Four-star defensive back chooses Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes over Florida and Florida State

It’s not often you see Colorado beat out Florida and Florida State for a top-20 defensive back. But that’s exactly what happened Tuesday, as four-star cornerback Preston Ashley gave his verbal to the Buffs.

Say what you will about Colorado’s current class ranking—dead last in the Big 12, No. 110 nationally—but this is the kind of commitment that turns momentum around. Deion Sanders just went into the heart of the SEC footprint and pulled out a win. Again.

Ashley, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound standout from Brandon, Mississippi, is the first four-star commit in CU’s 2026 class and the first defensive back to join the group. He’s the type of prospect that brings credibility—not just to the class, but to the idea that Colorado can still land big-time players in a crowded recruiting landscape.

Why this one matters

Let’s be real here: Colorado’s secondary is in transition. Travis Hunter, Shilo Sanders, and Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig are gone to the NFL. DJ McKinney is expected to take over as CB1, but beyond that, there are a lot of new faces coming in through the portal.

Ashley gives the Buffs a long-term piece. A guy they can develop. A future starter with elite athletic traits and a competitive edge that fits what this program is trying to build. He tallied 168 tackles and eight passes defended in three seasons at Brandon High. Oh, and he once recorded a 10-foot broad jump on the UA Next circuit. That’s not normal.

But the most impressive part might be what he said about Boulder.

“It goes beyond football with Colorado,” Ashley told On3. “They care about the players. It’s like family.”

That quote alone explains why he chose CU over two heavyweights. It wasn’t just about playing for Coach Prime. It was about the culture being built around him—by corners coach Kevin Mathis and DC Robert Livingston, who helped push Travis Hunter and others into NFL-ready roles.

Prime’s pitch still works

We’re almost three years into the Coach Prime era, and the formula is still working: get elite talent on campus, let Boulder and the culture do the talking, and close strong.

Ashley visited Florida and Florida State. He locked in a June 13 visit to Auburn. But when he came to Boulder on June 20, it clicked.

“Everything was right,” he said. “I fit like a glove with the system they run.”

That’s not an accident. Colorado’s defense is built around corners who can fly, hit, and handle man coverage. It’s tailor-made for guys like Ashley. And with Livingston calling the shots, recruits know there’s a real NFL path here. Travis Hunter proved that.

What’s next?

Ashley joins three-stars Gavin Mueller (tight end, Illinois) and Domata Peko Jr. (EDGE, California) in the 2026 class. It’s a small group, but adding a four-star DB to it is a major shift in perception.

This also sends a message to future recruits: the Buffs aren’t just living in the portal anymore. They’re still landing elite high school talent. They’re still relevant nationally. And yes, they can pull kids out of SEC territory.

Colorado’s next big recruiting target? Five-star receiver Cederian Morgan, who’s nearing a decision. It could come down to Colorado, Florida and Alabama—and based on how Ashley’s recruitment ended, I wouldn’t bet against Prime when he gets the final visit.

There’s a long way to go before signing day. Rankings will shift. Names will decommit. But what Colorado did this week matters.

Because in the middle of a quiet summer, Coach Prime reminded the college football world that the Buffs are a factor—and we're just getting started.

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