Colorado’s recruiting board just got a little more interesting — and a whole lot bigger.
Xavier Payne, a 6-foot-7, 320-pound offensive tackle out of Edison High School in Miami, is on campus in Boulder for an official visit this week. He’s currently committed to Florida State, but his recruitment remains open — and Colorado is doing everything they can to pull off a flip.
The three-star lineman announced his plans to visit the Buffs earlier this month, just weeks after receiving an offer from Coach Deion Sanders’ staff. Payne has been committed to the Seminoles since December, but with stops at Syracuse and Penn State already in the books — and another visit to Florida State scheduled for this weekend — his summer schedule is telling that he’s still evaluating.
Colorado’s chance to make a late push is now. And this one matters.
A priority target for CU’s 2026 O-Line
The Buffs have yet to land a 2026 offensive line commit, making Payne a top-of-the-board priority. He’s currently ranked as the No. 89 offensive tackle in the country by 247Sports and the No. 95 overall prospect in the state of Florida. Long, strong, and agile, Payne has the kind of physical traits that coaches can build a unit around.
For Colorado, the visit is an opportunity to pitch a clear path to early playing time — and to sell what Payne says he’s looking for: development.
“The biggest thing is gonna be whatever puts me in the best position to get myself to the NFL,” Payne told SI earlier this month. “I know I have to do the work. This is all about who can develop me and get me to where I want to be.”
Coach Prime and his staff have built their recruiting pitch around that very premise. Seven players from last year’s team signed NFL contracts — and that’s part of the draw for prospects like Payne who are looking to make it to the next level.
What the Buffs have to offer
Colorado’s offensive line is undergoing a major reset. After a rocky, but improved, 2024 season on the line, Sanders brought in four key transfers — Xavier Hill (Memphis), Larry Johnson III (Tennessee), Zarian McGill (Louisiana Tech), and Mana Taimani (Ole Miss) — to stabilize the unit heading into 2025.
Still, only Jordan Seaton will be a returnee next season. That creates a clear opportunity for incoming talent to compete early, and Payne’s profile fits the mold of what CU needs: length, raw power, and athletic ceiling.
The Buffs’ O-line development is now with a trio of assistants with serious credentials: Andre Gurode, George Hegamin, and Gunnar White. Combined, they bring NFL pedigree and technique-driven coaching that has helped elevate Colorado’s recruiting pitch.
Flip watch
Payne remains publicly committed to FSU, and it’s worth noting that he still plans to visit Tallahassee again this weekend. The Seminoles have held all the buzz since December — and in-state pressure from Florida schools is always tough to beat.
But the timing of this visit gives Colorado a legitimate chance to shift momentum. Payne has expressed a desire to shut down his recruitment before his senior season begins, meaning any changes to his commitment status will likely happen within the next few weeks.
Getting him on campus, showing him a clear vision for development, and surrounding him with NFL-caliber mentors is exactly the pitch CU needs to make. Whether it’s enough to flip him remains to be seen.
For Colorado, flipping Payne would represent a foundational win on the offensive line. The Buffs have been able to get experienced transfers, but winning high school recruiting battles would change the landscape.
Payne is a test of that shift. He’s SEC-sized, ACC-committed, and likely to make a decision soon. If the Buffs can make their case stick, it would be a major signal that CU can compete — and win — in the most important area of roster building.
This is a flip worth tracking closely.
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