Mike MacIntyre (Daily Camera)
Last week, for the first time with that many signees from that state since at least 1973 — the furthest that CU’s complete records go back.
CU coach Mike MacIntyre said Arizona has and will remain a primary target area for Colorado football recruiting.
Signing with the Buffs from the Grand Canyon State were wide receiver Justin Jan (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) of Chandler (Ariz.) High School, wide receiver-defensive back Isaiah Oliver (6-1, 185) of Brophy Prep in Phoenix and defensive lineman Brett Tonz of Centennial High School in Peoria, Ariz.
“That area is growing,” MacIntyre said. “It’s amazing how many high schools they’ve added. I’m excited about recruiting that area. It’s an area we will continue to recruit.”
MacIntyre said the program can utilize the local knowledge of offensive line coach Gary Bernardi.
“He has recruited there,” MacIntyre said. “He has coached at (the University of) Arizona. He coached at Northern Arizona. He knows everybody in that state. He does an excellent job.
“And then us playing in the Pac-12, that has opened (Arizona) up.”
Including the three signees from Arizona in this recruiting class, just 19 players from the state have been part of CU recruiting classes since 1973.
Outside of California (253 CU signees since 1973), Colorado (247) and Texas (125) producing future Buffs, the next tier has Florida (23), Illinois (23), Hawaii (21), Louisiana (21) and Washington (20) ahead of Arizona.
