Colorado Misses Out on Four-Star Defensive Line Recruit

The Colorado Buffaloes missed out on possibly adding to their fast-growing 2027 recruiting class, losing a commitment to the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders looks on during a time out in the game against the Utah Utes during the second quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray-Imagn Images

The Colorado Buffaloes closed May in impressive fashion by adding six verbal commits, including two four-stars in offensive tackle Li'Marcus Jones and safety Gabe Jenkins.

Colorado kicked off June hopeful for a commitment from four-star defensive lineman Khyren Haywood from Guyer High in Denton, Texas. However, Haywood committed to Texas Tech on Monday.

Khyren Haywood Places Colorado Buffaloes on Short List

Apr 11, 2026; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders greets players before the start of the spring game at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Haywood became one of Guyer High's most-sought after recruits ahead of his senior season. He pulled in 35 total offers before announcing a top four comprising of Colorado, Arizona, Kansas State and Northwestern.

Texas Tech once rose as a contender too but Colorado started to gain steam ahead of June. The Buffaloes were considered a favorite to win him over ahead of his announcement, but the Red Raiders prevailed.

How Colorado Buffaloes Recruited Khyren Haywood

Nov 8, 2025; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders walks along the sidelines late in the fourth quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images | Ben Queen-Imagn Images

It didn't end in Colorado's favor, but the recruiting mission to land Haywood never became a one-man effort out in Boulder.

Yes, the presence of Sanders helps as he brings an aura that can win over recruits and their families. However, CU had multiple people recruiting Haywood hard, not just coaches either.

Sanders received strong backing from director of player personnel Darrius Darden-Box and defensive tackles coach Dante Carter in pursuing Haywood. The former especially has become proactive in attempting to change Colorado's recruiting efforts when it comes to the prep scene. Carter has also become assertive in going after recruits following his elevation within Sanders' staff.

That's not all on the coaching side, as director of recruiting Rashad Rich rises as one more putting together this 2027 class. Rich arrived via the James Franklin-led coaching staff at Penn State and has since assisted Sanders in a huge way recruiting wise.

Yet those aforementioned coaches received help too in the form of the incoming rookie class. Three-star linebacker commit and former Alabama pladge Ba'Roc Willis became proactive in recruiting Haywood to Boulder. Haywood himself even visited CU during the same May 18 weekend that the Pell City, Alabama linebacker Willis was there.

@CUBuffsFootball you exceeded expectations‼️Thank you @DeionSanders @coachpun99 @CoachBox6 @jobyschneider @mslayy @huttonreed24 for showing me and my family a great time. @DentonGuyer_FB @ReedHeim @rushinbr @mike_gallegos16 @kylekeese @Two5sports @twftraining @DontonioKeshon… pic.twitter.com/WD8M8hZjp1

— Khyren “Khy” Haywood (@KhyrenHaywood) May 18, 2026

Khyren Haywood's Potential

Oct 4, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Josh Hoover (10) is strip sacked by Colorado Buffaloes defensive lineman Keaten Wade (27) during the first half at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

Haywood is 6-1 and close to 260-pounds, the frame the NFL legend for the Los Angeles Rams Aaron Donald played with. Yet Donald beat larger offensive linemen off a deep hand arsenal, low body leverage and delivering the snap explosion that stressed out offensive trenches right away.

The Denton star brings a near similar snap explosion once the ball moves. But he comes with an array of defensive line moves too that makes him advanced compared to some of his other trench peers. Haywood has defeated blocks with a quick spin move that gets him past the line of scrimmage. He's strong enough to execute a pull-and-rip move that sheds blocks. Lastly, Haywood turns to the swim and rip move (or arm under) to surpass the line of scrimmage.

He's taken on double teams too like Donald in the past. Except Haywood is cerebral enough to know when to extend his arms out to create enough push and distance to win that battle. His mix of hand moves and relentless pursuits have created this uncanny number at the prep level: 46.5 tackles for a loss in the last two seasons, plus 18 sacks across three varsity campaigns.

Colorado Buffaloes' Recruiting Outlook

Apr 11, 2026; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders before the start of the spring game at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Colorado may not be done with adding inside help either, with four-star Tyler Alexander still a wanted target for CU. Alexander is even longer at 6-4, 310-pounds.

Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook for the latest news.