Colorado's NFL Pipeline Catches the Attention of Talented WR Recruit

Colorado's NFL Pipeline Catches the Attention of Talented WR Recruit originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Colorado Buffaloes had four players taken in the 2025 NFL Draft. That included the most wide receivers of any team selected, with Travis Hunter (first round), LaJohntay Wester (sixth round) and Jimmy Horn Jr. (sixth round) all being taken off the board. Another Colorado receiver, Will Sheppard, is trying to make the Green Bay Packers roster after being signed as an undrafted free agent by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

That success in helping players reach the next stage may soon play a big role in boosting the Buffaloes' 2026 recruiting class. So far, head coach Deion Sanders' success has been minimal, landing just 11 commitments while ranking No. 15 in the Big 12 and No. 65 in the nation.

However, the Buffaloes are making a big push to flip current Tulane Green Wave commit Brayden Allen, whom Rivals Industry Rankings places as a three-star recruit, the No. 173 wide receiver and the No. 1,247 player in the nation.

Last season for Lafayette (Louisiana) Christian Academy, Allen proved to be a productive player, hauling in 55 receptions for 1,155 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Allen Reveals What Sticks Out About Colorado

While speaking with Rivals' Sam Spiegelman, the wide receiver revealed that Colorado's ability to get players into the NFL has caught his attention.

"What interests me about Colorado is seeing how many players they took in and developed into NFL players," Allen said. "What gets me interested in playing for Coach Prime is how hands-on he is with his staff and all of the experience they have. It’s people who have all been there before.”

The interest between the two parties only continues to grow, with Spiegelman reporting that Allen will be in Boulder on Sept. 27 to watch Colorado take on the BYU Cougars.

Colorado and Sanders in Need of a Major Boost

Not only is the Buffaloes' 2026 class already extremely thin, but wide receiver is a position they've struggled especially hard to recruit.

Flipping Allen away from the Green Wave would give Colorado its first wide receiver of the cycle and just the second pass catcher, joining three-star tight end Gavin Mueller.

Related: Texas at Risk of Losing Nation's No. 2 RB to ACC Powerhouse

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 14, 2025, where it first appeared.