Buffs Football Recruiting Definitely On #TheRise16

BOULDER — There's no question that Colorado football recruiting is on the rise this year.

Or, to put it in social media terms, #Rise16 is happening with the Buffaloes.

"A lot of things have happened over the last 18 months that have made a big difference," CU head coach Mike MacIntyre said at the recent Pac-12 Media Days. "In an area that we had just one guy when I got here, now we have six. It's helping in organization, planning, evaluation and in building relationships. You saw some of that help us in the end of the process last year (the most recent recruiting class) but now it's really coming to fruition. We're far ahead and it's been tremendous."

Indeed, MacIntyre and his staff have already corralled numerous commitments for the 2017 class, far ahead of any time in recent memory.

"It takes time to get the system in place," MacIntyre said. "We wanted it when I first got here, but to be honest, we didn't have the budget. (CU Athletic Director) Rick George was able to help us get it in place and now you're seeing the results. It helps our assistant coaches because we can identify and evaluate guys quicker. Then, through social media, we can communicate with them earlier and develop and build relationships."

One staff change that has made a major difference is the addition of co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini, who also carries the title of recruiting coordinator. A savvy social media specialist, Chiaverini has helped the CU staff take significant strides in that arena.

The result has been more interest from more highly ranked recruits.

"It's vital to our program to show that we're making progress and we're showing a commitment to recruit Texas, to recruit California and to recruit the local players in Colorado," Chiaverini said. "It's very important. We've had some great momentum, we have some high-profile guys that are committed to our class right now and we're moving forward.''

The process has produced national attention for the Buffs, as CU now finds itself with a class currently ranked among the top 30 in the nation according to some services.

"Those early commitments see where our program is headed, they see the progress we're making and they see our great facilities," MacIntyre said. "They see that we're competitive and going to get better — and they feel like when they get here, we're going to be winning and they want to be a part of that."

The momentum that is being built on a daily basis is also attracting other players to express an interest in Colorado.

"What's been awesome is I've had a lot of players hitting me up on social media and saying, 'Wow, I'm really interested in Colorado,'" Chiaverini said. "It shows we're more visible in recruiting, more visible on social media and more visible on a national scale. It's a big part of where we're headed. If you continue to upgrade your roster every year, it's going to translate to wins on the field."

The social media aspect of recruiting is having an effect throughout CU's athletic department. Earlier this month, CU's Emmy Award-winning Sports Video Department announced it would be producing "The Rise" this year, a series chronicling the Buffs' season. Producer John Snelson noted that the name was taken from CU's social media recruiting efforts.

"You're going to see that recruiting continue to build," Chiaverini said. "More and more great players are going to want to be part of what we're doing here. If we can continue to build top 25 classes each and every year, it's going to translate to better football and winning more games."

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu

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