Signing Day 2016: Evaluating the Colorado Buffaloes Class

College football's national holiday known as Signing Day didn't disappoint this year for the Colorado Buffaloes. Eighteen recruits from eleven different states make up the 2016 class, including a last-minute surprise from Beau Bisharat. A product of Jesuit High School (Carmichael, CA), Bisharat signed his letter of intent after decommiting from Stanford. Last year's class was touted as the best of Coach Mike MacIntyre's tenure and expectations are high for this years' recruits. Bisharat leads the 2016 class and MacIntyre hinted about him playing extensively right away.

"He an exciting player that we're really excited about," MacIntyre said about Bisharat. "In an interesting recruiting battle I will say it went all the way to late last night on the phone. He wanted to be a Buff and we're excited about him being a Buff."

Bisharat was highly sought after by 24 schools nationally including every program in the Pac-12. The 6-foot-2, 210 pound athlete made the decision to become a Buff after being sold on Boulder.

"I was somewhat worn out on visiting places and I felt comfortable about making it official at Colorado. I also wanted to stay in the Pac-12 conference," Bisharat said about becoming a Buff.

He's regarded as the most durable fullback in the nation with a SPARQ rating of 98.37; testing overall agility, speed, and physical ability. Bisharat joins a stout backfield alongside Michael Adkins II, Phillip Lindsey and Patrick Carr.

The highlight of this class could feature a trio of wide receivers including Kabion Ento from East Central Community College (Pine Bluff, AR), Juwann Winfree from Coffeyville Community College (Englewood, NJ) and Johnny Huntley from South Plantation HS (Plantation, FL). Ento stands 6-foot-3, 175 pounds and plays more of a possession type of role. He will be relied on in short yardage situations or have the potential for the slot.

"I felt that Colorado runs some of the things I ran in Junior College," Ento said about deciding on CU. "I plan on trying to gain some weight but i'm excited to play anywhere coach wants me to."

Expect him to bulk up closer to 200 pounds coming into camp and become more of a physical receiver under newly hired wide receiver coach Darrin Chiaverini.

After originally being enrolled to the University of Maryland for his freshman year, Winfree ended up at Coffeyville for a brief stop. His highlight tape displays speed and dominance against defenders as a premier receiving threat. A 6-foot-3, 205 pound frame gives him play making ability.

"It wasn't an easy decision, but I wanted to do what was best for me and go somewhere I wanted to go," Winfree said about decommiting from Pittsburgh in favor of CU. "I have a great future at CU and i'm excited."

MacIntyre has already nicknamed Winfree "The Touchdown Maker" and for good reason after seven scores last season at Coffeyville.

Huntley plays very physical at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, drawing comparisons to Winfree. Both plan on having an immediate impact for the Buffs. Huntley is planning on redshirting this season but is already learning the offense and will be ready to play.

"When I first went to Boulder, it felt like home," Huntley said. "I've talked to Coach Leavitt a couple of times and he's inspirational."

The addition of the trio will boost the Buffs young receiving corps of Shay Fields, Devin Ross, Donovan Lee, and Bryce Bobo. The bigger question for the CU offense in 2016 is will be who the starting quarterback next season?

Sefo Liufau is out an undetermined amount of time and MacIntyre reiterated how serious the senior quarterback's injury is.

"He has his broken lisfranc. That is a serious, serious, serious injury. My job is to get the best quarterback ready to play when we open up against CSU."

A strong possibility could be Davis Webb, a graduate transfer quarterback from Texas Tech who has great size. At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, he led the Red Raiders with 5,557 passing yards, 46 touchdowns and 22 interceptions in 23 career games.

"I'm excited at what Davis Webb brings to the table, I think he's a quarterback that could definitely lead our team and be a starter," MacIntyre said. "With our situation and the way we have it right now, I'm glad Davis Webb is coming in and we'll see how everything goes with Sefo's foot."

Webb's pro-style approach to the position give CU options, especially bolstering this recruiting class with capable junior college recruits as targets.

On the opposite side of the ball CU didn't gain any specific defensive lineman, but it's likely hometown favorite Terriek Roberts will play either side on the line. At 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds, the Denver South HS (Denver, CO) "big man" has always wanted to be a Buff. Coach Mac has been following Roberts' progression since his freshman year at South.

"He's going to be an excellent left tackle that will make the quarterback feel very comfortable," Coach Mac noted. "He needs to put on more weight and he's doing that and a year from now he'll be a 290 to 300 pounder." It's very likely Roberts will be redshirted. He also desires to play tight end at some point while at CU. The notion is something MacIntyre isn't entertaining.

Overall, Colorado's 2016 class is rounded out with eleven offensive players and seven on defense including DB Ca'Ron Baham from John Ehret HS (Marrero, LA), DB Ronnie Blackmon from Westlake HS (Atlanta, GA), LB Akil Jones from Valley Christian HS (San Jose, CA), WR Anthony Julmisse from South Plantation (Plantation,FL), LB Drew Lewis from Coffeyville Community College (Sammamish, WA), OT Chance Lytle from Churchill HS (San Antonio, TX), OLB Pookie Maka from Cottonwood HS (Salt Lake City, UT), QB Sam Noyer from Beaverton HS (Beaverton, OR), OL Colby Pursell from Hart HS (Valencia, CA), WR Derrion Rakestraw from Sequoyah HS (Woodstock, GA), DB Trey Udoffia from Del Oro HS (Loomis, CA) and OL Hunter Vaughn from Legend HS (Parker, CO).