Deion Sanders’ Elite QB Target Gets Huge Recruiting Boost as CU Buffs Aim to Overcome Crucial Pitfall

Let’s face it—the shine around Deion Sanders‘ Colorado Buffs is dimming just a bit. After a hyped-up 9-4 season and a 7-2 Big 12 finish, expectations were sky-high. But fast forward to now? The vibes in Boulder are shaky. With stars like Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, LaJohntay Wester, and Jimmy Horn Jr. all packed their bags for the pros, the Buffs suddenly look like a team caught between two chapters—one already written and another uncertain. Was 2024 their peak? Or is there still another gear left in Coach Prime’s rebuild?

Spring ball is wrapped, and with it, a whole lot of question marks. ESPN’s way-too-early Top 25 rankings left Colorado out entirely. They were at least listed under the “teams considered,” but let’s be real—that felt more like a courtesy than a compliment. And the biggest reason for that snub? The quarterback situation. With Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter and elite freshman Julian Lewis both in the mix, there’s plenty of talent, but until someone seizes control of the offense, doubts will continue to hang over Boulder.

If quarterback uncertainty wasn’t enough, Colorado’s offensive line just got gutted. Nine linemen bolted during the spring transfer window, including notable names like Jay Gardenhire, Cash Cleveland, Kahlil Benson, Zechariah Owens, and Payton Kirkland. That exodus leaves gaping voids in the trenches, and for a team already facing depth concerns, that’s a brutal blow.

Critics have long pointed fingers at Deion’s recruiting strategy—claiming he leans too hard on the transfer portal and not enough on high school talent. And the numbers back that up. The Buffs’ 2025 freshman class ranks 35th nationally with just 14 signees, a lean group built to offset the portal drain. Meanwhile, for 2026? They’re dead last in the Big 12 with a single commit. On3 even dropped their recruiting class score from 83.29 to 74.40.

But there’s a shift happening—slow, but noticeable. Coach Prime is hitting the trail harder, aiming to plant deeper roots instead of just pulling talent off the portal vine. And that shift? It starts with one name—Oscar Rios.

Oscar Rios, a rising star QB out of Downey, California, just saw his stock blow up after dominating the Under Armour Next Camp in Los Angeles on May 5. Rios didn’t just participate—he balled out and left with MVP honors. On3 crowned him the top performer, and just like that, Deion Sanders’ top QB target turned into one of the hottest names in the 2026 class.

Top Performers from the Under Armour Next camp in Los Angeles

More from @CodyBellaire: https://t.co/8WGtB0EW0X pic.twitter.com/Jh6XKnlBvW

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) May 4, 2025

For the Buffs, chasing Rios isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. While blue-bloods like USC are already sitting with 27 commits and others like LSU and Ohio State are way ahead, Colorado’s single pledge—EDGE Domata Peko Jr.—looks like a lonely island. If Coach Prime wants to flip the perception and prove that CU can develop talent from the ground up, it starts with securing a legit high school QB1. And Oscar Rios might just be that guy.

The good news? Rios has Colorado in his final seven. The bad news? So do six other programs, all making hard pushes. His list: UCLA, Oklahoma State, Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Arizona, Utah—and, yes, CU. He’s set to take his official visit to Boulder on June 20, but if Deion wants him, he’ll need to out-recruit some serious competition. So, who’s standing in the way?

Deion Sanders’ recruiting battle for dual-threat QB Oscar Rios

Well, Kentucky made a big splash early. Rios visited on April 11 and was blown away. “Coach [Mark] Stoops and Coach Bush [Hamdan] stood out to me because of how they were with me. They treated me like one of their players,” Rios told On3. His bond with Bush, in particular, might be the X-factor. Oh, and the SEC spotlight? Definitely not hurting their chances. “Having an opportunity to be the guy at that level is the real deal,” he added.

Then came Oklahoma State. Rios visited on April 24 and walked away equally impressed. “I love Oklahoma State. It’s a place where you could just focus on school and ball,” he said, giving props to Coaches Mike Gundy, Kevin Johns, and Doug Meacham. Their pitch was about balance—and it clearly resonated.

Still on the calendar: Virginia Tech (May 30), Utah (June 6), Arizona (June 13), and then Colorado to close the month. That final visit? Huge. It could be Prime’s last shot to make a serious move before Rios locks in his decision.

And let’s be honest—there’s a lot to love about Oscar Rios’ game. As a sophomore, he put up 2,633 passing yards with 23 touchdowns and added 767 rushing yards with another 7 scores. A true dual-threat. He’s currently ranked No. 188 in the On3 overall rankings and climbing fast. That kind of talent could flip CU’s entire 2026 outlook.

But to land him, Coach Prime needs more than just a name and a camera crew. He needs a plan. A pitch that hits different than the rest. Because if the Buffs want to overcome their biggest recruiting pitfall—the high school talent gap—Oscar Rios could be the game-changer. Can Deion Sanders seal the deal, or will another powerhouse snatch his future QB1 before Boulder gets its chance?

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