Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: Derek Marckel
First Day Of 2026 Newcomers In The Books
December 03, 2025 | Football
BOULDER -- The Colorado Buffaloes signed 10 players to their 2026 football class on the first day of the early signing period on Friday, as the first day of adding newcomers ahead of the 2026 season is in the books. The group includes three linebackers, two cornerbacks, three offensive linemen, one wide receiver, and one defensive lineman.
This year's class reflects Colorado's growing reach in the South with additions from Flordia, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, while simultaneously securing talent nationwide from California, Washington, and Colorado.
Full details available on the 2026 Signing Day Central website.
Preston Ashley – CB – Mississippi
Preston Ashley is a four-star defensive back from Brandon High School in Mississippi, where he was an Under Armour All-American, All-State selection and the 7A Defensive Player of the Year. A versatile playmaker, he totaled 203 career tackles with multiple state championship and semifinal appearances. Ashley also excelled in track and field and comes from a strong football family, including relatives who played at Ole Miss, Florida State and in the NFL.
Xavier Payne – OL – Florida
Xavier Payne is a three-star offensive tackle from Jones High School in Florida, where he started at left tackle and helped guide the Tigers to back-to-back deep postseason runs, including a 14-1 season and a 4A state championship appearance as a junior and an 11-2 record and state semifinal berth as a senior. He also competed in wrestling and track and field.
Carson Crawford – LB – Texas
Carson Crawford is a versatile linebacker from Carthage High School in Texas, where he compiled a remarkable 57-2 record and earned All-State honors three times. As a senior, he led Carthage to a 13-0 start while posting 97 tackles, 23 hurries, 16 tackles for loss and six sacks, also contributing offensively. A key member of the 2024 state championship team, Crawford excelled across multiple positions and lettered in track and baseball while making the honor roll all four years.
Josiah Manu – OL – Colorado
Josiah Manu is a three-star offensive line prospect from Thompson Valley High School in Loveland, Colorado, where he was a four-year starter and a dominant two-way player. He helped lead the Eagles to a 37-12 record, highlighted by a 14-0 state championship season as a junior, earning multiple postseason honors including first-team All-State and Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Manu finished his career with 137 tackles and 14 tackles for loss while anchoring the offensive front.
Ben Gula – OL – Florida
Ben Gula is a three-star interior offensive lineman from Cypress Bay High School in Florida, where he was a four-year starter and one of the program's most decorated linemen. He earned All-District honors every season, added All-County recognition as a junior and senior, and was named All-State following his final campaign. Gula started 41 career games, recorded more than 250 pancake blocks and allowed just one sack on over 1,500 pass-protection snaps, while also lettering in basketball.
Mojo Williams Jr. – CB – Louisiana
Mojo Williams Jr. is a three-star cornerback from Edna Karr High School in Louisiana, where he has been part of one of the state's premier programs. A four-year varsity contributor, Williams entered his senior postseason with a 42-7 career record and has not lost a game over the past two seasons, helping Karr to an undefeated 14-0 state championship run as a junior. His experience in high-level playoff environments strengthens Colorado's secondary depth.
Rodney Colton Jr. – LB – Georgia
Rodney Colton Jr. is a three-star linebacker from Newnan High School in Georgia, where he was a four-year varsity contributor and impact defender. He totaled 157 tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in his career, helping Newnan to consecutive 9-3 seasons and second-round playoff appearances. Colton capped his senior year with 57 tackles, four sacks and three defensive touchdowns, while also competing in basketball and track and field.
Colton Johnson – LB – Washington
Colton Johnson is a three-star linebacker from Eastlake High School in Washington, where he was a three-year varsity player and earned All-League honors in each of his final two seasons. A two-way athlete with notable speed, he also excelled in track, posting a 10.87 in the 100 meters and 22.81 in the 200. Johnson delivered standout performances on defense as a senior and was active in community service through the National League of Young Men.
Christian Ward – WR – Florida/Georgia
Christian Ward is a three-star wide receiver who spent his senior season at IMG Academy in Florida, where he averaged 24.6 yards per catch with 221 yards and two touchdowns and earned both Offensive Player of the Year and the Leadership Award. A productive pass-catcher throughout his career, he previously posted 768 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior at Walton High School and played alongside Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis at Carrollton, adding five touchdowns in 2023.
Domata Peko Jr. – DL – California
Domata Peko Jr. joins Colorado from Ventura College, where he emerged as one of the nation's premier junior college prospects and the top-rated edge defender in the country. In his lone season at Ventura, he recorded 16 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and two recoveries. A former two-way standout at Calabasas High School, he earned All-League and All-County honors and comes from a distinguished football family that includes multiple NFL veterans, including his father, who is the defensive line coach for the Buffs.
This year's class reflects Colorado's growing reach in the South with additions from Flordia, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, while simultaneously securing talent nationwide from California, Washington, and Colorado.
Full details available on the 2026 Signing Day Central website.
Preston Ashley – CB – Mississippi
Preston Ashley is a four-star defensive back from Brandon High School in Mississippi, where he was an Under Armour All-American, All-State selection and the 7A Defensive Player of the Year. A versatile playmaker, he totaled 203 career tackles with multiple state championship and semifinal appearances. Ashley also excelled in track and field and comes from a strong football family, including relatives who played at Ole Miss, Florida State and in the NFL.
Xavier Payne – OL – Florida
Xavier Payne is a three-star offensive tackle from Jones High School in Florida, where he started at left tackle and helped guide the Tigers to back-to-back deep postseason runs, including a 14-1 season and a 4A state championship appearance as a junior and an 11-2 record and state semifinal berth as a senior. He also competed in wrestling and track and field.
Carson Crawford – LB – Texas
Carson Crawford is a versatile linebacker from Carthage High School in Texas, where he compiled a remarkable 57-2 record and earned All-State honors three times. As a senior, he led Carthage to a 13-0 start while posting 97 tackles, 23 hurries, 16 tackles for loss and six sacks, also contributing offensively. A key member of the 2024 state championship team, Crawford excelled across multiple positions and lettered in track and baseball while making the honor roll all four years.
Josiah Manu – OL – Colorado
Josiah Manu is a three-star offensive line prospect from Thompson Valley High School in Loveland, Colorado, where he was a four-year starter and a dominant two-way player. He helped lead the Eagles to a 37-12 record, highlighted by a 14-0 state championship season as a junior, earning multiple postseason honors including first-team All-State and Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Manu finished his career with 137 tackles and 14 tackles for loss while anchoring the offensive front.
Ben Gula – OL – Florida
Ben Gula is a three-star interior offensive lineman from Cypress Bay High School in Florida, where he was a four-year starter and one of the program's most decorated linemen. He earned All-District honors every season, added All-County recognition as a junior and senior, and was named All-State following his final campaign. Gula started 41 career games, recorded more than 250 pancake blocks and allowed just one sack on over 1,500 pass-protection snaps, while also lettering in basketball.
Mojo Williams Jr. – CB – Louisiana
Mojo Williams Jr. is a three-star cornerback from Edna Karr High School in Louisiana, where he has been part of one of the state's premier programs. A four-year varsity contributor, Williams entered his senior postseason with a 42-7 career record and has not lost a game over the past two seasons, helping Karr to an undefeated 14-0 state championship run as a junior. His experience in high-level playoff environments strengthens Colorado's secondary depth.
Rodney Colton Jr. – LB – Georgia
Rodney Colton Jr. is a three-star linebacker from Newnan High School in Georgia, where he was a four-year varsity contributor and impact defender. He totaled 157 tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in his career, helping Newnan to consecutive 9-3 seasons and second-round playoff appearances. Colton capped his senior year with 57 tackles, four sacks and three defensive touchdowns, while also competing in basketball and track and field.
Colton Johnson – LB – Washington
Colton Johnson is a three-star linebacker from Eastlake High School in Washington, where he was a three-year varsity player and earned All-League honors in each of his final two seasons. A two-way athlete with notable speed, he also excelled in track, posting a 10.87 in the 100 meters and 22.81 in the 200. Johnson delivered standout performances on defense as a senior and was active in community service through the National League of Young Men.
Christian Ward – WR – Florida/Georgia
Christian Ward is a three-star wide receiver who spent his senior season at IMG Academy in Florida, where he averaged 24.6 yards per catch with 221 yards and two touchdowns and earned both Offensive Player of the Year and the Leadership Award. A productive pass-catcher throughout his career, he previously posted 768 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior at Walton High School and played alongside Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis at Carrollton, adding five touchdowns in 2023.
Domata Peko Jr. – DL – California
Domata Peko Jr. joins Colorado from Ventura College, where he emerged as one of the nation's premier junior college prospects and the top-rated edge defender in the country. In his lone season at Ventura, he recorded 16 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and two recoveries. A former two-way standout at Calabasas High School, he earned All-League and All-County honors and comes from a distinguished football family that includes multiple NFL veterans, including his father, who is the defensive line coach for the Buffs.
Players Mentioned
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