The 2024 high school football season is still in the early stages, but that just means recruiting is heating up for the Class of 2026.
The junior season (plus post-season camps and workouts) can be critical for players looking to solidify or improve their recruiting stock. Since these players can’t sign until December 2025, none of them are even committed yet (as of Sept. 2024), but they have already drawn big-time interest from major college football programs.
Which other players will have breakout seasons and join this group of sought-after recruits?
Here is a look at Colorado’s top college football recruits in the state for the Class of 2026. Ratings are based on the “Top247” ranking from 247Sports.
(Note: all stats, measurements and offer/interest lists current as of Sept. 18, 2024)
Camden Jensen
High school: Heritage
Recruiting ranking: 4 stars
Interested schools (per 247Sports): Nearly 20 power-conference programs (including Texas, LSU, Tennessee, Nebraska, Florida State, North Carolina) plus in-state schools like Colorado and Colorado State.
Notable: The 6-foot-7, 250-pound 1st team all-conference tight end has one of the best physical profiles in the country and he’s among the nation’s top 300 prospects (and top 15 tight ends) across nearly every recruiting site. He had 19 catches for 233 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore.
Tufanua Ionatana Umu-Cais
High School: Cherry Creek
Recruiting ranking: 3 stars
Interested schools: Also being recruited by more than a dozen power-conference programs (including Texas, Tennessee, USC, Oklahoma, Miami and Colorado).
Notable: The 6-foot-3, 300-plus pound defensive lineman was honorable mention 5A all-state as a sophomore, when he recorded 82 tackles (7 TFL) with 3.5 sacks from the nose guard/defensive tackle position.
Mason Bandhauer
High school: Fort Collins
Recruiting ranking: 3 stars
Interested schools: Double-digit programs already have offers in, including places like Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Kansas State and Iowa State plus local schools like Colorado State and Wyoming.
Notable: The 6-foot-5, 295-pound offensive tackle was a 1st team all-conference selection as a sophomore and is widely considered the state’s top junior lineman this season.
Toray Davis
High school: Fairview
Recruiting ranking: 3 stars
Interested schools (per 247Sports): Only three programs as of Sept. 2024, but they include Colorado, Iowa State and San Diego State.
Notable: The 6-foot-2, 180-pound athlete (receiver/safety) had just 145 yards and two touchdowns receiving in a crowded room of playmakers for a Fairview squad that went 9-2 in 2023. He also had 29 tackles and four interceptions, including two pick-sixes.
Jaxon Pyatt
High school: Arvada West
Recruiting ranking: 3 stars
Interested schools (per 247Sports): Offers from Ole Miss, Kansas State, Boston College, Syracuse and Colorado State, plus interest from Notre Dame, Nebraska and Miami among others.
Notable: The 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker was 5A all-state honorable mention as a sophomore when he had 99 tackles (17 TFL) with four sacks, two forced fumbles and 10 QB hurries.
Kannon Smith
High school: Valor Christian
Recruiting ranking: 3 stars
Interested schools (per 247Sports): Already has offers from schools like Michigan, Miami, Kansas State, Ole Miss, Utah and Colorado State.
Notable: The 6-foot-5, 285-pound offensive/defensive lineman was a 5A second-team all-state selection in 2023, an uber-mobile athlete for an interior lineman who had 30 tackles (5 TFL) with two sacks as a sophomore.
Brady Vodicka
High school: Cherry Creek
Recruiting ranking: 3 stars
Interested schools (per 247Sports): Receiving early interest from schools like Washington, Washington State and Kansas State.
Notable: The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder is the state’s top 2026 quarterback and a true dual threat. He threw for over 2,300 yards with 25 touchdowns to just three interceptions at a 69% completion rate in his sophomore year, helping the Bruins reach the 5A state championship game.
Deacon Schmitt
High school: Windsor
Recruiting ranking: 3 stars
Interested schools (per 247Sports): Nearly 10 schools have offered, including Oklahoma, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Stanford and Colorado State.
Notable: The 6-foot-5, 305-pound 1st team all-conference offensive tackle is already highly regarded, blocking for Windsor’s physical rushing attack en route to a 10-3 season and a 4A quarterfinal appearance last year.
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