Deion Sanders’ post-Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter era has gotten off to a rough start for the Colorado Buffaloes in the 2025 season. The squad has dropped two straight games and sits at 3-6 overall, with a 1-5 record in Big 12 competition.
Despite the struggles on the field, Sanders managed to secure a big recruiting win by flipping a four-star prospect from Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama.
Deion Sanders Secures Four-Star Recruit in the Class of 2027
Four-star athlete Alex Ward committed to Colorado’s 2027 class on Tuesday. He had previously been committed to Alabama since November 2024, but Sanders’ staff worked to flip him to Boulder after extending an offer this past fall.
Ward was one of five early commitments for the Crimson Tide, but he officially withdrew his Alabama pledge on October 20. Following his decommitment, Colorado was listed by many outlets as his potential next destination.
Ward will now join his brother Christian Ward, who also chose Colorado’s 2026 class over Alabama and other programs such as Arizona State and Michigan.
The 6-foot-1, 170-pound athlete has recorded seven tackles in six games during the 2025 season, according to MaxPreps. As a sophomore, he totaled nine receptions for 152 yards and two touchdowns on offense while adding 18 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, and two interceptions on defense.
Ward is the No. 285 player in the 2027 class, the No. 14 athlete nationally, and the No. 27 prospect in Florida, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He is originally from Marietta High School in Georgia and transferred to IMG Academy in Florida ahead of his junior season.
Ward becomes the first commitment for the Buffaloes’ 2027 class, giving Colorado an early boost in its junior class recruiting.
Meanwhile, Sanders also experienced a big recruiting blow on Tuesday as four-star defensive lineman Emanuel Ruffin decommitted from Colorado’s 2026 class. He is the No. 197 overall player in the nation, the No. 26 defensive lineman in the 2026 class, and the No. 12 player in Alabama, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.
“After much prayer and consideration, I want to take a moment to thank my family, friends, and teammates for always supporting me throughout this journey,” Ruffin said after his decommitment.
“I’d also like to thank the University of Colorado and their staff for believing in me and recruiting me. With that being said, I have decided to decommit from (the) University of Colorado.”
Sanders’ 2026 class now stands at 12 commitments, with three-star Domata Peko Jr. the only remaining defensive lineman. The Buffaloes are ranked No. 42 in the PFSN CFB Playoff Meter.