The Colorado Buffaloes already have made strides to fill their 2019 recruiting class with the best the Centennial State has to offer.
CU currently has two of the top-six rated high school junior football players from Colorado committed — No. 2 QB Ty Evans (Palmer Ridge) and No. 6 RB Joshia Davis (Valor Christian) — to join the Buffaloes in two seasons, according to 24/7 Sports’ composite rankings.
CU’s recruiting footprint spans several different regions, as seen by its 20-prospect haul from the early signing period before National Signing Day on Feb. 7. The Buffaloes took players from California (7), Texas (5), Colorado (3), Arizona, Mississippi, Washington, Oklahoma and Kansas.
While the majority of talent comes to Boulder from outside the state, head coach Mike MacIntyre’s focus is landing the top players in Colorado before going elsewhere. In 2018, the Buffs have done just that with receiver Dimitri Stanley (Cherry Creek), quarterback Blake Stenstrom (Valor Christian) and safety Ray Robinson (Highlands Ranch).
Now, the Buffs are off to a good start for 2019.
“I think the football (at high schools in Colorado is) getting better and better,” MacIntyre said last month. “(Recruiting) is always population-driven. If you look anywhere, it’s population-driven and our state’s growing fast. It seems like they’re adding a high school every day somewhere and that’s good for college football and that’s good for us.”
In-state recruits
Here’s a closer look at several notable in-state 2019 high school prospects, per 24/7 Sports composite rankings:
1. QB Luke McCaffrey; 6-3, 185; Valor Christian — Uncommitted
Scholarship offers: Colorado, Colorado State, Duke, Michigan, Ohio State, Ole Miss, UCLA, Virginia, Washington and Western Kentucky.
2. QB Ty Evans; 6-2, 185; Palmer Ridge — Colorado
Scholarship offers: Arkansas, Colorado, Colorado State, Kansas State, N.C. State, Northwestern and South Carolina.
3. OL Barrett Miller; 6-4, 255; Eaglecrest — Uncommitted
Scholarship offers: Colorado, UCLA, Washington, Colorado State, Hawaii and Nebraska.
4. OL Austin Johnson; 6-4, 260; Highlands Ranch — Uncommitted
Scholarship offers: Colorado State.
5. LB Ethan Zemla; 6-4, 215; Valor Christian — Uncommitted
Scholarship offers: Central Michigan, Colorado State and Vanderbilt.
6. RB Josiah Davis; 5-10, 180; Valor Christian — Colorado
Scholarship offers: Colorado and Colorado State.
7. ATH Trustin Oliver; 6-3, 177; Legend — Uncommitted
Scholarship offers: Colorado State and Utah.
8. TE Kyle Helbig; 6-3, 215; Holy Family — Uncommitted
Scholarship offers: Colorado State and Iowa State.