Buffs Beat

4-Star Safety Gabriel Jenkins Reveals Major Colorado Buffaloes Recruitment Update

Coveted class of 2027 safety Gabriel Jenkins announced he has locked in an official visit to Boulder to check out the Colorado Buffaloes.
Jack Carlough|
Sep 20, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders before the game against the Wyoming Cowboys at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Sep 20, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders before the game against the Wyoming Cowboys at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

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Colorado Buffaloes

An important stretch lies ahead for the Colorado Buffaloes' recruiting efforts with several top class of 2027 prospects set to visit Boulder.

On Friday, four-star safety Gabriel Jenkins became the latest 2027 recruit to announce his plans to take an official visit to Colorado. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, prospect didn't reveal a specific date, but his looming trip bodes well for a Colorado secondary that's loading up on young talent.

4-Star Safety Gabriel Jenkins Reveals Colorado Buffaloes Recruitment Update Visit Boulder Offer Deion Sanders Prospect 2027
Apr 19, 2025; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes defensive coordinator Robert Livingston during the spring game at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

According to the 247Sports composite rankings, Jenkins is the No. 26 safety in his class and the No. 9 overall prospect in Pennsylvania. The Imani Christian Academy junior is listed at 6-foot-2 and 187 pounds.

Colorado, which offered Jenkins in January, must compete with a long list of other Power Four school to land Jenkins' commitment. Along with visiting Boulder, Jenkins plans on visiting Michigan, Penn State and other top programs in the coming months.

Jenkins was committed to Penn State for about two months before removing his pledge upon former coach James Franklin's dismissal in October. New Penn State coach Matt Campbell re-offered Jenkins in December.

Versatility is one of Jenkins' many intriguing traits.

“I’m a playmaker,” Jenkins told the Pittsburgh Union Progress. “I make it all happen. If you need me anywhere, hey, I play that position well. If you need me at safety, I’ll play it. If you need me at linebacker, I’ll play it.”

Colorado Buffaloes' Outlook at Safety

4-Star Safety Gabriel Jenkins Reveals Colorado Buffaloes Recruitment Update Visit Boulder Offer Deion Sanders Prospect 2027
Brandon wide receiver Preston Ashley (1) looks at his phone before a high school football game between Petal and Brandon at Bulldog Stadium in Brandon, Miss., on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. Petal defeated Brandon 27-21. | Ayrton Breckenridge/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

If Jenkins eventually signs with the Buffs and remains a safety, he'd join a talented room with multiple other intriguing young talents, including class of 2026 additions Braylon Edwards and Preston Ashley.

Colorado's safety room features Ben Finneseth, who's currently recovering from an offseason surgery, and incoming transfers Jah Jah Boyd (Indiana), Randon Fontenette (Vanderbilt), Jayden Hardy (Oklahoma), Naeten Mitchell (New Mexico State) and Boo Carter (Tennessee). Former CU safeties Carter Stoutmire and Tawfiq Byard are now at Arkansas and Texas A&M, respectively.

4-Star Safety Gabriel Jenkins Reveals Colorado Buffaloes Recruitment Update Visit Boulder Offer Deion Sanders Prospect 2027
Naeten Mitchell (4) gets ready to tackle the Kennesaw State running back during Saturday's game. | Jaime Guzman/Special to the Sun-News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Entering his third year on coach Deion Sanders' staff, defensive coordinator Robert Livingston will coach Colorado's new-look safety room.

"Competition usually brings out the best in people, and we've got competition really on every level of the defense," Livingston told CUBuffs.com.

MORE: NFL Legend Barry Sanders Speaks Candidly on Deion Sanders' Star Power

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Other Notable Class of 2027 Recruits Set to Visit Boulder

4-Star Safety Gabriel Jenkins Reveals Colorado Buffaloes Recruitment Update Visit Boulder Offer Deion Sanders Prospect 2027
Nov 22, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders on the sidelines in the first quarter against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Other class of 2027 recruits who've announced plans to visit Boulder in the coming months include defensive linemen Kenny Fairley and Khing Thibodeaux, athlete Marquis Fennell, wide receivers Khalil Taylor and Ryan Ferdinand, and cornerback commit Davon Dericho.

"First and foremost, let me let you understand this: I'm hands-on with everything right now," Sanders told Thee Pregame Show last month. "Every kid, I've watched on tape and have hand-picked him, hand-selected him to come in myself, and know all his attributes and inundated with what's all poppin' within their lives."

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Jack Carlough
JACK CARLOUGH

Jack Carlough is lead reporter for Colorado Buffaloes on SI. Jack graduated from the University of Colorado with a bachelor's degree in journalism and minors in business and sports media. Born and raised in the Boulder area, Jack began covering Colorado athletics in 2018 and was the head sports editor of the CU Independent during his college career. More recently, he spent over three years as the managing editor of the USA Today Sports Network's Colorado Buffaloes Wire, where he covered Colorado's hiring of head football coach Deion Sanders. Other publications Jack has written for include the Boulder Daily Camera, Left Hand Valley Courier and SB Nation’s Ralphie Report. In 2022, the Colorado Press Association awarded Jack second place in its annual Class 5 Best Sports Column Writing category.

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