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Colorado football signing day tracker: Buffs’ 2026 recruiting class taking shape

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Deion Sanders and the Colorado football team are welcoming new Buffs to the herd.

National signing day has arrived and Colorado has 11 commits in its 2026 recruiting class as of Wednesday, Dec. 3. A surprise or two could certainly pop up during the three-day signing window since Coach Prime says he wants to sign 15-17 high school recruits.

The Buffs’ group of 11 signees currently ranks seventh in the Big 12, according to average player rating, but let’s take a closer look at the class:

Carson Crawford

Position: Linebacker

School: Carthage (Carthage, Texas)

Notable: Crawford is Colorado football’s highest-ranked signee in the 2026 class thanks to a recent bump in his rating. The four-star LB and former Texas State commit has helped Carthage win 28 straight games dating back to last season. Crawford has racked up 97 tackles, 16 TFLs and six sacks during his senior campaign.

True freshman LB Mantrez Walker just announced his intention to enter the transfer portal, leaving that position group even more thin for 2026. Crawford is an early enrollee (will arrive in Boulder in January) who will be in position to have a role as a true freshman.

“There’s definitely a starting job on the line,” Carson Crawford told DNVR on the eve of signing day. “It’s not going to be given. I have to earn that and I know that. I didn’t want anything to be given to me. I just wanted an opportunity to go and earn it.”

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Preston Ashley

Position: Defensive back

School: Brandon (Brandon, Mississippi)

Notable: Ashley is who the Colorado football team needs more of. The four-star DB has been locked in with the Buffs since June and never wavered on his commitment. Ashley is a versatile defender who totaled 37 tackles, four TFLs, six PBUs and an INT this season. He’s another incoming freshman who could make an immediate impact.

“Excited isn’t the word anymore,” Ashley told DNVR on the eve of signing day. “Getting to be home for a little bit longer and spending time with family is cool but your boy is ready to get up there and change our program around. I’m ready to get the dice rolling.”

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Rodney Colton Jr.

Position: Linebacker

School: Newnan (Newnan, Georgia)

Notable: Colton Jr. chose the Colorado football team over Ole Miss, Penn State, UCLA and others. The former South Carolina commit tallied 57 tackles, 10 TFLs and four sacks during the 2025 season. Colton Jr. and Crawford — who visited Boulder together — have the talent to be a special LB duo.

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Domata Peko Jr.

Position: EDGE

School: Ventura College (Ventura, California)

Notable: Peko Jr. is the only junior college signee in the Buffs’ 2026 recruiting class. The No. 1-ranked JUCO edge player is the son of Colorado football defensive line coach Domata Peko. Peko Jr. racked up 6.5 TFLs, three sacks, two forced fumbles and five PBUs this season at Venture College. He will arrive in Boulder with the experience and pedigree and play right away.

Christian Ward

Position: Wide receiver

School: IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)

Notable: Ward is keeping the IMG-to-Colorado football pipeline alive. The three-star WR chose the Buffs over Alabama, Arizona State, Michigan and others. Ward was the top uncommitted WR in the 2026 class at the time of his commitment (Sept. 24) and was teammates with Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis at Carrollton (Georgia) High School.

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Alexander Ward

Position: Athlete

School: IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)

Notable: Alexander was the Colorado football team’s first commit in the 2027 recruiting class but he reclassified to the 2026 class to join his brother, Christian. The former Alabama commit is a four-star athlete who held offers from Georgia, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas A&M and others. Alexander is a versatile weapon who could make an impact on either side of the ball.

Xavier Payne

Position: Offensive line

School: Jones (Orlando, Florida)

Notable: Payne was a longtime Florida State commit who chose the Colorado football team over Syracuse and 30-plus other offers. The 6-foot-7, 320-pound OL projects as a bookend tackle and is one of three offensive linemen the Buffs signed in the 2026 class.

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Ben Gula

Position: Offensive line

School: Cypress Bay (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

Notable: Gula chose the Colorado football team over Syracuse, UCF and others. The 6-foot-5, 325-pound OL was primarily recruited by the Buffs to play center. With starting center Zarian McGill out of eligibility, there’s a path for Gula to earn playing time as a true freshman like Cash Cleveland did in 2024.

Josiah Manu

Position: Offensive line

School: Thompson Valley (Loveland, Colorado)

Notable: Manu is the only signee from the state of Colorado in the Buffs’ 2026 recruiting class. The 6-foot-5, 295-pound OL is a former San Jose State commit who held offers from Arizona, Fresno State, Wyoming and others.

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Colby Johnson

Position: Linebacker

School: Eastlake (Sammamish, Washington)

Notable: Johnson is a three-star LB who chose the Colorado football team over Arizona, Fresno State, San Diego State and others. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder is a two-sport athlete with real speed (10.87 100m) for the linebacker position. Johnson is one of three LB commits in the Buffs’ 2026 class and he might have the best coverage skills of the trio.

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Maurice Williams Jr.

Position: Defensive back

School: Edna Karr (New Orleans, Louisiana)

Notable: Williams is a former Liberty commit who held offers from Georgia Tech, Houston, Ole Miss and others. The three-star cornerback helped Edna Carr win a 2024 state championship and could also carve out an immediate role in a secondary that struggled this year.

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Follow Colorado Buffaloes beat reporter Scott Procter on X.