Buffs Beat

Colorado Signee Preston Ashley Opens Up About Playing For Deion Sanders

Recent Colorado Buffaloes signee Preston Ashley, a class of 2026 recruit from Mississippi, shared his excitement for soon playing for coach Deion Sanders in Boulder.
Jack Carlough|
Brandon High cornerback Preston Ashley has been named to the Clarion Ledger 2025 Dandy Dozen.
Brandon High cornerback Preston Ashley has been named to the Clarion Ledger 2025 Dandy Dozen. | Barbara Gauntt/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In this story:

Colorado Buffaloes

There's reason to be excited about the Colorado Buffaloes' future in the secondary with four-star defensive back Preston Ashley now locked up.

One of the highest-ranked class of 2026 recruits in the state of Mississippi, Ashley enjoyed four impressive seasons at Brandon High School and is now preparing for the start of his college career in Boulder. But first, Ashley put on one final show for his home state earlier this month in the annual Mississippi vs. Alabama All-Star Game.

Colorado Signee Preston Ashley Playing Deion Sanders Buffaloes College Football Recruiting Prospect Mississippi All-Star Game
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

While Ashley's Mississippi team ultimately fell to rival Alabama, the recent Colorado signee was all smiles in a postgame interview with QB Country's Larry Rudolph. Ashley recapped his high school career and opened up about his future with Colorado coach Deion Sanders.

"My high school career was really good, getting to battle against good teams, getting to battle against good players," Ashley told Rudolph. "I'm just so excited to get to show that in front of Coach Prime and get to dominate in Boulder."

Ashley was interviewed alongside fellow Mississippi standouts Tristen Keys and Tylan Wilson, who are signed on with Tennessee and Texas A&M, respectively.

In four seasons at Bradon High School, Ashley recorded 203 total tackles, including eight for a loss, 14 pass breakups, three interceptions and two sacks. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound defensive back played in the state title game twice and was an Under Armour All-American.

Preston Ashley's Recruiting Profile

Colorado Signee Preston Ashley Playing Deion Sanders Buffaloes College Football Recruiting Prospect Mississippi All-Star Game
Brandon High cornerback Preston Ashley has been named to the Clarion Ledger 2025 Dandy Dozen. | Barbara Gauntt/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

247Sports ranks the four-star Ashley as the No. 12 safety in his class and the No. 12 player from Mississippi. He picked up several other Power Four offers throughout his recruitment, including Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Georgia Tech and Florida.

Ashley will join a Colorado team that has so far lost six defensive backs to the transfer portal in Tawfiq Byard, John Slaughter, TJ Branch, Teon Parks, Terrance Love and Noah King. Depending on how Sanders attacks the transfer portal, the freshman Ashley could see considerable playing time next season.

"They see me coming in being that guy," Ashley told BuffStampede.com. "But I need to work my butt off to get where I need to be."

MORE: Deion Sanders Reportedly Hires Familiar Name As Colorado Running Backs Coach

MORE: Why Shedeur Sanders Will Bounce Back From Late-Season Struggles

MORE: Insider Reveals Biggest Reason Behind Colorado's Transfer Portal Mass Exodus

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER HERE

Complete Look At Colorado's 2026 Recruiting Class

Colorado Signee Preston Ashley Playing Deion Sanders Buffaloes College Football Recruiting Prospect Mississippi All-Star Game
Carthage's Carson Crawford signals first down during the 4A DII UIL Texas State Football Championship game Waco La Vega on Friday, December 20, 2024 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. | Naomi Skinner/Times Record News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Colorado's 2026 recruiting class currently features 12 signees and one commit in Sacramento State flip Xavier McDonald.

  • Alex Ward, Athlete — Marietta, Georgia
  • Domata Peko Jr., Defensive Lineman — Calabasas, California
  • Ben Gula, Offensive Lineman — Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  • Christian Ward, Wide Receiver — Carrollton, Georgia
  • Colby Johnson, Linebacker — Sammamish, Washington
  • Rodney Colton Jr., Linebacker — Newnan, Georgia
  • Maurice 'MoJo' Williams Jr., Cornerback — Edna Karr, Louisiana
  • Josiah Manu, Offensive Line — Loveland, Colorado
  • Carson Crawford, Linebacker — Carthage, Texas
  • Xavier Payne, Offensive Line — Jones, Florida
  • Preston Ashley, Defensive Back — Brandon, Mississippi
  • Braylon Edwards, Defensive Back — Duncanville, Texas
  • Xavier McDonald, Wide Receiver (Commit)— Morton, Mississippi

With Ashley being the Buffs' second-highest rated signee, the class ranks No. 75 nationally and No. 12 in the Big 12 Conference, according to 247Sports.

Published
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.

Home/Football