Signing Day, filling the positions of departing Buffs
Nine Buffs entered their names into the transfer portal toward the end of the season up until recently. With the portal and graduating seniors depleting the roster, CU football signs on 19 new players and searches across the country for new talent.
Head Coach Karl Dorrell and his coaching staff were on the road this fall recruiting a variety of players to join the CU football program. On Dec. 15, 19 players signed national letters of intent.
From 247Sports.com, the 2022 recruiting class is ranked at 6th in the Pac-12 and 48th nationally.
The class consists of players from every position. The coaching staff collected this variety of men for continued depth and to fill the shoes of departing Buffs as they pursue professional endeavors or enter their names into the transfer portal.
“I mean it is based off need every year,” Dorrell said. “When you have guys leaving your program you want to replace those guys in an efficient way you know whether that’s from graduation or whether that’s when guys decide to leave the portal. You know some of those things you can forecast like when a senior is graduating, but you really can’t forecast when a guy leaves after the season, so we felt like we’ve addressed most of those things from a portal standpoint. There’s a good number of guys like five or six guys that went into the portal on our team. Three of them were receivers so we were able to replace them just as an example.”
On offense, CU picked up:
- Victor Venn (RB), Buford, Georgia
- Zach Courtney (TE), Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- Carter Edwards (OT), Post, Texas
- Travis Gray (OT), Aurora, Colorado
- Chase Sowell (WR), Humble, Texas
- Grant Page (WR), Boulder, Colorado
- Jordyn Tyson (WR), Allen, Texas
- Owen McCown (QB), Rusk, Texas
- Oakie Salave’a (all-around athlete), Ili’Ili, American Samoa
- Ashton Logan (P/PK), Anaheim Hills, California
Three receivers entered the transfer portal: La’Vontae Shenault, Chris Carpenter and Keith Miller.
247 Composite ranks Tyson No. 185 player from Texas and Sowell as the No. 182 player from Texas.
Page was scouted by Nebraska and played at Fairview high school, down the street from CU’s campus. He’s ranked the No. 3 player from Colorado.
Along with the departing receivers, running back Ashaad Clayton and tight end Alec Pell put their names into the transfer portal. Clayton was recently picked up by Tulane located in his hometown, New Orleans, Louisiana. Venn and Courtney (and future recruits) will fill those absences in the roster.
For the offensive linemen, Colby Pursell will also be moving on from the program and Max Wray is leaving due to continual neck issues.
On the topic of quarterbacks, some changes in rotation may happen on that front as Dorrell said, “JT will be able to participate in the spring.” Also, backup QB, Drew Carter, began practicing with the CU men’s basketball team on Dec. 3.
The program picked up McCown, as he is listed by 247 Composite as the No. 48 quarterback in the nation. Salave’a could have some reps in the QB position as well.
“He [Salave’a] plays the quarterback position well,” Dorrell said. “You put him at safety, he intercepts and makes things happen…if you put him to block a punt, he’ll block a punt. He is a multi-faceted kid. He likes playing quarterback so we give him a shot there, but he also says, ‘Coach, if I can help the team in any way, I want to do it.”
On defense, CU picked up:
- Aubrey Smith (ILB)
- Xavier Smith (S)
- Dylan Dixson (S)
- Aaron Austin (DL)
- Joshua Wiggins (CB)
- Keyshon Mills (CB)
- Kaden Ludwick (OLB)
- Simeon Harris (CB)
- Eoghan Kerry (OLB)
As star linebackers Carson Wells and Nate Landman leave CU football, the inside and outside linebacker positions are crucial to maintain. Ranked by the 247 Composite, the program recruited Aubrey Smith No. 61 from Georgia, Ludwick No. 7 out of Oregon and Kerry No. 61 from California.
Adding depth within the defensive backs, CU will have five new men in these positions. Ranked by 247 Composite, Xavier Smith No. 124 player from Georgia, Dylan Dixson No. 78 from Texas, Joshua Wiggins No. 135 from Texas, Keyshon Mills No. 163 from Texas, Simeon Harris No. 94 player out of California will provide their skills to the Buffs defense.
Safety Curtis Appleton and safety Trustin Oliver entered their names into the portal and safety Ray Robinson will be moving on from the program. Defensive lineman Jayden Simon also entered his name into the portal.
“We would love to get another defensive lineman and an inside linebacker,” Dorrell said. “Corner positions are in great shape. We still need safeties. I still think there’s still some targets for us to try to find both from the portal standpoint or ‘22 class freshman standpoint.”
Dorrell and the coaching staff will continue to search for players to fill the seven remaining spots going into February, and the search for a new offensive coordinator which Dorrell said on Dec. 15 that, “We’re really close on that decision.”
