University of Colorado fans can jokingly call the commitment of safety prospect Will Harlos of Somerset (Texas) High School a completion of the “Jeff Bzdelik trade.”
Harlos switched Monday night from Wake Forest to Colorado. Last spring, Bzdelik left his job as CU men’s basketball coach for the same position at Wake Forest.
CU also landed an oral commitment today from Juda Parker, a 6-foot-2, 245-pound defensive end from Honolulu powerhouse St. Louis High.
The new pledges bring the number of players committed to Colorado to 16. National signing day is Wednesday.
Harlos, 6-4 and 195 pounds, had committed to Wake Forest last March but decided to accompany his Somerset teammate, quarterback Stevie Dorman, to Colorado. Harlos said Dorman did not try to influence his decision. However, Dorman had alerted CU coaches of his friend.
Playing as a pass-rushing defensive end, Harlos was the unanimous pick for district defensive player of the year. He projects as a college safety.
“Stevie had no factor in my decision at all; he let me make my decision on my own,” Harlos told . “I have flipped quarters (between Wake Forest and CU) countless times. I just had to follow my gut feeling, and as it turns out my gut is telling me to go to Colorado.”
Harlos is rated two stars (out of five) by . Parker is a three-star prospect.
According to , Parker’s offer list also included Baylor and Oregon State. Parker is listed by the recruiting-based website as the No. 2-ranked senior in Hawaii. He was selected to the prestigious U.S. Army All-American Bowl in January and recorded six tackles in the game. He also blocked a field-goal attempt.
“I took my official visit to Colorado (Jan. 21) and just fell in love,” Parker told .
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
