Deion Sanders Plots to Lure 5-Star Texas Prospect With 49 Offers Despite Longhorns’ $40M NIL Bombshell

Could you believe it? Colorado is in the mix for one of the top recruits in the state of Texas. Three seasons ago, that would’ve been a punchline. But now? It’s Deion Sanders’ reality. This weekend, Boulder is set to become the epicenter of college football recruiting suspense. Coach Prime rolls out the red carpet for the 6’7, 275-pound five-star OT out of Mansfield, TX. And you know, this 16-year-old’s got every blue-blood in the country banging down his door. Texas, Michigan, Ohio State, Ole Miss, you name it. 49 offers and counting. But here’s the kicker. 

As Steve Wiltfong said in an episode on On3 Recruits on May 1, “It’s shoot your shot weekend for Colorado as they host many of the nation’s top prospects, top 100 recruits from coast to coast… That list starts with 5-star Felix Ojo.” Lake Ridge HS standout Felix Ojo is giving Colorado a real shot. The No. 3 OT and the 11th overall player of the 2026 class is locking in an official visit with the Buffs on May 2, and that’s no small thing. And Deion Sanders better work out his charm, for “Texas and Ohio State have been considered the front runners,” as Wiltfong added. This visit carries more weight knowing this kid doesn’t hand out time lightly. 

Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos head coach Deion Sanders against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

In his interview with On3’s Chad Simmons, Felix Ojo made his visit intentions clear—“The visits I take will be very big for me and my family. I am giving every school I visit a fair shot. We will see where things stand at the end of my official visits. There could be a big change in my recruitment in a couple of months, or there may not be. We will see. It is about how I feel on the visits.” So you see, Deion Sanders has a window to flip this recruitment on its head.

“He was at Texas Tech this past weekend. He’s also already taken an official visit to Ole Miss. Oklahoma, Michigan involved,” Wiltfong added. “But he’s very excited to get up to Colorado and see what Deion Sanders and company have cooking.” 

As you already suspect, Deion Sanders is the reason Felix Ojo is considering Colorado. “I feel like (coach) Deion is changing the game over there at Colorado,” he admitted. Last season, 5-star OT Jordan Seaton was the prize, but the Buffs aren’t done yet. Adding Ojo would mean back-to-back 5-star tackles, and with guys like Seaton already on board, it’s clear they’re here to win.

Joining him in Boulder this weekend is a stacked crew from the 2026 class, including 4-stars—EDGE Jake Kreul, RB KJ Edwards, ATH Jalen Lott, and WR Jase Mathews and 3-stars—IOL Breck Kolojay and OT Deacon Schmitt. But as far as Ojo’s recruitment is concerned, Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns are the projected leaders. 

The myth around Texas’ $40M NIL hype 

Right now, there’s no pretending. Texas is the favorite to land Felix Ojo. On3 has them at 90.1% prediction, and even Steve Sarkisian reportedly told the coveted recruit that he’s their “franchise player and the No. 1 player they have to get.”

Earlier this week, the college football world was buzzing over Houston Chronicle’s report that Texas is spending between $35-$40 million on their 2025 roster. But as shocking as the numbers had been, Texas insiders quickly debunked the report. 

Horns247 Chip Brown reported that a source close to Texas’ AD’s NIL operations called the claim “whacked.” “There may be a school or two at that level of spending, but we are not the top of the market, I can promise you that,” the source stated. Still, when that kind of money is floating around in headlines, it’s hard not to connect the dots with top-tier recruits like Felix Ojo.

So now you’ve got Deion Sanders, the man who landed Seaton all while NIL money swirls in the background like wildfire. If Colorado lands Ojo, it’s not just another big-time recruit; it’s a shot across the bow. From the outside looking in, Colorado may be a long shot right now. But with Deion Sanders running the show, don’t count out the Buffs yet. 

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