Buffs Beat

Colorado Buffaloes Targeting 4-Star Quarterback Recruit Committed To Illinois

Michael Clayton II, a four-star quarterback who's currently committed to the Illinois Fighting Illini, announced an offer from coach Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes on Friday. "Coach Prime" has yet to land a class of 2026 quarterback pledge.
Jack Carlough|
Nov 25, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders on the field against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images
Nov 25, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders on the field against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images | Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images

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As the starting quarterback battle between incoming freshman Julian "JuJu" Lewis and Liberty Flames transfer Kaidon Salter rolls on, the Colorado Buffaloes are also thinking about their future at the most important position in football.

It'll require a flip to land his commitment, but the Buffs extended an offer to class of 2026 quarterback Michael Clayton II earlier this week. Clayton is a four-star prospect (per Rivals) who has been committed to the Big Ten's Illinois Fighting Illini since November.

Coach Deion Sanders and his Colorado football staff have frequently recruited the Miami area, and Clayton continues that trend as an incoming transfer at Miami Edison Senior High School. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound rising senior previously played at Seminole High School in Sanford, Florida, where he threw for 1,395 yards, 15 touchdowns and three interceptions as a junior last season. The Seminoles finished the year 10-2 in Florida's 7A division.

Dec 28, 2024; San Antonio, TX, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders walks on the field between plays during the f
Dec 28, 2024; San Antonio, TX, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders walks on the field between plays during the first quarter against the Brigham Young Cougars at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

According to the 247Sports composite rankings, Clayton is the No. 43 quarterback in his class and a top-100 prospect in Florida. Some of his other notable Power Four offers include the Auburn Tigers, Iowa Hawkeyes, Miami Hurricanes and Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Big 12 Conference's Baylor Bears, Cincinnati Bearcats and UCF Knights have also offered.

Colorado's 2026 recruiting class still ranks last in the Big 12 (per 247Sports), but "Coach Prime" has some momentum following recent cornerback commits Preston Ashley and Maurice Williams. Illinois tight end Gavin Mueller and California EDGE Domata Peko Jr. represent the Buffs' other two pledges.

Illinois coach Bret Bielema owns 22 class of 2026 commits, with Clayton being the lone quarterback. The group ranks No. 5 in the Big Ten and No. 15 nationally, per 247Sports.

 "The love that they're (Illinois) showing me, the momentum swing that they've gotten, it's really impressive," Clayton told 247Sports in November. "It's just a really pro-style offense I can thrive in, that fits me and can get me developed for the pros."

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It certainly won't be easy for the Buffs to flip Clayton, and Lewis' presence also complicates the situation. Regardless of who wins Colorado's starting quarterback battle this fall, all signs point to Lewis starting under center in 2026 and beyond.

Late last season, "Coach Prime" spoke on his approach to recruiting high school talent.

"Let's say we get 25 high school players. How many are gonna play that freshman year at the most? Let's say four of five. So now you got 20 guys redshirted. When you go through that spring with that 20 guys redshirted, how many are you gonna retain after that spring? How many are gonna jump in the portal on you?" Sanders said last season. "If any one of you are gonna go statistically and try to calculate this, I've already done it... Why don't I just focus on 10 (high school signees)?"

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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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