Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes are building momentum on the 2026 recruiting trail. Will that momentum translate between the white lines during the 2025 college football season? The Buffaloes sure hope so.
In regard to team building, though, every recruiting win is important for “Coach Prime” and the Buffs, and they just got their second big one in as many days. On Tuesday, four-star defensive lineman Emanuel Ruffin committed to Colorado over Ohio State, Alabama, Ole Miss, Missouri and others. Ruffin is one of the top defensive line recruits in the country, so that was a pretty big deal.
Deion Sanders wins another big recruiting battle
Momentum is a real thing in recruiting, so it’s no surprise to see that Colorado has already picked up another coveted recruit.
Christian Ward is a three-star wideout from Bradenton, Florida’s prestigious IMG Academy. Despite also having an interest in Arizona State, Michigan and Alabama, Ward committed to Colorado on Wednesday.
Just like anybody who commits to Colorado right now, the “Coach Prime effect” was real for Ward.
“Really Coach Prime was a big part of it but I love the coaches, the atmosphere, the team,” Ward told Steve Wiltfong of Rivals.
Sanders wasn’t the only coach mentioned by Ward, but it seems that he and the culture of confidence that he’s building in Boulder are the main draws.
“I want to be pushed by the best and hopefully make it to the next level and I feel like it’s the right choice to go to Colorado and play for the best coaching staff,” Ward said.
According to the 247Sports Composite, Ward is the No. 79 wideout in the 2026 class. Before transferring to IMG Academy for his senior season, Ward caught 59 passes for 1,160 yards (19.7 yards per catch) and 15 touchdowns in 24 games for Walton High in Marietta, Georgia.
Through four games this season at IMG, he has caught two passes for 67 yards, averaging 33.5 yards per catch. Ward grew up with Colorado true freshman quarterback Julian Lewis. He’s commitment No. 13 for Sanders in 2026.