Colorado Buffaloes Land ESPN 300 Four-Star Linebacker Over Power Four Schools

Deion Sanders has landed a few good recruits in the month of July. The surge continued on Saturday as four-star linebacker Rodney Colton Jr. committed to the Colorado Buffaloes over the Florida State Seminoles and Ole Miss Rebels. 

The Newnan, Georgia product became the Buffaloes seventh defensive recruit during this cycle and the second four-star, along with Brandon, Mississippi safety Preston Ashley. They're now the two cornerstones of the 2026 recruiting class for Coach Prime and the Buffs with no five-star talents. 

At 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, Colton Jr. is the No. 15 linebacker in his class and the No. 23 prospect in Georgia. He was previously committed to the South Carolina Gamecocks and ultimately decided to be in Boulder. He's currently 298th overall on the ESPN 300 list.   
"Everything was great on my visit," Colton told BuffStampede. "Coach Hart is a great man, I am not going to lie. He is down to earth, he is cool, cordial, all of it. He is always checking in, making sure I am good, making sure my family is straight."

Colton is the biggest pick up for Sanders and Colorado after the 2026 class was slow rolling into July with three players on the books. What makes his commitment even bigger for CU is the fact Colton turned down offers from teams in the College Football Playoff like Penn State and SMU.

While Sanders and his staff aren't blowing other teams out of the water with recruits, this is all by design and follows the pattern of previous years. They find players who are ready to play and fill in the gaps through the transfer portal. Colton closed his junior season at Newnan High School last fall with 51 total tackles (12 for loss), six sacks and an interception.

Following Colton's commitment, Colorado's 2026 recruiting class got a boost to No. 79, according to 247Sports. They sat at No. 100 to open the month and are expected to pick up a few more players.