Colorado adds DE London Merritt among 4 high-profile recruits

Field Level Media|published: Fri 29th November, 15:17 2024

NCAA Football: Oklahoma State at Colorado

Nov 29, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders runs onto the field before the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Colorado football coach Deion Sanders and his program scored a huge recruiting haul as Thanksgiving came to a close with four elite prospects in the Class of 2025 verbally committing to the Buffaloes.

In live appearances Thursday night on the "Nightcap" streaming talk show hosted by former NFL players Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson, recruits London Merritt and Alexander McPherson of IMG Academy, Carde Smith of Williamson High School in Mobile, Ala., and Quentin Gibson of North Crowley High in Fort Worth, Texas, pledged to play for Colorado.

Smith had decommitted from Southern California on Nov. 20, while Merritt changed his mind on Ohio State on Nov. 26, the same day that McPherson dropped Oklahoma State.

Merritt, listed at 6-foot-2 1/2 and 250 pounds, is a four-star edge rusher at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. He is No. 144 in the Class of 2025, No. 13 at edge and 24th overall in Florida, according to 247Sports' composite rankings.

McPherson (6-5 1/2, 240) is a three-star defensive lineman at IMG Academy. He is rated No. 1,025 in the nation, No. 113 among all defensive linemen and 133rd in Florida in the composite rankings.

Smith (6-5, 293) is a four-star offensive tackle at Wiliamson High. He is No. 224 among the country's seniors, No. 24 at his position and No. 15 overall in Alabama.

Gibson (5-8, 165) is a three-star wide receiver at North Crowley High School in Fort Worth, Texas. He is the No. 668 player in the Class of 2025, No. 101 among wide receivers and 94th in all of Texas, according to the composite rankings.

One week earlier, Colorado scooped up four-star QB Julian Lewis, ranked No. 6 at his position by the 247Sports composite. Lewis, from Carrollton (Ga.) High School, pledged to Colorado after decommitting from USC, to which he gave his verbal pledge in August 2023.

The Buffaloes also have commitments from four-star receiver Adrian Wilson of Weiss (Texas) High in Pflugerville, four-star wideout Quanell X Farrakhan Jr. of Houston's North Shore High, and four-star offensive lineman Chauncey Gooden of Lipscomb Academy in Nashville.

--Field Level Media