Buffs Beat

Where Colorado's Recruiting Class Ranks Nationally After New Commitments

The Colorado Buffaloes' 2026 recruiting class looks a little better after landing safety Braylon Edwards and Sacramento State wide receiver decommit Xavier McDonald. See where the class ranks nationally and in the Big 12 with the Early Signing Period now complete.
Jack Carlough|
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.
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

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Colorado Buffaloes

Coach Deion Sanders' 2026 recruiting class looks a little better now than it did before the Early Signing Period.

From Wednesday through Saturday, the Colorado Buffaloes landed two additional commitments in three-star safety Braylon Edwards and former Sacramento State four-star wide receiver pledge Xavier McDonald. Edwards signed on Friday, and McDonald is expected to make things official in February.

Even more, three-star athlete Alexander Ward reclassified to 2026 and signed, and McDonald's younger brother, four-star cornerback Dolph McDonald, committed to Colorado's 2027 recruiting class.

With 12 signees and a commitment from Xavier McDonald, Colorado's 2026 recruiting class now ranks No. 95 nationally and No. 13 in the 16-team Big 12 Conference. The class was ranked No. 105 nationally and No. 15 in the Big 12 on Tuesday before the Early Signing Period began.

Colorado Adds On To Recruiting Class

Where Colorado Recruiting Class Ranks Nationally Early Signing Period Xavier McDonald Commits Preston Ashley Big 12 Football
Morton wide receiver Xavier McDonald has been named to the Clarion Ledger 2025 Dandy Dozen. | Barbara Gauntt/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

After losing three commits (tight end Gavin Mueller, defensive lineman Emanuel Ruffin and safety D'Montae Tims) in November, Colorado has since reloaded with Xavier McDonald, Ward and Edwards.

Coach Deion Sanders recently opened up on his recruiting approach of signing "15 to 17" high school players each cycle.

“Nowadays, if kids aren’t playing by that spring of that second go-round, they out — they jump in the portal,” Sanders said. “You got to figure out the strategy. What do you want to go? How do you want to get it? The strategy a year ago was the same strategy it was last year, and you hit on your portal guys. You hit on your freshman guys. This year, you hit on your freshmen, to me, some of them. And you missed on your portal. So that's why we're sitting where we sit."

Big 12 Football 2026 Recruiting Class Rankings

Where Colorado Recruiting Class Ranks Nationally Early Signing Period Xavier McDonald Commits Preston Ashley Big 12 Football
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

1. Texas Tech Red Raiders (20 commits)
2. BYU Cougars (21)
3. West Virginia Mountaineers (49)
4. Arizona Wildcats (21)
5. Utah Utes (17)
6. TCU Horned Frogs (22)
7. Arizona State Sun Devils (19)
8. Houston Cougars (18)
9. Iowa State Cyclones (22)
10. Kansas State Wildcats (21)
11. Cincinnati Bearcats (22)
12. Kansas Jayhawks (17)
13. Colorado Buffaloes (13)
14. Baylor Bears (12)
15. UCF Knights (14)
16. Oklahoma State Cowboys (15)

MORE: Why Colorado Fans Shouldn't Panic Over Deion Sanders' Small Recruiting Class

MORE: What Concerning Financial Report Means For Future Of Deion Sanders, Colorado

MORE: Deion Sanders, Colorado Buffaloes Receiving Major Recruiting Boost  

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Colorado's 2026 Recruiting Class

Where Colorado Recruiting Class Ranks Nationally Early Signing Period Xavier McDonald Commits Preston Ashley Big 12 Football
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
  • 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 — Thompson Valley, Colorado
  • Carson Crawford, Linebacker — Carthage, Texas
  • Xavier Payne, Offensive Line — Jones, Florida
  • Preston Ashley, Safety — Brandon, Mississippi
  • Braylon Edwards, Defensive Back — Duncanville, Texas
  • Xavier McDonald, Wide Receiver — Morton, Mississippi

With Alex Ward now signed to Colorado's 2026 recruiting class, Dolph McDonald is Colorado's lone 2027 commit.

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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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