Colorado’s 2021 class could end up as one of the best
For a long time, Colorado has not necessarily been considered a hotbed for high school football recruiting but the number of college recruits the state has produces has increased in recent years. It appears as though that trend could continue.…
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Continue ReadingFor a long time, Colorado has not necessarily been considered a hotbed for high school football recruiting but the number of college recruits the state has produces has increased in recent years.
It appears as though that trend could continue.
Despite these unprecedented times, the buzz surrounding the current group of Class of 2021 recruits coming out of Colorado is already substantial. With plenty of Division-I offers already being reported, it looks like the upcoming graduating group might be poised to send more athletes to the next level than any year in recent memory.
“I’ve had tons of coaches talk about how they’re going to make this state a huge priority for their schools,” Heritage head football coach Tyler Knoblock said. “Especially in this Denver Metro area, it seems like it’s definitely heating up. Having coached in a different state, I think the talent is as good here as anywhere. Obviously, it’s a cycle but right now there’s a ton of good football being played here in Colorado and some special players.”
[player_tooltip player_id="22544" first="Chase" last="Silva"]On his Heritage roster alone, Knoblock has a pair of Division-I tight ends in Terrance Ferguson Terrance Ferguson 6'5" | TE Heritage | 2021 State CO and Erik Olsen Erik Olsen 6'5" | TE Heritage | 2021 State CO who are both ranked among the top 10 in their class in the Prep Redzone Colorado player rankings. Other top recruits like Cherokee Trail tight end Sam Hart Sam Hart 6'5" | TE Cherokee Trail | 2021 State CO (Ohio State), Fossil Ridge offensive lineman Trey Zuhn Trey Zuhn 6'6" | OL Fossil Ridge | 2021 State CO (Texas A&M), Highlands Ranch quarterback Jake Rubley Jake Rubley 6'3" | QB Highlands Ranch | 2021 State CO (Kansas State), Cherry Creek defensive lineman Gus Zilinskas Gus Zilinskas 6'3" | DL Cherry Creek | 2021 State CO (Rutgers) and Pine Creek safety Beau Freyler Beau Freyler 6'2" | DB Pine Creek | 2021 State CO (Iowa State) have already committed to play out of state at the D-I level.
Other top Colorado prospects have committed to player locally. Cherry Creek receiver Chase Penry Chase Penry 6'1" | WR Cherry Creek | 2021 State CO has committed to the University of Colorado while Palmer Ridge quarterback Luke McAllister Luke McAllister 6'4" | QB Palmer Ridge | 2021 State CO , Fossil Ridge tight end Tanner Arkin Tanner Arkin 6'3" | TE Fossil Ridge | 2021 State CO , Poudre offensive lineman Justin Michael Justin Michael 6'5" | OL Poudre | 2021 State CO , Grandview defensive lineman Mukendi Wa-Kalonji Mukendi Wa-Kalonji 6'5" | DL Grandview | 2021 State CO and Eaglecrest defensive back Langston Williams Langston Williams 5'10" | DB Eaglecrest | 2021 State CO have all committed to Colorado State.
That short list is certainly a good start for the 2021 class, which appears to be on pace to meet or surpass the number of D-I signees Colorado has produced in recent years. Defending 5A state champion Cherry Creek alone has nearly 10 seniors with Division-I offers, including names like Zilinskas, Penry, defensive lineman Arden Walker Arden Walker 6'4" | DL Cherry Creek | 2021 State CO , cornerbacks Myles Purchase Myles Purchase 5'11" | DB Cherry Creek | 2021 State CO and Al Ashford III Al Ashford III 6'1" | DB Cherry Creek | 2021 State CO , tight end Gunnar Helm Gunnar Helm 6'5" | TE Cherry Creek | 2021 State CO , offensive lineman Corey Haniford Corey Haniford 6'5" | OL Cherry Creek | 2021 State CO , quarterback Julian Hammond III Julian Hammond III 6'2" | QB Cherry Creek | 2021 State CO and linebacker Marcus Alexander Marcus Alexander 6'1" | LB Cherry Creek | 2021 State CO .
Colorado had just over 50 players go on to play Division-I football in 2018, around 70 in 2019 and just over 50 against last season, according to the CHSAANow.com recruiting database. Knoblock said he and others agree that the uptick in recruiting Colorado is at least partly a product of football recruiting’s copycat nature and will likely continue trending upwards
“I think there’s a bright future,” Knoblock said. “I chose to move here from Oklahoma six years ago for a reason, thinking that the football would be spectacular.”
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— Sam Hart (@sam_hart82) December 30, 2019