Recruiting: Colorado Buffaloes Land Fifth Commit, Texas Cornerback Zach Craig

by Bob_Bell on Aug 31, 2009 9:33 PM MDT in Buffaloes Football Recruiting

The Colorado Buffaloes have already won a battle against the Colorado St. Rams this week, hopefully it repeats itself on Sunday. Smithson Valley (Texas) cornerback Zach Craig has pledge his commitment to the Buffs' 2010 recruiting class, according to rivals.com's CU commitment player page, making him the 5th verbal of the cycle and the first defensive player. Cornerback will certainly be a need as this season comes to an end with Cha'pelle Brown and Ben Burney graduating.

Craig has strong measurables checking in at 6'2" while listed as running a 4.4 forty. Plus it is always good to get recruits from Texas. Although the offer list only consisted of Colorado, Colorado State, Baylor and Texas-San Antonio, Craig also had interest from Oklahoma State, Kansas and Kansas State. Rivals.com ranks him as a three star prospect.

Craig led his high school team with four interceptions a year ago. He also runs track, finishing first in many 110 meter hurdle competitions. According to 5ATexasFootball.com, Craig's high school is one of the best in the state of Texas:

Consistency is an art that all programs strive for, but few are able to master. Smithson Valley is one of the modern standards. The lack of a state championship win hurts Smithson Valley’s argument in the dynasty debate, but there’s absolutely no denying what this program has accomplished in the last decade. Last year, the Rangers captured their fourth Region 4 crown in seven 5A seasons. Smithson Valley has five region championships this decade including their last 4A season in 2001. Only Katy and Southlake Carroll have won more in that time span.

The site ranks Smithson Valley as the #17 team in the class with a key returner being Craig:

Senior cornerback Zach Craig (6’2 180 4.5) earned second team All-Distrct honors after recording 83 tackles and four interceptions.

At the prestigous Ultimate100Camp for the top prospects in the nation, Craig was ranked as the fifth best defensive back at the event, a distinctive honor for such a well attended national workout.

Below is a video of Zach Craig and here is from video on ESPN.com. Hard to see in most cases, it still shows his speed and ability to come up and make tackles. He will need to add some weight, coming in at 175 pounds but with his 6'2" frame, that shouldn't be a problem. Welcome to our newest Buff!

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As if I need more good news on game week...

Great news. Welcome aboard Zach!

The Ralphie Report - University of Colorado Athletics

by Jon Woods on Aug 31, 2009 10:01 PM MDT via mobile reply actions

first mobile comment by me

Great news right before we stomp some ram.

Let’s keep piling up this class and not undersign again with qustionable guys. Love Zach’s size and speed and should have a great time in boulder, now let’s build some depth with some 4 star DL and WR

by roxbombers on Sep 1, 2009 12:02 AM MDT via mobile reply actions

Awww

Totally not on topic of the post, but Katy being in that group is extremely misleading. Up until 2005, my senior year in HS, Katy had absolutely zero competition in their region. They’ve won a couple state titles (including last year’s extreme luck of the draw). Even now, they keep getting new schools added to a district that’s been rapidly expanding for years.

I thought you knew that algebra was all razzamatazz. A Globetrotter always saves the good algebra for the final minutes.

by A.J. Haefele on Sep 1, 2009 1:20 AM MDT reply actions

Huh?

Elsik and Hastings were good programs before Alief Taylor split off some of their talent – and both of those teams were in Katy’s district until recently. Are you really going to say that all of their state titles were luck of the draw?

They just beat another top ten team last weekend…

by Texas Wahoo on Sep 1, 2009 8:21 AM MDT up reply actions

Allen's better than them all.

I rule.

The Ralphie Report - University of Colorado Athletics

by Jon Woods on Sep 1, 2009 8:26 AM MDT up reply actions

Oh god no

Just saying that they had a pretty easy ticket to the state playoffs to punch every season because they keep diluting the talent over there, except based on the the way the town has expanded, the area that feeds Katy High School goes untouched because it’s in “Katy Proper”, as opposed to “New Katy”. Obviously when they get to the playoffs, they have to win. My point is simply that getting there every year is essentially a cake walk because most of their competition flat out sucks. Because I’m no longer in town, my chances of following are pretty much zero as I have to try to get acclimated to Colorado HS football =(

I thought you knew that algebra was all razzamatazz. A Globetrotter always saves the good algebra for the final minutes.

by A.J. Haefele on Sep 1, 2009 12:18 PM MDT up reply actions

Perhaps that was true 20 years ago

But much of what is now Cinco Ranch and Morton Ranch came from areas that used to feed into Katy.

Either way, since 3 teams in each division make the playoffs, pretty much anyone that is good enough to win the championship is included.

by Texas Wahoo on Sep 1, 2009 12:46 PM MDT up reply actions

The conversation

was regional championships since 2001, which happened to be my Freshman year at Cinco Ranch. I remember going to some of the Katy games and they were stomping everyone. Not until my senior year, when both CRHS and Katy were 8-0 heading into their matchup, did CRHS even begin to matter. The football being played since 2001 over there just hasn’t been that great, outside of Katy.

I thought you knew that algebra was all razzamatazz. A Globetrotter always saves the good algebra for the final minutes.

by A.J. Haefele on Sep 1, 2009 1:05 PM MDT up reply actions

big + fast

That’s a good equation to add to our future secondary that includes the likes of Deji and Parker! Go Buffs!

"Pound It, Lauch It, Release The Funk!"

by Johnny Yuma on Sep 1, 2009 9:10 AM MDT via mobile reply actions

He looks smart

Of course those are hilites but it appears he plays very smart football..he seems to know where he’s suppose to be and where is help is so he can come off receivers and make plays on others.

It’s always good to a get a Texas player. We need to continue growing our pipeline there.

by ebuff on Sep 1, 2009 10:55 AM MDT reply actions