The University of Colorado is in college football purgatory amid conference realignment chaos.
Will CU stay in the Pac-12 now that USC and UCLA have announced they are leaving? Will there be a Pac-12 once realignment takes its course? Recruits are paying close attention to where the Buffaloes land.
“I’ve been all over it,” said Brady Nassar, a senior edge rusher from Pleasanton, Calif., who verbally pledged last month to the Buffaloes. “Looking at all the updates. I’ve talked about it with all of my coaches and friends.”
The Pac-12 appears to be on life support with the exodus of its Los Angeles schools. It’s created two plausible scenarios for the Buffaloes moving forward: 1. Hold tight in the Pac-12 as the league solidifies and likely adds new members. 2. Return to Ralphie’s roots in the Big 12, which appears open to adding more schools.
How does that uncertain future impact the 2023 CU recruiting class?
“It would be fine if we joined the Big 12 or stayed in the Pac-12,” said Star City (Ark.) senior linebacker CJ Turner, CU’s top-ranked prospect via 247Sports.com. “Whichever way we go is cool with me.”
The Buffaloes have 15 players committed with the majority from Texas (seven) and California (four). CU has one verbal pledge from Arkansas, Colorado, Florida and Washington. It’s a recruiting footprint under third-year head coach Karl Dorrell that would easily transition to the Big 12, if the Buffs are invited and if they chose to go.
A league-wide merger between the two conferences is no longer on the table, according to media reports. But the Big 12 is still open to court individual Pac-12 schools for expansion. Simi Valley (Calif.) linebacker Carson Mott said he would be “100 percent” on board if CU eventually joins the Big 12.
“Ultimately, I chose to stay in the Pac-12 because it’s closer to home,” Mott said. “I’m just glad I get to play football. That’s all.”
CU, an original Big 12 member dating back to 1996, bolted for the Pac-12 in 2010 realignment. The football program has since posted just one winning season (’16). The Buffaloes’ incoming recruits are confident in a return to prominence regardless of conference affiliation.
“We have that history and we’re going to try and build it back up,” Turner said.
Nassar added: “I’m a 100-percent believer that we’re going to win a lot of games, win conference championships and everything you could imagine.”
Colorado’s 2023 commits
Charting verbal commitments for the 2023 CU football recruiting class. Information is provided by 247Sports.com.
| Player | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | H.S. (State) | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Tucker Ashcraft | TE | 6-5 | 235 | O’Dea (Washington) | *** |
| Kam Bizor | DE | 6-2 | 235 | C.E. King (Texas) | *** |
| Wesley Greaves | WR | 6-2 | 185 | A&M Consolidated (Texas) | *** |
| Isaiah Hardge | WR | 5-10 | 160 | St. Thomas Aquinas (Florida) | *** |
| Andrew Metzger | TE | 6-5 | 235 | Regis Jesuit (Colorado) | *** |
| Carson Mott | DE | 6-5 | 240 | Simi Valley (California) | *** |
| Tyrone McDuffie | OL | 6-3 | 303 | Parkland (Texas) | *** |
| Brady Nassar | DE | 6-5 | 235 | Amador Valley (California) | *** |
| AJ Newberry | RB | 6-0 | 200 | South Grand Prairie (Texas) | *** |
| Drew Perez | OT | 6-8 | 330 | Southlake Carroll (Texas) | *** |
| Edward Schultz | WR | 6-1 | 195 | Mission Viejo (California) | *** |
| Taylor Starling | CB | 5-11 | 170 | South Oak Cliff (Texas) | *** |
| Ryan Staub | QB | 6-1 | 190 | West Ranch (California) | *** |
| CJ Turner | LB | 6-1 | 210 | Star City (Arkansas) | *** |
| Adrian Wilson | S | 6-0 | 185 | Keller Central (Texas) | *** |