The Neon Deion effect has already begun in Colorado.
The Buffaloes hired five-star running back Winston Watkins a day after Deion Sanders left Jackson State to become the head coach at the University of Colorado.
The wide receiver, a first cousin of Packers wide receiver Sammy Watkins, was inducted into the class of 2025 on Sunday in Boulder.
Watkins, 5-foot-10 and 172 pounds, plays at IMG Academy in Florida, a magnet school that has produced talents like Evan Neal, Greg Newsome and KJ Hamler. He is ranked No. 4 among wide receivers in his class and No. 13 overall by 247Sports.
Watkins had offers from 17 other programs, including Texas A&M, which was trying to land him.
Watkins’ commitment puts Colorado at No. 1 in the 2025 rankings, but Sanders is ranked No. 61 for 2023 and the Buffaloes currently have no commitments for 2024.
However, Sanders plans to bring many of his former players from Jackson State and has advised current Colorado players to enter the transfer portal. Sanders’ son, Shedeur, is a quarterback for the Tigers It is expected to enter the portal to land in Colorado.
according to a message from Josh Newberg at 3, Colorado has made more than 200 recruits since Sanders was hired, including many four- and five-star recruits. He should bring a few of them. Colorado is 1-11 this season, with its only win coming against Cal, and its only one winning season since 2006, 2016.
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