Deion Sanders leans heavily toward the transfer portal rather than high school recruiting. However, Coach Prime has been witnessing some recruiting momentum in the Buffaloes’ 2027 class, which has already secured some promising players like edge rusher Ba’roc Willis.
Why 2027 Edge Rusher Ba’roc Willis Committed to Deion Sanders’ Colorado
Willis drew strong interest from programs such as Alabama, Georgia Tech, Auburn, and Miami but ultimately chose to commit to Colorado. He recently appeared on “The Scoop With Dukes” to explain what influenced his decision to join the Buffaloes.
“When I just got there, it just felt like home,” Willis said. “One of my biggest things was like when I’m when I whenever I commit somewhere got to feel like home. I got to be around people that I can just be with outside of football and get developed properly.
“And just seeing that factor, they just took my mom, me, and my mom had a great time. She was pretty much chilling with Prime in the coaching staff the whole time. She was living it up. Just seeing her smile brought a little bit to me. Talk to Coach Prime.. very funny guy, transparent. That’s what I really liked about him. So it was just everything just felt pretty good, and I liked it.”
Willis made his commitment to Colorado only a few days after completing his official visit in Boulder. 247Sports currently lists him as the No. 37 linebacker in the 2027 recruiting class, adding another high-upside defensive piece as Coach Prime continues to build momentum on the recruiting trail.
Under Sanders, Willis will be developing under a former NFL star and Hall of Famer coaching at the college level. It is a rare situation at the Power Four level, and Willis acknowledged that factor is in his decision-making process.
“Just being around people who’ve done what you want to do, it kind of gives you a little more affirmation,” Willis said. “I trust this guy more with my future. Just knowing Coach Prime went there, seen that, done it. He’s not going to sit there and lie to me or sugarcoat anything, man. It just made me feel a lot better about my decision.”
Colorado is actively seeking to improve its pass rush after struggling mightily in sacks during the 2025 season. If Willis remains committed, he could become an important addition to a defense that finished last season with a 73.7 rating in the PFSN CFB Defense Impact, ranking No. 77 nationally.
When asked what message stood out most from Sanders during his recruitment, Willis said the Colorado head coach said that he would be a central piece in building the defense. The Buffaloes currently hold nine commitments in the 2027 class, ranking No. 2 in the Big 12 according to Rivals. Willis stands as the only committed edge rusher in the class so far, joining other defensive pledges such as safety Gabe Jenkins and cornerback Will Rasmussen.
Read More: ‘Certified Nut Job’ : Urban Meyer Makes Feelings Clear on Ed Orgeron After $100,000 LSU Return
