Coach Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes have lost a recruit from the 2025 class in the wake of their 1-6 skid over their past seven games.
The player is 4-star wide receiver Winston Watkins Jr., who has now reneged on his commitment to the university.
BREAKING: Four-Star WR Winston Watkins Jr. (2025) tells me he has Decommitted from Colorado
The 5’11 185 WR from Fort Myers, FL Committed to the Buffaloes a day after coach Deion was announced Head Coach
Holds a Total of 22 Offershttps://t.co/4UQUTM4aWs pic.twitter.com/EwIDoYSPhm
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) November 12, 2023
Following his decision, the 2025 recruit released a statement.
"First off, I want to thank God for everything He has been to me in my life!" Watkins said. "This recruitment process since 9th grade has been quite a journey so far. Secondly, I would like to thank Coach Deion' Prime' Sanders and his wonderful staff at Colorado for showing me a beautiful culture and a wonderful fan base in Colorado! This was a tough decision to make but after long talks with my Dad I have decided to De-Commit from The University of Colorado and open up my recruitment! Colorado will still be one of my top schools !!! I just want to study every college that is recruiting me and continue to pray that I am making the right decision that I feel is best for me & my family on National Signing Day in December of 2024! No more Commitments until National Signing Day in December 2024 (signing on the line)!"
Watkins is a 4-star recruit out of Naples, Florida, and ranks just outside of 247Sports' top-100 recruits for the 2025 class.
Colorado started the year 3-0, defeating TCU, Nebraska and Colorado State. Since then, they've won just won game, beating Arizona State. They're 4-6 on the year after losing in Week 11 to the Arizona Wildcats at home, 34-31. They've also lost to Oregon, USC, Stanford, UCLA and Oregon State. The Stanford loss stands out the most, as the Buffaloes were up 29-0 at halftime but fell in double overtime 46-43.
As of now, though, their other 2025 recruits — Antwann Hill Jr. and Jamarice Wilder — remain committed to playing for Colorado.
