Deion Sanders and Colorado desperately needed some momentum on the recruiting trail. With a class ranked 83rd in the 247 composite rankings with only 11 commitments, time was running out for the Buffaloes to make a move.
On Tuesday, Colorado landed a big fish. Fresh off an official visit over the weekend, Sanders just reeled in one of the top prospects from the state of Alabama.
4-star DL Emanuel Ruffin, the No. 12 player in the state and the No. 192 overall player in the 2026 class, announced his commitment to Colorado this afternoon:
BREAKING: Four-Star DL Emanuel Ruffin has Committed to Colorado, he tells me for @rivals
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) September 23, 2025
The 6’4 290 DL from Bessemer, AL chose the Buffaloes over Ohio State, Missouri, & Ole Miss
“We Coming 🦬”https://t.co/SHVGugWI69 pic.twitter.com/3jNI9l9J9B
Colorado was late to the party in Ruffin's recruitment. They extended an offer to the Bessemer, AL native one week ago today. He wasted little time getting out to Boulder for a visit and was in attendance for the Buffs' win over Wyoming last Saturday. Sanders and the coaching staff know how to host an official visitor, and they made a massive impression on Ruffin.
With a lot of seniors on the defensive line, Colorado is able to pitch some immediate playing time on the defensive line. The blue-chip defensive lineman will be given the opportunity to compete right away.
Emanuel Ruffin is Colorado's highest ranked commit in the 2026 class
Ruffin instantly becomes Colorado's highest-ranked 2026 commitment. He's Coach Prime's 12th commitment in the class, and the fourth composite 4-star, joining S Preston Ashley, TE Gavin Mueller, and LB Rodney Colton Jr. His pledge jumps the Buffaloes up seven spots to No. 76 in the composite.
Ruffin's commitment gives Colorado some much-needed momentum on the recruiting trail with just over two months to go until the early signing period. Buffs fans and Coach Prime will hope that Ruffin isn't the last massive pull from the state of Alabama in this cycle, either.
Along with Ruffin, Colorado also hosted 5-star WR Cederian Morgan - an Alabama commitment - on a visit this past weekend. That was Morgan's second trip to Boulder - he previously took an official visit in May, but this was his first experience on a gameday.
It was a good weekend to have recruits in town, with a raucous home crowd for "family weekend." Even better, it was a Colorado win.
Sanders will continue pushing for Morgan - and plenty of others who have already made pledges. It was only a matter of time before Colorado got onto a big recruiting run. Ruffin's commitment should be what kicks off a furious rally late in the process.