As Travis Hunter prepares to enter the 2025 NFL Draft, Colorado’s priority in 2025 will be to fill the gap left by the current Heisman winner’s contributions. Deion Sanders is already taking significant steps toward that aim by recruiting former Tulsa wide receiver Joseph Williams, the 2024 AAC Freshman of the Year, to the Buffaloes from Utah through the transfer portal.
Williams verified his transition on Sunday to 247 Sports. The standout receiver first pledged to the Utes on December 18 before altering his decision. The reason he changed his commitment in just four days is still uncertain.
Although Tulsa faced difficulties in 2024, Williams stood out as the sole positive for the Golden Hurricane. He ranked second on the team in receptions and receiving yards, recording 30 catches for 588 yards. He recorded five receiving touchdowns throughout the season to snatch the AAC Freshman of the Year honor from his fellow teammate, quarterback Kirk Francis.
Williams amassed 588 receiving yards, ranking sixth among all freshmen in Division I. In addition to Colorado and Utah, he garnered a transfer portal offer from Michigan, LSU, USC, and several other schools. Although he didn’t have a strong recruiting profile as a new freshman, his 6-foot-2, 195-pound build caught the interest of multiple Power Five programs through the portal.
Prior to his commitment to Tulsa, Williams was merely a three-star recruit from Mansfield Summit High School located in Arlington, Texas. He received only two offers from Power Five schools — Oregon State and Washington State — but decided to stay nearer to home to get immediate playing time.
Colorado gets ready to reconstruct in 2025.
Tulsa Golden Hurricane wide receiver Joseph Williams (8) fails to grab a pass thrown his way by Oklahoma State Cowboys cornerback Kale Smith (10) in the third quarter at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium.
Although Colorado has progressed each year under Sanders, it is poised to decline in 2025. Not only will they be without Hunter, but the Buffaloes will probably have to compensate for the contributions of Shedeur Sanders, Jimmy Horn Jr., LaJohntay Webster, and Will Sheppard.
Leave a Reply