Over the last handful of recruiting cycles, Georgia has emerged as a state in which the Buffaloes are working to build a bigger presence.
The Buffs nabbed linebacker Alvin Williams and offensive lineman Jake Wray out of the Peach State in 2020 and pursued a number of Georgia prospects for the 2021 class, including d-end Khristian Zachary.
Already for the 2022 class, Colorado holds a verbal commitment from three-star tailback Victor Venn, a multi-sport standout who attends Buford High School in Buford, Ga.
Before Class of 2022 recruiting comes to an end, CU hopes to land Venn's teammate and three-star inside linebacker, Aubrey Smith.
If he were to choose the Buffaloes, he'd be the second inside linebacker secured for the 2022 class, as Connecticut ATH Kenny Soares is also projected to be an inside backer at CU.
Smith, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound prospect, was offered by the Buffs and Mark Smith last November.
He has racked up a solid list of opportunities to play at the next level, with Florida State, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Michigan State and others having issued him offers.
Two weekends ago, he was on hand in Boulder to watch the Buffaloes take on Southern Cal, an experience he enjoyed thoroughly.
"I loved every bit of it — the fans, campus, the football stadium," Smith said. "I really liked it."
Smith has spoken at length with his prospective position coach at Colorado about how the Buffs would utilize him defensively.
Currently at Buford, Smith is used as something of a roving inside linebacker and per Smith and CU's coaches, his versatility would be emphasized within CU's defensive scheme.
"They said they want me to play to my strengths (and move) pretty much all over the field," Smith said. "I do whatever my D.C. needs me to do — man and zone coverage (and) playing the MIKE."
"Relationships and honesty" is how Smith replied when asked what makes a given program stick out to him.
At this point in his recruitment, Colorado's staff seems to be checking boxes on both of those fronts.
"Knowing the coaches has been a great experience," he said. "The relationships with the coaches have been good so far. My vibe (with Mark Smith) is A1 — I have a good relationship with him."
........
Would be a pretty nice addition this cycle. Timetable for a decision on Smith's part doesn't appear to have been established just yet, but overall, he had some encouraging things to say and I'm sure Venn is in his ear often about CU, too.
The Buffs nabbed linebacker Alvin Williams and offensive lineman Jake Wray out of the Peach State in 2020 and pursued a number of Georgia prospects for the 2021 class, including d-end Khristian Zachary.
Already for the 2022 class, Colorado holds a verbal commitment from three-star tailback Victor Venn, a multi-sport standout who attends Buford High School in Buford, Ga.
Before Class of 2022 recruiting comes to an end, CU hopes to land Venn's teammate and three-star inside linebacker, Aubrey Smith.
If he were to choose the Buffaloes, he'd be the second inside linebacker secured for the 2022 class, as Connecticut ATH Kenny Soares is also projected to be an inside backer at CU.
Smith, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound prospect, was offered by the Buffs and Mark Smith last November.
He has racked up a solid list of opportunities to play at the next level, with Florida State, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Michigan State and others having issued him offers.
Two weekends ago, he was on hand in Boulder to watch the Buffaloes take on Southern Cal, an experience he enjoyed thoroughly.
"I loved every bit of it — the fans, campus, the football stadium," Smith said. "I really liked it."
Smith has spoken at length with his prospective position coach at Colorado about how the Buffs would utilize him defensively.
Currently at Buford, Smith is used as something of a roving inside linebacker and per Smith and CU's coaches, his versatility would be emphasized within CU's defensive scheme.
"They said they want me to play to my strengths (and move) pretty much all over the field," Smith said. "I do whatever my D.C. needs me to do — man and zone coverage (and) playing the MIKE."
"Relationships and honesty" is how Smith replied when asked what makes a given program stick out to him.
At this point in his recruitment, Colorado's staff seems to be checking boxes on both of those fronts.
"Knowing the coaches has been a great experience," he said. "The relationships with the coaches have been good so far. My vibe (with Mark Smith) is A1 — I have a good relationship with him."
........
Would be a pretty nice addition this cycle. Timetable for a decision on Smith's part doesn't appear to have been established just yet, but overall, he had some encouraging things to say and I'm sure Venn is in his ear often about CU, too.
