Colorado football lands two-way athlete from Georgia powerhouse

Colorado’s 2025 recruiting class just added another layer of athleticism.

Kyle Carpenter, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound athlete from Buford High School in Georgia, committed to Colorado on Saturday evening. He’s the third player from the Buford program to land in Boulder, joining linebacker Mantrez Walker and kicker Alejandro Mata.

Carpenter’s recruitment didn’t follow a traditional blueprint. He originally committed to Los Angeles Valley College earlier this year, but after re-evaluating and receiving interest from CU, he flipped the script and is now headed to Boulder.

Whether he arrives as a preferred walk-on or scholarship player hasn’t been made public, but what’s clear is this: Carpenter fits the profile of the kind of multi-sport, position-flex talent Coach Prime has made a priority.

Athleticism and upside

Carpenter played both wide receiver and cornerback at Buford, one of the top high school programs in the Southeast. His numbers were modest — 142 receiving yards, one touchdown, and eight tackles in 2024 — but context matters. Buford’s roster is loaded with Power Five talent, and Carpenter often played behind multiple blue-chip prospects.

Still, the flashes are there. He’s physical in space, shows plus ball skills, and has the frame to line up on either side of the ball. Add in his background as a high school basketball player (he scored 17 in a state playoff game last season), and you’ve got a guy whose ceiling may be higher than recruiting rankings suggest.

A program fit

Carpenter told Yahoo Sports that Colorado’s culture and family atmosphere stood out immediately.

“The facility was like no other,” Carpenter said. “The coaching staff with Coach Prime is the greatest to ever do it. Everybody in Boulder just feels like family as soon as I came in.”

It’s a theme we keep hearing — the culture in Boulder continues to resonate with recruits beyond the headlines and NIL buzz. And for a guy like Carpenter, who originally projected for the JUCO route, this opportunity likely speaks volumes.

He also mentioned interest in playing both football and basketball at CU, something that hasn’t been ruled out. Colorado has some precedent hereas former Buffs quarterback Drew Carter played both sports briefly.

Will he play both ways?

That’s still to be determined. Colorado has been one of the rare programs under Sanders that doesn’t just talk about letting players contribute on both sides — they actually do it. Last season, aside from Hunter, players like Isaiah Hardge and Tyler Brown saw time in multiple roles.

Coach Prime addressed that commitment last fall:

“A lot of coaches lie... I don’t lie. I did it, so I know it’s doable.”

That bodes well for someone like Carpenter, who may not walk in as a starter, but brings enough versatility to potentially carve out a role on special teams, defense, or as a developmental wideout.

Don’t be surprised if he ends up sticking around and becoming one of those players fans remember three years from now.

Carpenter brings two-way upside, basketball skills, and a physical profile that gives this staff something to work with.

And for a program reshaping its identity this season, depth and versatility are going to be very important.

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