Deion Sanders working to flip Michigan State commit, but he's not the only one

If Englewood, Colorado native Braylon Hodge has enjoyed his relatively under-the-radar recruiting process thus far, that's about to change. Drastically.

Hodge, a linebacker, is a consensus 3-star recruit and the No. 626 overall player in the 2026 class, per the 247 composite. He's the No. 43 LB and the No. 9-ranked player in the state of Colorado. Hodge committed to Michigan State back in June, right after his official visit to East Lansing.

He has flown under the radar for a while, but not anymore.

While he has yet to receive an official offer from Coach Prime and Colorado, it appears to be only a matter of time. Hodge took a visit to Boulder this past weekend to watch the Buffs knock off Delaware 31-7. The visit went well, and Hodge told On3 in the aftermath, "I've always dreamed of playing for CU."

Deion Sanders needs all the help he can get right in the 2026 cycle. Colorado currently ranks 81st overall in the composite rankings with this class, with only 11 total commitments. With so many of the top prospects already committed, his best course of action will be targeting flip candidates. Hodge is certainly one of them, but the race for the talented Colorado native is just now starting to heat up.

Braylon Hodge added two major offers on Wednesday that will make it harder for Colorado to flip him

What Hodge has put on tape so far during his senior season has clearly gotten the attention of some of the top programs in the country. If Coach Prime wants to make a big push for the in-state product, he's going to need to get a move on.

Because on Wednesday, Hodge received offers from both Texas and Michigan. That brings him up to six Power-4 offers so far, with the Longhorns and Wolverines joining Michigan State, Iowa, Minnesota, and Utah.

Hodge could be a late-bloomer in this cycle and could see a meteoric rise up the recruiting rankings over the next few months before the early signing period. The Spartans will have their hands full hanging on to him.

Hodge dreaming of playing for the Buffs gives Sanders and Colorado an inherent advantage, but that won't matter if they don't ultimately extend an offer. The longer they hold out, the less likely it will be that they can get seriously involved in his recruitment, with other major programs starting to see what Michigan State already knew.