As a sophomore at Cherokee Trail High School in Aurora in 2019, Sam Hart received a scholarship offer to play football at Colorado.
It was then-new head coach Mel Tucker who extended that offer. By the time Hart graduated from high school, Tucker was long gone and Hart didn’t find much appeal in the CU program.
When he went through the recruiting process again this spring, Hart found CU to be a bit more intriguing.
“Yeah, quite a bit more attractive now,” the Ohio State transfer said with a laugh. “I think there’s a lot more opportunity now than there was a couple years ago.”
Opportunity is what led Hart to Boulder this year, as he joins the Buffs to play for second-year head coach Deion Sanders.
“I’m so excited,” Hart said. “Itap an amazing experience that I got in front of me, and being able to come back home and have this great opportunity I couldn’t ask for much more. Itap exactly what I was looking for when I entered the portal and itap the perfect opportunity for me. Super excited for this season.”
A 6-foot-5, 255-pound tight end, Hart spent three seasons at Ohio State, where he was a part of a lot of wins and played with great teammates, but didn’t get on the field much. He played in five games in 2022 but didn’t see the field in 2021 or 2023.
This year, he’s projected as the top tight end for the Buffaloes, who didn’t have a true tight end last year.
“I’m not taking this opportunity for granted for sure,” he said. “I’ve got to step up and be the dude. I’ve got to be that guy and I’m looking forward to it and I’m ready for it. I’ve been waiting three years for an opportunity like this, and I got it, so I’m going to take full advantage of it.”
A year ago, Michael Harrison, a walk-on converted receiver, was productive as a receiving tight end, catching 31 passes for 284 yards and five touchdowns, but blocking wasn’t a strength. Outside of Harrison’s 498 snaps, tight ends played a total of 26 snaps.
Looking to improve the run game this year, the Buffs found a traditional tight end in Hart, who spent three years blocking in the Ohio State offense. Hart, who hasn’t caught a pass in a game since his senior year at Cherokee Trail, is hoping to be a factor in the passing game, too.
“I see it as we’re there for the quarterback,” Hart said. “When the receivers aren’t open, he can count on the tight ends to be open and hopefully build up that role into being one of the first dudes he looks for on the field.”
The only other scholarship tight ends – Sav’ell Smalls and Morgan Pearson – were playing defense for the Buffs last year. But, they’ve also added UNLV transfer Charlie Williams as a walk-on and two returning walk-ons in Antonio Posadas and Brady Kopetz.
“The group came a long way (in the summer),” quarterback Shedeur Sanders said. “And Sam Hart, he took tremendous strides from this offseason to now.
“The whole tight end group and everything they understand, they don’t really bust plays too much. They line up fast and do their job. Thatap all you could ask for out of players on offense, just do your job and let everybody just play together and be one unit. So the tight ends, I’m really excited to have them there.”
Hart is excited, too. He said he enjoyed his time at Ohio State but is eager for a fresh start with the Buffs.
“When I entered the portal, that was one of the biggest things, I wanted to get back home and start trying to figure out my life after football, too,” he said. “Being able to be back home and play for one of the greatest football players of all time, I couldn’t ask for much more.
“I can’t even say how excited I am, and this opportunity in front of me, itap truly amazing.”
