The recruitment of Lakeland High School’s standout 3-star edge rusher, Drew Sapp, to Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes came down to a combination of relentless staff pursuit, deep personal connections, and seeing past media noise.
Sapp committed to the Buffaloes following his official visit to Boulder, choosing them over notable SEC interest from programs like Mississippi State and Vanderbilt. Here is the breakdown of why Coach Prime and his staff won him over:
1. Persistent, Family-First Recruitment
Colorado’s pursuit of Sapp began months before his commitment, with weekly calls from the entire coaching staff. What truly set them apart from other programs was a home visit from Colorado running backs coach—and fellow Lakeland High alum—Johnnie Mack. Mack visited Sapp’s home, shared a meal with his family, and spent meaningful time with his younger brother. That high level of investment and personal touch made Sapp feel connected to the program long before he even set foot in Boulder.
2. Disproving the “Media Noise”
Sapp noted that he had heard many negative narratives about Coach Prime and the Colorado program from external news sources. Taking his official visit to Boulder allowed him to block out the noise and evaluate the coaching staff firsthand. Meeting Deion Sanders, “the person,” face-to-face allowed him to see an old-school football coach he could truly connect with and trust to push him to his maximum potential.
3. A Clear Blueprint for Early Impact
During a one-hour conversation with Deion Sanders, Coach Prime made it clear that Sapp was hand-selected for his specific traits. When Sapp asked what separated his film from other recruits, Sanders pointed directly to his on-field violence, physicality, and leadership traits. The staff outlined a clear path for him to compete and see early playing time on the field.
4. Direct Coaching Pedigree
The opportunity to play under defensive line coach George Helow played a massive role. Knowing that Helow has coached at premier powerhouse programs like Alabama and Georgia gave Sapp immense confidence in the developmental upside and football IQ he would be exposed to in Boulder.
By the Numbers: At 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, Sapp brings elite production from the Florida high school ranks to the Buffs, having racked up 28 tackles for loss (TFLs), 13.5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles during his junior season.
You can check out this Colorado Football Recruiting Update for a fan-perspective breakdown of Drew Sapp’s commitment and how his elite physicality fits into the Buffaloes’ defensive front.