Sanders prioritizes Florida; 7 of ’ 23 recruits from Sunshine State
The list of standout football players at Colorado who grew up in Florida is short.
All- American punter Mark Mariscal ( 2000- 02) came from Tallahassee and running back Herchell Troutman ( 1994- 97) came to CU from Naples.
There were a handful of Floridians in starting roles in the early 1980s and in the past few years, Guy Thomas ( Miami) and Carson Wells ( Bushnell) have been the Buffs’ best edge rushers. And, running back Anthony Hankerson ( Boynton Beach) showed some promise as a freshman last season.
With a few exceptions, however, Florida certainly hasn’t been a recruiting hotbed for CU. But, that’s changing in a hurry with head coach Deion Sanders.
“I love my Florida boys,” said Sanders, who grew up in Fort Myers and starred at Florida State before his Hall of Fame NFL career. “I know what they’re gonna give me, I know who they are, I know how they were raised, and we have tremendous relationships bringing those kids from Florida.
“Once they realize it ain’t that cold ( in Boulder), it’s gonna be all good for my Florida boys.”
CU’S 2023 recruiting class includes seven players who grew up in Florida, by far the Buffs’ largest group from the Sunshine State in 45 years. That list doesn’t include tight end transfer Seydou Traore, who grew up in England but played one season at Clearwater ( Fla.) Academy before going to Arkansas State in 2021.
“I plan on doubling that,” Sanders said of the number of Floridians in this class.
The only other CU coach to tap into Florida this much was Bill Mallory, who recruited seven players from there in 1978. From 19792022, CU recruited a total of 23 players from Florida. In only one of those years did the Buffs recruit as many as three ( 2020).
Traditionally, CU’S main recruiting hot spots have been Colorado, California and Texas. Those will continue
to be main areas of focus, but as long as Sanders is at CU, Florida, and the South in general, will be recruited.
In addition to Florida, CU’S 2023 class includes a program- record four players from Georgia, as well as two each from Alabama, North Carolina and Tennessee.
“We all have ties in some way and another to Florida,” Sanders said. “And I love my Florida boys. It’s just something about them that I adore.
“The Georgia boys, they make a difference, as well. The Texas boys make a difference, as well. We want the Colorado boys to make a darn difference, tremendously, and they will. So wherever the talent is, we’re gonna go get it.”
FOUR- STAR ATHLETE JOHNSON COMMITS TO BUFFS>>
On Saturday, the Buffaloes got a verbal commitment from Ju’juan Johnson, a four- star athlete in the 2024 class who visited CU last weekend.
Listed at 5- foot- 11, 178 pounds, Johnson is rated as the No. 4 overall prospect from Louisiana by Rivals. com and No. 5 overall by 247Sports. com.
The Lafayette ( La.) Christian Academy star had Florida and LSU as his other finalists before picking the Buffs. He had 18 scholarship offers, including Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas and Texas A& M.