Colorado prep football: 75 impact players to watch in 2021

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After scouring implicit imaginable lists, CHSAANow all-state teams and 2020-21 stats, The Denver Post compiled a database of immoderate of Colorado’s apical precocious schoolhouse shot talents. Players are listed successful alphabetical bid and screen each of the 11-man shot classifications.

Jackson Adams (Arapahoe), LB/TE, Sr. — Hobbled by ankle country for astir of his inferior year, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound three-star enlistee enters his elder play with thing to prove. Northern Colorado is already interested, and others whitethorn soon travel suit.

Mohamed Altayeb (Denver East), DE/TE, Sr. — A disruptive unit connected the interior antiaircraft line, the 6-3, 250-pound Altayeb (28 tackles, 4.0 for loss) is 1 of 2 returning 5A outpouring shot all-state picks for the Angels, with RB/CB Isaiah Davis (689 yards, 6 TDs) the other.

Jade Arroyo (Highlands Ranch), TE, Sr. — The top-rated elder choky extremity successful the authorities by 247Sports.com, the 6-3, 230-pound CSU perpetrate enters his 4th varsity play with 64 receptions for 860 yards and 9 touchdowns, including 23-325-5 successful six games arsenic a junior.

Josh Bates (Durango), C/G, Jr. — The anchor of a Demons violative enactment that paved the mode to the 3A authorities rubric past fall, the 6-3, 285-pound Oklahoma perpetrate has 2 much seasons to pursuit a 2nd title earlier joining Valor’s Gavin Sawchuk successful Norman successful the autumn of 2023.

Jace Bellah (Pueblo South), QB/CB, Sr. — With prolific RB George Longoria gone, the Colts crook to their ironman star. A second-team 3A all-state prime past fall, Bellah is simply a shot hawk successful the secondary (30 tackles, 11 vocation interceptions) and a dual menace nether halfway (954 full yards, 9 TDs successful 2020).

Mac Busteed (Fossil Ridge), WR, Jr. — A monolithic sophomore twelvemonth (27 receptions, 561 yards, 8 TDs) enactment the 6-5 walk catcher connected the recruiting radar, with New Mexico making an connection implicit the summer. Expect Busteed and inferior QB Tyler Kubat to hook up rather a spot this fall.

Rashad Caldwell (Denver South), WR/DB, Jr. — The Ravens emotion to chuck it, and Caldwell is their astir unsafe target. The rangy 6-foot wideout already has 41 catches for 816 yards and 11 touchdowns successful 2 varsity seasons, including 25-454-8 successful past spring’s 5A all-state campaign.

Mason Claunch (Centauri), RB/CB, Sr. — If the Falcons get implicit the hump successful 1A, their returning all-state enactment volition beryllium the 1 pushing them implicit the top. Claunch not lone led the authorities with 24 TDs past twelvemonth (22 rushing), helium besides had 99 tackles, 2 interceptions and 1,050 yards connected the ground.

Anthony Costanzo (Palmer Ridge), WR/S, Sr. — Bound for UNLV adjacent fall, Costanzo is 1 of the fewer receiving holdovers from past year’s prolific Bears onslaught that fell a triumph shy of a 4A authorities title. The 6-3 pass-catcher has 55 receptions for 1,120 yards and 17 TDs successful 3 varsity seasons.

Seth Cromwell (Columbine), FB/MLB, Sr. — The Rebels’ ground-and-pound volition diagnostic a dense dose of Cromwell, a stout 5-10, 210-pound fullback who totaled 814 yards rushing and 14 TDs past year. The second-team 5A all-state prime besides had 4 sacks and 38 tackles.

Brayden Dorman (Vista Ridge), QB, Jr. — Rated the 12th-best backmost successful the federation for the Class of 2023, the 6-5 Dorman is coming disconnected a sophomore play that saw him propulsion for 1,829 yards and 24 TDs successful 5 games. Unsurprisingly, FBS schools are lining up for his services, with Wisconsin, Iowa State, CU and CSU among them.

Isaiah Eliot (The Academy), QB, Jr. — Able to punish teams arsenic some a passer (1,037 yards, 10 TDs) and runner (599, six), Eliot is the driving unit down an up-and-coming Wildcats programme looking to physique disconnected past spring’s tally to the postseason.

Tai Faavae (Fountain-Fort Carson), MLB/RB, Jr. — After sharing a backfield with Gold Helmet victor Q Jones, the 205-pound junior’s workload is definite to turn aft helium gained 317 yards connected 29 carries past fall. But it mightiness beryllium his enactment starring the Trojans defence (67 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 2 interceptions) wherever helium makes his biggest impact.

Alec Falk (Palmer Ridge), G/OT, Sr. — An connection from Wyoming successful hand, the 6-5, 275-pound three-star enlistee is definite to crook adjacent much heads arsenic a cardinal subordinate of the “Monument Moving Company” — the apt nickname for the Bears’ stacked violative line.

George Fitzpatrick (Cherry Creek), OT, Sr. — The state’s astir sought-after violative enactment imaginable volition suit up for Ohio State adjacent fall. But archetypal things first: The 6-6, 270-pound four-star enlistee volition spell for his 3rd 5A authorities rubric successful 3 seasons.

Ethan Florez (Eaton), OLB/RB, Sr. — One of 2 first-team all-state returners for the defending 2A authorities champions (DE/RB Ryan Dirksen is the other), Florez led Eaton successful rushing yards (616), touchdowns (11) and tackles (62) past fall.

Zach Friedman (Ralston Valley), QB, Sr. — The three-sport jock (basketball and lacrosse are Friedman’s different two) took implicit the QB reins past autumn for the Mustangs and was incredibly efficient, completing 78 of 118 passes for 1,007 yards and 11 TDs successful 7 games.

Nico Gagliardi (Cheyenne Mountain), DE/RB, Sr. — Entering his 4th varsity season, the 5-10, 205-pound 4A all-state enactment has wrecked opposing team’s crippled plans the past 3 years, racking up 32.0 tackles for nonaccomplishment (18.0 sacks) and 3 forced fumbles successful conscionable 22 games.

Gavin Garrettson (Mead), QB, Sr. — The Mavericks discourtesy went to the aerial a small much often with Garrettson taking snaps past season, and for bully reason: the 6-3 awesome caller averaged 13.1 yards per effort (38 of 68, 891 yards, 11 TDs) arsenic a second-team 3A all-state pick.

Travis Gray (Cherokee Trail), OT, Sr. — The CU Buffs scored a large in-state recruiting triumph erstwhile they got a pledge from Gray, a 6-foot-8, 305-pound three-star imaginable and yet different merchandise of Six Zero Academy successful Parker.

Blake Haggerty (Castle View), WR/CB, Sr. — A big-play menace connected discourtesy (23 receptions. 555 yards, six TDs) and susceptible screen country connected defence (two interceptions, 5 passes defense, 35 tackles), Haggerty is simply a high-impact three-star enlistee for the Sabercats.

Andrew Hale (Valor Christian), S/WR, Sr. — The apical returning tackler (47) connected the Eagles roster, Hale besides had 2 interceptions and a punt artifact arsenic a 5A all-state honorable notation information past season. Idaho has sent an offer.

Anthony Harris Jr. (Smoky Hill), WR, Sr. — An automatic double-double connected the hoops court, the 6-5 receiver’s creaseless athleticism and fantabulous hands construe good connected the shot field, too, wherever helium was 2nd successful the authorities successful receiving yards (868) and tops successful receiving TDs (15) past fall.

Cayden Hawkins (Valor Christian), LB, Sr. — Bound for Wyoming adjacent fall, the 6-3, 185-pound extracurricular linebacker had 31 tackles (4.0 for loss) arsenic 1 of respective returners from an Eagles defence that lone surrendered 7.8 points per crippled past season.

Justin Hawthorne (Resurrection Christian), LB, Sr. — A returning 2A all-state pick, Hawthorne had astatine slightest 1 tackle for nonaccomplishment successful six of 7 games past fall. With chap all-state enactment Eddie Lemos (six interceptions) successful the secondary, the Cougars should person a stout defence erstwhile again.

Jaxon Heil (Mullen) S/RB, Sr. — If the Mustangs are to interruption a drawstring of 4 consecutive losing seasons, their elder 5A honorable notation all-state information volition play a relation arsenic a antiaircraft person (67 tackles, 2.0 for loss).

Connor Jones (Palmer Ridge), T/G, Sr. — Committed to play for the Michigan Wolverines, the 6-7, 290-pound 4A all-state near tackle teams up with Wyoming-bound near defender Alec Falk to marque up possibly the astir ferocious near broadside successful the state.

Bryce Johnson (Lutheran), S/WR, Sr. — Johnson (6-2, 180) averaged 9.5 tackles per crippled past season. The Colorado State perpetrate besides plays wide receiver with 2 vocation touchdowns. He projects arsenic an borderline rusher for the Rams.

Dontay Johnson (Fort Collins), WR/DB, Sr. — The Colorado State perpetrate has elite endowment but played successful lone 5 games implicit the past 2 seasons owed to injuries. Johnson (6-2, 175) has 22 vocation receptions for 266 yards and 1 touchdown.

Antwuan Jackson (Douglas County), QB/S, Sr. — After 4 consecutive losing seasons, the Huskies are looking to marque a determination this autumn with Jackson entering his 4th twelvemonth nether halfway (2,733 vocation passing yards) and chap three-star enlistee Taylor Nichols (OL) providing protection.

Aaron Karas (Pomona), OT, Sr. — The Panthers’ tally to the 4A authorities semifinals past autumn received a large propulsion from Karas, a 6-5, 290-pound all-state prime and three-star enlistee who’s present fielding offers from the likes of Air Force, Army and Nevada.

Braden Kramer (Pine Creek), TE/DL, Sr. — The second-team 4A all-state prime and Holy Cross perpetrate lone got to play 5 games owed to the Eagles’ COVID-19 issues past fall, but inactive managed 200 yards receiving, 17 tackles (2.0 for loss) and 3 passes defensed.

Cole LaCrue (Broomfield), QB, Jr. — Handed the keys to the Eagles discourtesy arsenic a sophomore, LaCrue required zero coddling arsenic helium threw for 1,017 yards connected 74-of-110 passing with 10 touchdowns and conscionable 2 interceptions.

Justis La’ulu (Vista Ridge), DT/G, Sr. — Four-star QB Brayden Dorman whitethorn get astir of the headlines for the Wolves, but the 6-3, 295-pound La’ulu is simply a monolithic beingness successful his ain right. A second-team 4A all-state prime past year, helium had 5.5 tackles for nonaccomplishment successful 3 games.

Jeremiah Leeper (Limon), RB/LB, Sr. — If the Badgers’ 1A dynasty is to continue, it volition beryllium owed mostly to the efforts of Leeper (2,510 vocation unreserved yards and 38 TDs) and chap elder all-state returnees Chance Cannon (OL), Trey Hines (QB/CB) and Ky Bandy (LB/RB).

Ian Loomis (Loveland) MLB/FB, Sr. — With a state-best 105 tackles (11.0 for loss) and 3 interceptions, Looms played a cardinal relation successful Loveland’s 2nd authorities rubric tally successful 3 years. The 6-3, 205-pound linebacker is present eyeing a 3rd consecutive 100-tackle season.

Jake Maikkula (Valor Christian), OT, Sr. — The 6-5, 265-pound three-star enlistee sifted done dozens of D-I offers earlier landing connected Stanford, re-opening a Colorado pipeline to the Farm that antecedently netted Barrett Miller (Eaglecrest) and Drake Nugent (Highlands Ranch) successful 2019.

Brian Mata (Pueblo South), T, Sr. — The first-team 3A all-state tackle was the anchor of a Colts violative enactment that paved the mode for 213.3 rushing yards per crippled past play and fell 1 triumph abbreviated of a 2nd consecutive authorities rubric crippled trip.

Jackson McCullough (Chatfield), OT/DL, Sr. — A three-star recruit, McCullough (6-5, 255) should beryllium a cardinal cog for a Chargers squad that took its lumps with a younger roster past play but returns astir each of its violative leaders, including inferior Mason Lowe (951 full yards).

Darius McFarland (Falcon), RB/FS, Sr. — The Rams’ archetypal winning play successful six years was powered by their 4A all-state runner, who was a archetypal down waiting to hap during the outpouring with an mean of 10.9 yards per transportation (71-775) successful the team’s archetypal 5 games.

Dorion McGarity (Fort Collins) WR/CB, Sr. — The Colorado State perpetrate totaled 84 catches for 990 yards and 13 touchdowns implicit his past 3 seasons. McGarity (5-10, 175) won the past Front Range League rubric for the 200-meter dash.

Brannon McGowan (Arapahoe), LT/RG, Sr. — The 6-3, 265-pound tackle earned second-team 5A all-state honors past autumn and is portion of a big, carnal Warriors squad looking to marque immoderate sound nether caller caput manager Joe Nu’u and third-year starting backmost Cole Hansen.

Julian Mechels (Boulder) DE/OLB, Sr. — The state’s returning sacks person (11.0) was a cardinal playmaker successful the Panthers’ march to the 5A outpouring shot rubric game. Between Mechels and all-state DB Tristan Langenegger (five interceptions), Boulder’s defence is successful bully hands.

Luke Meyer (Valor Christian), DE, Sr. — The three-star Air Force perpetrate came connected beardown adjacent the extremity of past season, compiling 3.5 tackles for nonaccomplishment and a fumble betterment successful the Eagles’ last 4 games.

Spencer Mickelberry (Centaurus), T/G, Sr. — A first-team 4A all-state selection, Mickelberry helped the Warriors extremity a 10-year playoff drought past spring. With dual menace QB Coleman Teasdale (1,035 full yards) besides back, Centaurus has an accidental to physique connected that success.

Braden Miller (Eaglecrest), OT, Sr. — The 6-7, 290-pound all-state prime is committed to Mel Tucker’s Michigan State Spartans. But earlier helium heads east, Miller had chap D-I violative lineman Kaden Weatherby volition supply the Raptors with bookend tackles that volition beryllium the envy of the state.

Blake Nieslanik (Glenwood Springs), RB/OLB, Sr. — The starring rusher for past spring’s 3A authorities semifinalists, Nieslanik piled up 1,009 yards and 9 touchdowns connected 108 carries arsenic a first-team all-state selection.

Jordan Norwood (Valor Christian), MLB/RB, Sr. — The Eagles’ loaded LB corps starts with the 6-1, 205-pound Norwood, a Liberty pledge and three-star enlistee who totaled 44 tackles (6.5 for loss) during their tally to the 5A authorities rubric game. Norwood besides placed 3rd successful the changeable enactment astatine the 5A authorities meet.

Ky Oday (Cherry Creek), WR, Sr. — There aren’t galore successful the authorities who support up with Oday, past spring’s 5A authorities champion successful the 400 meters and runner-up successful the 100 who is committed to play for Colorado State aft 1 past play successful Greenwood Village.

Dorian Pacheco (Lutheran), RB/MLB, Sr. — The 3A all-state prime has been a antiaircraft menace since Day 1 for the Lions, tallying 295 tackles (31.5 for loss), 5 forced fumbles and an interception successful 3 varsity seasons. After 2020, he’s a rushing and receiving menace (698 full yards) arsenic well.

Cade Palmer (The Classical Academy), RB/S, Sr. — The 6-1, 195-pound Air Force perpetrate has 2 1,000-yard rushing seasons truthful far, including past spring’s 1,122-yard, 18-TD circuit de unit that saw him mean 12.2 yards per carry. Most impressive? He saved his champion for last, gashing Rifle for 346 yards successful a heart-breaking 3A rubric crippled loss.

Grant Page (Fairview), WR/DB, Sr. — The aboriginal Nebraska Cornhusker whitethorn beryllium a receiver astatine the adjacent level, but his abilities arsenic a walk catcher (134 vocation receptions, 2,065 yards) are conscionable portion of the package, arsenic his antiaircraft stats (five interceptions, 11 passes defensed) suggest.

John Pastore (Erie), T/DT, Sr. — A three-sport varsity jock who qualified for the 4A authorities conscionable successful the changeable put, the 6-6, 270-pound Kansas State perpetrate dominates some sides of the shot arsenic a heap driving blocker and disruptive antiaircraft tackle (22 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 1 forced fumble).

Keegan Patterson (Longmont), QB/SS, Sr. — Entering his 3rd twelvemonth arsenic a starter nether center, Patterson has already enactment up prolific passing numbers (3,444 yards, 24 TDs) successful 17 games. With favourite people Caleb Johnson (832 yards successful ’20) besides back, Longmont should airy up scoreboards.

Ty Pell (Cherry Creek), TE, Jr. — The younger member of CU choky extremity Alec Pell, Ty has the size (6-4, 215) to travel successful large bro’s his footsteps and volition person the accidental arsenic good this autumn aft recovering from a enarthrosis wounded that outgo him portion of his sophomore year.

Blake Purchase (Cherry Creek), OLB, Jr. — Another younger sibling connected Creek’s D-I assembly enactment — older bro Myles headed disconnected to Iowa State this autumn — the 6-4, 220-pound four-star enlistee is conscionable getting started with the Bruins and already has offers from CU, CSU, USC and Iowa State.

Cole Rairick (Lutheran), T/DE, Sr. — The Lions are looking to instrumentality the adjacent measurement aft back-to-back playoff seasons, and having a 3A all-state tackle to support prolific passer Clayton Jacobs (1,198 yards, 14 TDs) is simply a bully spot to start.

Jareb Ramos (Arapahoe), DL/TE, Sr. — At 6-4, 260 pounds, the three-star antiaircraft extremity is simply a fistful connected the borderline with speed, powerfulness and coagulated instincts. The CSU Rams sent an connection Ramos’ mode this spring, and Idaho and Penn are besides interested.

Collin Reetz (Estes Park), QB, Sr. — The state’s apical returning passer (177 of 310, 2,332 yards, 22 TDs), Reetz, a 6-foot-6 all-state outpouring shot selection, volition person his enactment chopped retired for him this autumn with his 4 favourite targets each graduating.

Kahden Rullo (Grandview), DB, Sr. — The all-state way and tract sprinter (4×200), and three-sport athlete, was a turnover instrumentality successful the Wolves secondary past fall, snatching six interceptions, forcing and recovering 1 fumble and adjacent blocking a punt connected peculiar teams.

Luke Sandy, (Legend), OL/DL, Sr. — Armed with a precocious centrifugal and imposing framework (6-2, 285), Sandy is simply a run-stuffing nuisance successful the interior who led a formidable Titans defence with 9.0 tackles for nonaccomplishment past play portion besides accumulating 61 tackles and 1 forced fumble.

Gavin Sawchuk (Valor Christian), RB, Sr. — Since bursting onto the country arsenic a freshman, determination hasn’t been a amended moving backmost successful the authorities than Sawchuk. Now, determination mightiness not beryllium a amended 1 successful the federation arsenic the Oklahoma perpetrate goes for a 3rd consecutive 1,000-yard play and 2nd authorities title.

Malique Singleton (Grandview), S, Sr. — The authorities runner-up successful the 5A 110-meter hurdles past spring, and a Wyoming commit, Singleton is 1 of respective athletes from the Wolves’ authorities title way and tract squad definite to marque an interaction connected the shot tract this fall.

Miles Sprague (Holyoke), QB/LB, Sr. — Sprague’s robust antheral credentials are arsenic bully arsenic immoderate successful the state. Whether it’s arsenic a passer (3,433 vocation walk yards), runner (1,199 unreserved yards), defender (177 tackles, 7 interceptions) or, yes, adjacent punter (35.4-yard average), the elder ne'er stops making plays.

Kevin Sjogren (Palisade), TE/LB, Sr. — The Bulldogs’ antiaircraft person (64 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble) was a first-team 3A all-state enactment past autumn and should fig heavy into Palisade’s bid to instrumentality to the postseason aft a one-year absence.

Ethan Thomason (Rocky Mountain), OL, Jr. — The Lobos are connected the emergence aft posting their archetypal winning play successful 5 years, and the 6-8, 295-pound Thomason is simply a large portion of that. With offers from CU, CSU, Oklahoma State and others already retired there, Thomason is precise overmuch successful demand.

Armony Trujillo (Fruita Monument), MLB/RB, Sr. — Named the Western Slope Conference antiaircraft subordinate of the twelvemonth past fall, Trujillo tallied 66 tackles (10.5 for loss) and an interception arsenic a sideline-to-sideline mediate linebacker. He besides gained 958 all-purpose yards (11 TDs) arsenic a moving back/returner.

Nunie Tuitele (Regis Jesuit), DE, Sr. — The 6-4, 230-pound extremity is committed to Cal-Berkeley and received 5A all-state honorable notation past autumn aft racking up 23 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 2.0 tackles for nonaccomplishment and 1 interception successful conscionable 5 games.

Bryce Vaz (Legend) RB, Sr. — Vaz (5-10, 180) exploded for 310 rushing yards and six touchdowns successful a Class 5A playoff triumph against Fairview. He finished the play averaging 9.3 yards per transportation aft overcaming respective injuries aboriginal successful his career.

Cooper Walton (Roosevelt), OLB/RB, Sr. — The Roughriders fell a triumph shy of the 3A rubric past autumn and participate this play ranked No. 1. Those lofty expectations statesman with Walton, a CSU perpetrate who racked up 17.0 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles and an interception successful 2020.

Trace Williams-Mitchel (Columbine), T/DT, Sr. — The Rebels person a estimation for winning successful the trenches, and that volition lone beryllium reinforced by the 6-3, 275-pound Williams, a disruptive unit connected the interior (3.0 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries) and carnal blocker (six pancake blocks).

Kaden Weatherby (Eaglecrest), OT, Sr. — The Raptors violative enactment mill continues to churn retired Division I talent, with the 6-6, 270-pound Weatherby, a three-star Texas Tech commit, and chap elder Braden Miller conscionable the latest to travel disconnected the assembly line.

Briggs Wheatley (Fort Morgan), QB, Sr. — About to commencement for the 3rd consecutive play nether center, the first-team 3A all-state backmost tin punish defenses with some his limb (1,518 vocation passing yards, 16 TDs) and legs (1,406 yards, 11 TDs).

Gavin Whetzal (Pine Creek), LB/WR, Sr. — The 6-1, 190-pound honorable notation all-state enactment lone appeared successful 4 games past fall, but made the astir of it with 35 tackles (2.0 for loss). That came a twelvemonth aft helium enactment up 53 tackles (6.0 TFL) arsenic a sophomore.

Cade Whish (Fort Collins), DE/OL, Sr. — The Lambkins fig to propulsion their value astir successful the 5A Metro this fall, with elder QB Andrew Seest starting for a 2nd twelvemonth and the 6-4, 270-pound Whish providing protection, arsenic good arsenic menacing beingness connected the D-line (6.0 tackles for loss).

* All recruiting rankings based disconnected 247Sports.com. All stats taken from maxpreps.com.

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