Buffs get commitment from Houston NT, lose OL transfer
Chidozie Nwankwo is planning to reunite with some of his Houston teammates in Boulder.
On Monday, the former Houston starting nose tackle announced that he is planning to transfer to Colorado and play for head coach Deion Sanders.
Nwankwo made his announcement on Instagram Live. On his video, he made a phone call and said, “Who is this?”
“This is Coach Prime,” Sanders said.
With that, Nwankwo, wearing a CU sweatshirt, announced his decision.
“I’m glad to be a part of the program, coach,” he said to Sanders
oach Prime responded, “I can’t wait to see what God has in store for you. The sky is the limit. (Defensive line coach Sal Sunseri) can’t wait to get on the field and get down with you.”
Nwankwo is the second former Houston starter to commit to CU this month, along with guard Tyler Johnson. Former Houston running back Alton Mccaskill IV recently completed his first season at CU after playing for the Cougars with Johnson and Nwankwo.
Just as he was making his announcement, however, the Buffs lost a commitment. Former Indiana guard Matthew Bedford, who had committed to CU last Tuesday, announced he is going to Oregon instead.
“The Colorado organization is so amazing that I made a decision too hastily before weighing all of my options,” Bedford wrote on Twitter. “However, upon reflection, I believe that the University of Oregon aligns perfectly with my long-term goals.”
Pro Football Focus graded Bedford as Indiana’s best lineman this past season.
He started 38 of 41 games at Indiana, making starts at left guard (11 times), right guard (10), right tackle (nine) and left tackle (eight).
As for Nwankwo, the 5-foot-11, 295-pounder visited Colorado this past weekend and is the third defensive lineman to commit to CU in the past two days. Former Alabama defensive tackle Anquin Barnes and former LSU defensive end Quency Wiggins committed on Sunday.
Nwankwo played four seasons at Houston, competing in 41 games with 32 starts. He posted 95 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and five sacks in his career.
This past season, Nwankwo played 10 games, posting 25 tackles, five tackles for loss and a sack.
Nwankwo’s run defense grade of 78.2 on PFF this year ranked 14th in the Big 12 among all defensive linemen and edge defenders
lthough he played four seasons for the Cougars, Nwankwo has one season of eligibility remaining because of the extra year granted by the NCAA to all players from the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Colorado has 15 transfers verbally committed.
PRIME TO AP: SHEDEUR WILL PLAY IN SPRING>>
Coach Prime told The Associated Press that his quarterback son Shedeur Sanders will participate in spring practice after recovering from a broken bone in.his back.
His injury was a result of getting sacked numerous times behind a porous offensive line.
FOOTNOTES>> Colorado receiver/ cornerback Travis Hunter was named first-team All-american for the all-purpose spot by Phil Steele on Monday. .… Former CU tight end Michael Harrison announced that he is transferring to San Diego State to be reunited with former Buffs offensive coordinator Sean Lewis, who is now the Aztecs’ head coach. Harrison caught 31 passes for 284 yards and five touchdowns this season. … Butler (Kan.) Community College offensive lineman Issiah Walker Jr. is no longer committed to CU. Rated as the No. 2 junior college tackle by 247Sports, Walker took a visit to Texas State last weekend. … Former CU offensive lineman Jake Wiley, who played at UCLA this past season, is transferring to Houston.