Buffs Beat

Xavier McDonald, Four Other Colorado Recruits Expected to Sign During Regular Signing Period

Five class of 2026 commitments are currently expected to make things official with the Colorado Buffaloes once the regular signing period begins Wednesday.
Jack Carlough|
Morton wide receiver Xavier McDonald has been named to the Clarion Ledger 2025 Dandy Dozen.
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

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Colorado Buffaloes

With the regular national signing period set to begin Wednesday, the Colorado Buffaloes are currently expected to lock down five class of 2026 commitments.

Coach Deion Sanders is continuing his approach of signing a smaller high school recruiting class, with the rationale being that many will enter the transfer portal after one or two years in Boulder. Only six of Colorado's 15 class of 2025 signees are still with the Buffs, including quarterback Julian "JuJu" Lewis.

Colorado Commits Finalize Recruitment Regular Signing Period Collefe Football Xavier McDonald Jacob Swain Kaneal Sweetwyne CU
Sep 20, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders before the game against the Wyoming Cowboys at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Twelve class of 2026 recruits signed with the Buffs during December's early signing period:

  • Safety Preston Ashley (Brandon, Mississippi)
  • Linebacker Rodney Colton Jr. (Newnan, Georgia)
  • Tight end Gavin Mueller (South Elgin, Illinois)
  • Linebacker Colby Johnson (Sammamish, Washington)
  • EDGE Domata Peko Jr. (Ventura, California)
  • Cornerback Maurice Williams (New Orleans, Louisiana)
  • Offensive tackle Xavier Payne (Miami, Florida)
  • Linebacker Carson Crawford (Carthage, Texas)
  • Safety D'Montae Tims (Seffner, Florida)
  • Offensive lineman Ben Gula (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
  • Offensive tackle Josiah Manu (Loveland, Colorado)
  • Wide receiver Christian Ward (Bradenton, Florida, via Carrollton, Georgia)
  • Athlete Alexander Ward (Bradenton, Florida, via Carrollton, Georgia)
  • Safety Braylon Edwards (Duncanville, Texas)

Take a closer look at the five commits who are expected to join those 12 signees later this week:

Defensive Lineman Joseph Peko

Colorado Commits Finalize Recruitment Regular Signing Period Collefe Football Xavier McDonald Jacob Swain Kaneal Sweetwyne CU
Oct 11, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes assistant defensive line coach Donato Peko before the game against the Iowa State Cyclones at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Joseph Peko is a 6-foot-3, 310-pound three-star prospect set to join his brother, junior college transfer Domata Peko Jr., and father, Colorado defensive line coach Domata Peko, in Boulder.

The youngest Peko totaled 40 tackles, including seven for a loss, four sacks and a forced fumble in his junior season at Oaks Christian High School (Westlake Village, Calif.) in 2024. 247Sports ranks Joseph Peko as the No. 107 defensive lineman in his class.

Wide Receiver Xavier McDonald

Colorado Commits Finalize Recruitment Regular Signing Period Collefe Football Xavier McDonald Jacob Swain Kaneal Sweetwyne CU
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

Three-star wide receiver Xavier McDonald was previously committed to Sacramento State but flipped to Colorado in early December when Brennan Marion left the Hornets' head job to become Sanders' offensive coordinator. The 6-foot-2.5, 160-pound outside receiver hails from Morton, Mississippi, and was an Under Armour All-American selection this past season.

Quarterback Kaneal Sweetwyne

Kaneal Sweetwyne is a three-star prospect from Lehi, Utah, who's expected to work behind Lewis and Utah transfer Isaac Wilson in Colorado's quarterback room next season. As a senior at Skyridge High School, Sweetwyne threw for 3,050 yards, 32 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

Sweetwyne is the No. 88 quarterback nationally, per 247Sports.

Running Back Cam Newton

Not to be confused with former NFL Most Valuable Player Cam Newton, Colorado's lone running back commit rushed for over 2,000 yards in each of his final two seasons at Walnut Grove HIgh School in Prosper, Texas. The younger Newton committed to the Buffs on Jan. 19 and is listed at 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds.

MORE: Breaking Down Colorado's Updated Running Back Room

MORE: Projected Offensive Depth Chart for the Colorado Buffaloes Next Season

MORE: Deion Sanders Gives Blunt Response to Shedeur Sanders Pro Bowl Controversy

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Wide Receiver Jacob Swain

Three-star prospect Jacob Swain is Colorado's latest commit, announcing his pledge on Monday. A former Rice commit, Swain visited Boulder this past weekend before updating his recruitment.

Swain likely won't be the final prospect to join Colorado's 2026 recruiting class, as "Coach Prime" told "Thee Pregame Show" that he may sign another junior college player or two.

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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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