Deion Sanders’ recruitment status at Colorado has taken another hit, with three key recruits, two 4-stars and one 3-star, officially decommitting from CU in November 2025.
The list now includes 4-star defensive lineman Emanuel Ruffin, who backed out on November 4, 4-star tight end Gavin Mueller, who flipped on November 18, and 3-star safety D’Montae Tims, who decommitted on November 20.
For fans tracking Colorado’s recruiting momentum under Deion Sanders, these departures mark one of the most disruptive stretches of the 2025 cycle, raising new questions about how Deion Sanders plans to stabilize CU’s class, replace the lost star power, and maintain his long-promised recruiting edge.
As the decommitments stack up, the focus shifts to why these recruits walked and what it means for Sanders’ long-term rebuilding blueprint.
Where the Deion Sanders’ Decommitted Recruits Landed Next
After the wave of November decommitments, the next big question for Colorado fans has been simple: where did these former CU pledges go? Tracking each recruit’s new destination not only shows how competitive the national recruiting landscape has become, but also reveals which programs are actively capitalizing on Deion Sanders’ recruiting losses.
Emanuel Ruffin: The 4-Star DL Who Flipped to Ohio State
Four-star defensive lineman Emanuel Ruffin didn’t stay on the market long after backing out of his Colorado commitment. The Bessemer City (Ala.) standout has officially committed to Ohio State, he told Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett, marking yet another major recruiting win for Ryan Day less than a month before National Signing Day.
Ruffin, a 6-foot-3.5, 290-pound interior disruptor, originally committed to Deion Sanders and Colorado in late September, but his recruiting momentum accelerated quickly this fall. He made a key visit to Missouri, evaluated a return trip to Columbus, and shortly after decommitting on Nov. 4, the Buckeyes moved fast and secured his pledge.
Ruffin’s addition gives Ohio State a powerful late-cycle surge. Just a day earlier, the Buckeyes flipped four-star cornerback Jay Timmons, Rivals’ No. 2 CB, from Florida State.
With Ruffin now in the class, Ohio State climbs past Texas into the No. 7 spot in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings, while Colorado absorbs the loss of one of its highest-rated defensive commits.
Gavin Mueller: The 4-Star TE Who Flipped From Colorado to Miami
Colorado’s loss became Miami’s major recruiting win as 4-star tight end Gavin Mueller officially flipped his commitment from the Buffs to the Hurricanes.
The 6-foot-6, 255-pound prospect from South Elgin, Illinois had been committed to Deion Sanders and Colorado since May, but his recruitment escalated dramatically after he showed a surge in athleticism and polish early in the season.
That breakout drew new attention from national powers like Alabama and Miami, both of which extended scholarship offers in October.
Miami aggressively prioritized Mueller, bringing him in for an official visit during the week of the NC State game. After spending time on the field with his family and Miami staffers, Mueller said the decision became clear, and three days later, he decommitted from Colorado and made the flip official.
On the 247Sports Composite, Mueller ranks as the No. 7 tight end in the nation, No. 4 player in Illinois, and No. 150 overall. Physically, he’s a prototype at the position, long, powerful, and explosive, with elite measurables and a wingspan that Miami believes will immediately elevate their tight end room. His senior-year production backs it up: 1,325 total yards and 30 touchdowns, a reflection of a player who converts upside into dominance.
Mueller chose the Hurricanes over a deep board of 26 total scholarship offers, including Wisconsin and LSU, the two programs he had originally viewed as potential finalists before pledging to Colorado.
For Miami, this is a statement-level recruiting win; for Deion Sanders’ CU Buffs, it’s the loss of a high-impact, nationally ranked offensive weapon Coach Prime had counted on anchoring the future of his tight end group.
D’Montae “Chico” Tims: The 3-Star Safety Who Flipped From Colorado to Indiana
Three-star safety D’Montae “Chico” Tims became the latest recruit to leave Colorado’s 2026 class, flipping his commitment to Indiana, a major recruiting win for head coach Curt Cignetti and the College Football Playoff Rankings’ No. 2 team. Tims, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound defensive standout from Seffner (Fla.) Armwood, told 247Sports he chose the Hoosiers over offers from Louisville, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Iowa, Illinois, and Miami, among many others.
According to 247Sports, Tims is ranked as the No. 110 safety in the 2026 class, and the Composite lists him as the No. 108 safety nationally, a solid mid-tier defensive pickup for a program quickly gaining national attention under Cignetti. Indiana originally offered Tims on February 17, 2025, but he committed to Deion Sanders and Colorado on July 10, 2025, before ultimately reversing course after multiple touchpoints with the Hoosiers this fall.
Tims’ on-field performance backs up Indiana’s aggressive pursuit. He anchors an 11-0 Armwood team entering the Florida 6A regional semifinals and has been a key part of one of the state’s strongest defenses.
His flip marks Indiana’s 25th commit in the 2026 cycle and their third major flip since Sunday, joining former Penn State WR commit Lavar Keys and former Wisconsin OL commit Benjamin Novak.
For Colorado, the timing stings. With nearly every elite 2026 prospect already committed elsewhere, losing Tims adds to a troubling recruiting trend after a disappointing 2025 season that will end without a bowl game.
While Deion Sanders still has time to flip players back to Boulder, this latest loss underscores the growing gap between Coach Prime’s early recruiting momentum and the current reality at Colorado.
Also Read: Why CU’s $27 Million Deficit Is Not a Big Concern With Deion Sanders At the Helm