Buffs Beat

Meet Every Colorado Buffaloes Signee in Deion Sanders' Recruiting Class

Get to know each of the Colorado Buffaloes' 10 (and counting) class of 2026 signees, including four-star recruits Carson Crawford and Preston Ashley and IMG Academy product Christian Ward. The college football early signing period will end on Friday.
Jack Carlough|
IMG Academy's Christian Ward (6) runs off the field during the first quarter of a high school football matchup at Mandarin High School, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. The IMG Academy Ascenders defeated the Mandarin Mustangs 57-7.
IMG Academy's Christian Ward (6) runs off the field during the first quarter of a high school football matchup at Mandarin High School, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. The IMG Academy Ascenders defeated the Mandarin Mustangs 57-7. | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Colorado Buffaloes

There were ten recruits from the class of 2026 to sign with the Colorado Buffaloes on Wednesday, and at least one more is expected to follow before the college football early signing period closes Friday.

Depending on how coach Deion Sanders attacks the transfer portal this offseason, a few of those soon-to-be freshmen could be in line for immediate playing time. The Buffs weren't able to land any five-star prospects this cycle, but the class still features multiple players capable of seeing the field next season.

Get to know Colorado's new signing class, which could make some noise this next season:

Linebacker Carson Crawford

Know Colorado High School Signees 2026 Recruiting Buffaloes Deion Sanders Early Signing Period Josiah Manu Domata Peko Commit
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

Rating: Four-Star (No. 11 linebacker, per247Sports)
Hometown: Carthage, Texas

Carson Crawford is closing in on 100 tackles this season at Carthage High School, which is set to face Athens High School in the Texas 4A Division 2 state championship game on Friday.

Safety Preston Ashley

Rating: Four-Star (No. 29 safety, per 247Sports)
Hometown: Brandon, Mississippi

Preston Ashley is an Under Armour All-American who committed to the Buffs in June.

Defensive Lineman Domata Peko Jr.

Rating: Three-Star (No. 2 JUCO EDGE, per 247Sports)
Hometown: Calabasas, California

Domata Peko Jr., the son is Colorado defensive line coach Domata Peko, is a former Hawaii signee who spent this past season at Ventura College in California.

Linebacker Rodney Colton Jr.

Know Colorado High School Signees 2026 Recruiting Buffaloes Deion Sanders Early Signing Period Josiah Manu Domata Peko Commit
Nov 29, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders looks on during the second quarter against the Kansas State Wildcats at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images | Scott Sewell-Imagn Images

Rating: Three-Star (No. 64 linebacker, per 247Sports)
Hometown: Newnan, Georgia

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, Rodney Colton Jr. totaled 27 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and five forced fumbles in four varsity seasons at Newnan High School.

Wide Receiver Christian Ward

Rating: Three-Star (No. 135 wide receiver, per 247Sports)
Hometown: Bradenton, Florida (via Carrollton, Georgia)

Christian Ward joins a growing list of IMG Academy standouts to sign with the Buffs, following up the likes of offensive tackle Jordan Seaton and defensive ends London Merritt and Alex McPherson. Ward's younger brother, Alex, is also expected to sign with the Buffs this week.

Offensive Tackle Xavier Payne

Know Colorado High School Signees 2026 Recruiting Buffaloes Deion Sanders Early Signing Period Josiah Manu Domata Peko Commit
Nov 1, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; General view Colorado Buffaloes chairs inside Folsom Field before the game against the Arizona Wildcats. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Rating: Three-Star (No. 104 offensive tackle, per 247Sports)
Hometown: Orlando, Florida

At first glance, Xavier Payne's size stands out the most. The 6-foot-7, 320-pound offensive tackle has a college-ready frame that could lead to some early playing time.

Offensive Lineman Ben Gula

Rating: Three-Star (No. 100 offensive lineman, per 247Sports)
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fellow Floridian Ben Gula will be another freshman to watch on the offense line next season. The 6-foot-5, 285-pounder committed to the Buffs in August ahead of his senior season at Cypress Bay High School.

Offensive Tackle Josiah Manu

Rating: Three-Star (No. 119 offensive tackle, per 247Sports)
Hometown: Loveland, Colorado

The lone Colorado recruit in the class, Josiah Manu played his high school football at Thompson Valley High School in Loveland. As a junior last year, he helped the Eagles to a state championship.

MORE: How Colorado Buffaloes Can Still Boost Troubling Recruiting Class

MORE: What Kevin Stefanski's Comments Tell Us About Shedeur Sanders' Future

MORE: Marshall Faulk Opens Up On Deion Sanders in Intro Southern Press Conference

Linebacker Colby Johnson

Rating: Three-Star (No. 139 linebacker, per 247Sports)
Hometown: Sammamish, Washington

As a senior at Eastlake High School, Johnson recorded 11 tackles, including three for a loss, one sack and a forced fumble in a game against Bellevue High School.

Cornerback Maurice Williams

Rating: Three-Star (No. 136 cornerback, per 247Sports)
Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana

Cornerback Maurice Williams flipped his commitment from Liberty to Colorado in June.

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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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