Colorado seems to ebb and flow in national conversations in recent years, but at its best, the Buffs are one of the most historic college football programs in the country. It is not a program known for producing a large number of NFL talents, but with Deion Sanders in charge, the talent level has increased dramatically recently.
While not all top recruits pan out to be NFL or even college stars, Colorado does have an impressive list of highly rated high school recruits who have come through the football program.
Here’s a look at the top 10 recruits in Colorado football history, based on the 247Sports composite rankings, which date back to 2000.
10. Quinn Sypniewski, class of 2000
Rating: .9683
- Four-star TE
- Recorded 513 receiving yards and four touchdowns in parts of six seasons with the Buffs
9. Yuri Wright, class of 2012
Rating: .9690
- Four-star cornerback
- Suffered multiple concussions at Colorado and opted to forgo his senior year of eligibility
8. Craig Ochs, class of 2000
Rating: .9739
- Four-star quarterback
- One of the top players to ever come out of Boulder High School, he eventually transferred to Montana after two mediocre seasons.
7. Russell Lovett, class of 2001
Rating: .9751
- Four-star athlete
- Signed, but never played for the Buffs
6. Julian Lewis, class of 2025
Rating: .9762
- Four-star quarterback
- The rankings’ newest addition to the list and one that Buff fans will hope turns into a future star
5. Ryan Miller, class of 2007
Rating: .9859
- Five-star offensive tackle
- Earned third-team All-American (AP) honors as a senior in 2011
4. Cormani McClain, class of 2023
Rating: .9884
- Five-star cornerback
- Played one season at Colorado before transferring to Florida last year
3. Jordan Seaton, class of 2024
Rating: .9934
- Five-star offensive tackle
- Earned freshman All-American honors in 2024 and is seen as a building block for Colorado over the next few seasons.
2. Marcus Houston, class of 2000
Rating: .9980
- Five-star running back
- Transferred to Colorado State in 2003
1. Darrell Scott, class of 2008
Rating: .9980
- Five-star running back
- Left the program in 2009 after two seasons in Boulder
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