Look in the Box for D1 2024 OL
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Colorado experienced a gold rush that brought people from various places into the Box State in search of a fortune. The mines may have gone dry, but athletic riches can be found for those willing to take a look in the Box.
In-state recruiting is typically a priority for college programs with the agenda of keeping talent within the borders as much as possible. With the recent changes to most of the college staffs in Colorado, many of the people from the football community within the state have been curious to know how recruiting will go for the boys from the box.
If there is one position that Colorado tends to produce elite talent at more than any other, it is linemen. With the number of Division I offensive linemen within the state, college scouts can strike gold without breaking a sweat. In Fort Collins, Fossil Ridge’s Gage Ginther Gage Ginther 6'6" | 275 lbs | OL Fossil Ridge | 2024 State CO (6-foot-6 OT) has a handful of D1 offers, which included Power 5 scholarships from Colorado, Tennessee, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Kansas, and Nebraska. Just south of Boulder is Landen Davidson, a 6-foot-5 tackle from Broomfield who has offers from Kansas, Colorado, and Colorado state.
Many teams in Denver produce top-tier talent, especially Cherry Creek. Andre Burton Andre Burton 6'5" | 285 lbs | OL Cherry Creek | 2024 State CO is a 6-foot-5 tackle with offers from Colorado, Colorado State, Iowa State, and Indiana. Maxwell Parrott Maxwell Parrott 6'5" | 285 lbs | OL Cherry Creek | 2024 State CO is another 6-foot-5 tackle for the Bruins who has offers from Colorado, Colorado State, UNLV, and Columbia.
Some people are surprised when they find out that certain areas in Colorado have dense Polynesian populations, like Fountain-Fort Carson and Colorado Springs, who have seen players from their communities receive FBS and FCS offers. Fountain-Fort Carson’s Lincoln Fa’apouli Jr Lincoln Fa’apouli Jr 6'5" | 320 lbs | OL Fountain-Fort Carson | 2024 State CO is another 6-foot-5 tackle with D1 offers from Colorado and Central Michigan.
The players mentioned above are just five of the many players with D1 talent scattered throughout the state. Pine Creek is just one school in the Colorado Springs area with elite players on the roster. The offensive line for the Eagles is home for players like Carson Caplan Carson Caplan 6'3" | 285 lbs | OL Pine Creek | 2024 State CO (6-foot-3 IOL), Connor Laxson (6-foot-2 G), Matthew Jennings Matthew Jennings 6'2" | 270 lbs | OL Fountain-Fort Carson | 2024 State CO (6-foot-3 C/G), and Tristan Randall Tristan Randall 6'3" | 265 lbs | OL Pine Creek | 2024 State CO (6-foot-4 OT), all of whom have talent that could easily land them on an FCS or FBS roster.
Players like Blane Brakemeier Blane Brakemeier 6'3" | 255 lbs | OL Heritage | 2024 State CO (6-foot-3 OT) from Heritage, Peyton Knoebel Peyton Knoebel 6'4" | 275 lbs | OL Ralston Valley | 2024 State CO (6-foot-4 G) from Ralson Valley, and Ryder Smith Ryder Smith 6'0" | 255 lbs | OL Castle View | 2024 State CO (6-foot G) from Castle View are all deserving of more attention than they have garnered up to this point. Each student-athlete mentioned above has what it takes to play at the next level. The odds of each of them making it onto a D1 roster is anyone’s guess, but that does not negate the fact that each of them possesses the talent needed to contribute to D1 programs.
There is an unlimited number of players in every position within Colorado who can produce for college programs at every level; they just need recruiters willing to take a look in the Box and find their gold.