Colorado football makes the top-5 for the top player in the state of Colorado

This one matters.

Tufanua Ionatana Umu-Cais—better known around Colorado high school football as “TI”—just dropped his top five schools, and the Buffs made the cut.

Alongside UCLA, Washington, Oklahoma, and North Carolina, Deion Sanders and Colorado are officially in the final group for one of the most dominant defensive linemen to come out of our state.

And now the question becomes: Can we keep him home?

TI was on campus just two weeks ago for what might have quietly been one of the most important recruiting weekends of the Coach Prime era. And he wasn’t alone.

Alongside him were Joseph Peko (son of Buffs DL coach Domata Peko Sr.), Manoah Faupusa, Ezaya Tokio, and Domata Peko Jr., who committed to Colorado back in April.

Who is TI Umu-Cais?

If you’re in the Colorado prep scene, you already know the name. If not, let me introduce you.

TI is a 6-foot-3, 307-pound wrecking ball on the interior line. He’s rated as the No. 56 defensive lineman in the 2026 class and the No. 1 player in the state of Colorado. He holds 30+ offers and has already made official visits to UCLA, Washington, and UNC. He was just in Boulder on June 16.

And here’s the thing: TI’s a national recruit with SEC- and Big Ten-level offers. He’s the kind of player you build a defensive front around.

More than that, he plays with the edge and strength that fits the Big 12.

The Polynesian Presence in Boulder

Now here’s where it gets interesting. This recruitment is part of something bigger brewing in Boulder.

The Buffs are making a real push to build a Polynesian presence on the defensive line—a very smart move.

Programs like Utah and BYU have built defensive reputations by recruiting Polynesian athletes who bring both size and culture to the locker room. For years, Colorado wasn’t really in that conversation.

But that’s changing.

Domata Peko Sr. brings serious credibility. An NFL veteran with deep roots in the Polynesian football community, he’s more than just a position coach. He’s a bridge. His presence makes Boulder a place Polynesian families can trust. And trust matters in this game.

The visit from Joseph Peko—his younger son—and the commitment from Domata Jr. show that this isn’t just talk. Add in guys like Faupusa and Tokio? That’s a pipeline forming.

And TI is the cornerstone.

Why this one matters so much

Coach Prime has flipped the script when it comes to recruiting. But most of those wins have come via the portal. If Colorado wants to build long-term, high school wins like this are where it starts.

TI is an elite player in our backyard. Losing him to Washington or UCLA would sting. Landing him, though? That sends a message that we’re not just hype. We’re here to recruit, develop, and dominate.

Plus, from a pure football perspective, CU needs bodies like TI up front.

Despite leading the Big 12 in sacks last year, the Buffs struggled at times against power run teams. Remember the way Devin Neal carved us up? That doesn’t happen with a guy like TI holding down the middle.

He’s the kind of player who makes everyone around him better.

There’s no set commitment date yet, but the decision’s coming. And with visits wrapping up, the next few weeks will be critical.

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