Coach Prime and the Colorado Buffaloes have officially offered 5-star linebacker Xavier Griffin, a top-rated 2026 prospect who recently reopened his recruitment after decommitting from USC.
The offer, which was extended shortly after Griffin’s decision to back away from the Trojans, places Colorado in contention for one of the most sought-after defenders in the nation.
Griffin, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound linebacker out of Gainesville High School in Georgia, is currently ranked as the No. 1 linebacker in the state, the No. 2 linebacker nationally in the 247Sports Composite, and the No. 27 overall player in the 2026 class. He had been committed to USC since July 2024 but decommitted earlier this week after reportedly disagreeing with the program’s policy that prohibits committed players from taking additional official visits.
Griffin is now set to take a series of official visits this summer, including scheduled stops at Alabama (June 6), Texas (June 13), Florida State (June 15), and Ohio State (May 30). Colorado has not yet locked in a visit, but the offer could open the door for a potential trip to Boulder later in the cycle.
Elite production and versatility
Griffin has posted elite-level production during his varsity career. In just eight games as a junior in 2024, he totaled 43 tackles and six sacks despite missing time due to injury. As a sophomore, he earned first-team All-Region honors after posting 54 tackles and 15 sacks. His two-year varsity totals sit at 97 tackles and 21 sacks.
Beyond football, Griffin is a standout basketball player, earning All-Region honors as a sophomore. He once scored 34 points in a single game.
According to 247Sports’ Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins, Griffin projects as a “multi-faceted defender” capable of lining up in multiple schemes. He possesses sideline-to-sideline range, quick-twitch explosiveness, and the ability to both rush the passer and drop into coverage.
“He’s still developing physically,” Ivins wrote in his scouting report, “but has the tools to become a potential impact player in the Big Ten or SEC.”
How he fits at Colorado
With Colorado’s base defense listed as a 4-2-5, Griffin would likely slot in as a hybrid weakside linebacker with coverage responsibilities and blitzing duties. The Buffaloes’ 2025 depth chart is expected to lean on veterans like Martavius French a transfer with significant experience, but there is room for young talent to emerge.
Under Coach Prime, Colorado has built a reputation for flipping top-tier talent — as seen with former five-star recruits Travis Hunter and Cormani McClain. Boulder’s national visibility under Prime, puts the Buffs in a position to at least contend for elite prospects like WR Cederian Morgan who previously would not have considered CU.
Whether or not Colorado can ultimately land Griffin remains to be seen, but the offer itself signals that CU knows they can compete on the national stage for five-star recruits.
Next steps in recruitment
Griffin’s upcoming visits to Alabama, Texas, Florida State, and Ohio State suggest that the race for his commitment will be extremely competitive. Alabama currently holds a slight lead in the recruiting buzz, according to 247’s Crystal Ball, but no program is considered a lock at this stage.
Colorado will likely look to secure an official visit of their own this summer or fall. If they can get Griffin to campus and show him the direction of the program, the Buffs could elevate themselves as a serious contender.
Until then, Colorado remains a new but intriguing player in what will be one of the more closely-watched recruitments of the 2026 cycle.
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