join No. 4 Dillon Bonnell, an offensive lineman from ThunderRidge.
Littleton running back Mister Jones, ranked as the No. 5 recruit, also decommitted from CU and has committed to Texas A&M.
Jones’ coach, Chad Koepke, said of CU and CSU: “They’ve both been involved (recruiting Jones). Generally speaking, anytime we’ve had a Division I kid at Littleton over the years, both schools have always checked in and shown interest.”
Jones did not return calls.
CSU’s in-state numbers are unlikely to change much: Rivals lists 19 commitments, and the class will tentatively have 20 names. CU is still trying to get Spond and Jones to recommit.
Sometimes, proximity works against a program. Any school can fly in prospects and orchestrate a 48-hour recruiting trip. When prospects live closer to a campus, they can drop in unannounced.
Spond said the tipping point was when he was at Folsom Field for the finale with Nebraska, a 28-20 CU loss.
“When the team is losing and you’re kind of disappointed, it was so quiet,” Spond said last week. “The stands were so quiet. It was a whole different feeling from the first game (hosting CSU) to the last.”
A slight factor for Spond was his primary recruiter, Greg Brown, leaving for Arizona. More so, there was the firestorm of controversy about whether CU coach Dan Hawkins would be fired.
“If I could do it over, I probably wouldn’t have (committed) before the year and the whole season started,” Spond said. “You see how whatever program it might be does and the direction they take.”
CU’s record played a role.
“I know myself and a lot of people had a lot of high hopes for them,” Spond said. “The way the season went definitely raised a lot of questions in my mind.”
Spond is considering Stanford, TCU and Notre Dame but wouldn’t completely rule out CU. A high school quarterback, he said he can change positions if asked.
The Buffs had better results the past three years, getting Columbine offensive tackle Ryan Miller (the top prospect in 2007), Ponderosa linebacker Jon Major (No. 1 in 2008) and Legacy defensive end Nick Kasa (No. 1 in 2009).
Looking ahead to his next four or five years, Spond said, “I want it to be at a program that’s at a high point rather than a low point.”
He said CSU made a run as soon as he decommitted, but “personally I would not attend CSU. It’s just not a fit for me.”
Meanwhile, Wyoming (7-6) has two of Colorado’s top 15: Ponderosa defensive end Riley Lange (No. 13) and Chatfield quarterback Sam Stratton (No. 14). Wide receiver C.J. Morgan (Eaglecrest) and defensive tackle Tyler Strong (Niwot) are also Wyoming commitments.
A huge factor was first-year coach Dave Christensen retaining Marty English and his long history of recruiting in Colorado.
Hosting 25 players during bowl practice didn’t hurt.
“They know what you are practicing for,” Christensen said last week. “You’re practicing for a bowl game. . . . It’s a huge plus to have.”
Recruiting service rankings don’t always pan out when injuries and academics are figured in the equation.
Echoing most players who change their minds during the recruiting process, Spond said: “I would say I definitely feel like I committed too early. I’m just very lucky I can have another go-round.”
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
