Here's where Colorado's top high school football 2023 recruits will play college football
More than a dozen Colorado high school seniors will sign to play college football at nationally prominent programs this week.
Colorado players are committed to such powers as Michigan, Oregon, Oklahoma, Iowa, BYU and Wisconsin.
Here's a look at the recruiting profiles of Colorado's top seniors, as rated by On3 Sports.
Rankings are based on Colorado’s recruits, per On3 Sports consensus rankings as of Dec. 20. (All rankings per On3 Sports consensus unless otherwise noted.)
BLAKE PURCHASE
Position: Edge
High school: Cherry Creek
College commitment: Oregon
Star rating: 4
Notable: The 6-foot-2.5, 240-pound Purchase was named the 5A Player of the Year as he helped Cherry Creek win a four-peat of titles. He had 57 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 18 sacks.
BRAYDEN DORMAN
Position: Quarterback
High school: Vista Ridge
College commitment: Arizona
Star rating: 4
Notable: The 6-foot-4, 196-pound Dorman was named 4A first-team All-State. He completed 71% of his passes for 3,783 yards (315 per game), 49 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
JOSHUA BATES
Position: Offensive line
High school: Durango
College commitment: Oklahoma
Star rating: 4
Notable: The 6-foot-3, 280-pound Bates was named 3A first-team All-State.
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CHASE BRACKNEY
Position: Defensive line
High school: Cherry Creek
College commitment: Iowa
Star rating: 3
Notable: The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Brackney was named first-team All-State as Cherry Creek won the title. He had 63 tackles, six sacks and seven tackles for loss.
ETHAN THOMASON
Position: Offensive line
High school: Rocky Mountain
College commitment: BYU
Star rating: 3
Notable: The 6-foot-8, 301-pound Thomason was named 5A first-team All-State.
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ISMAEL CISSE
Position: Receiver
High school: Cherry Creek
College commitment: Stanford
Star rating: 3
Notable: The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Cisse was named first-team All-State as Cherry Creek won the state title. Cisse had 46 catches for 886 yards and 13 touchdowns.
COLE LACRUE
Position: Quarterback
High school: Broomfield
College commitment: Wisconsin
Star rating: 3
Notable: The 6-foot-2, 190-pound LaCrue was the 4A Player of the Year as Broomfield won the state title. He completed 64% of his passes for 2,647 yards (204 per game), 26 touchdowns and six interceptions.
HAYDEN MOORE
Position: Linebacker
High school: Regis Jesuit
College commitment: Michigan
Star rating: 3
Notable: The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Moore was named 5A first-team All-State. He had 197 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
ZACHARY HENNING
Position: Offensive line
High school: Grandview
College commitment: Washington
Star rating: 3
Notable: The 6-foot-6, 255-pound Henning was named 5A first-team All-State.
BRANDON HILLS
Position: Receiver
High school: Vista Ridge
College commitment: Washington State
Star rating: 3
Notable: The 5-foot-9, 155-pound Hills was named 4A first-team All-State. He caught 79 passes for 1,548 yards and 20 touchdowns.
ANDREW METZGER
Position: Tight end
High school: Regis Jesuit
College commitment: Kansas State
Star rating: 3
Notable: The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Metzger was named 5A first-team All-State. He had 25 catches for 334 yards and six touchdowns.
LOGAN BRANTLEY
Position: Linebacker
High school: Cherry Creek
College commitment: Kansas
Star rating: 3
Notable: The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Brantley was named first-team All-State as Cherry Creek won a state title. He had 53 tackles, six tackles for loss and a sack.
TAI FAAVAE
Position: Linebacker
High school: Fountain-Fort Carson
College commitment: Washington State
Star rating: 3
Notable: The 6-foot, 205-pound Faavae was named 5A first-team All-State. He had 105 tackles and two sacks.
HANK ZILINSKAS
Position: Offensive line
High school: Cherry Creek
College commitment: Colorado
Star rating: 3
Notable: The 6-foot-3, 274-pound Zilinskas was named first-team All-State as Cherry Creek won another state title.
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SILAS EVANS
Position: Receiver
High school: George Washington
College commitment: Colorado State
Star rating: 3
Notable: The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Evans was named 5A second-team All-State. He had 35 catches for 692 yards and eight touchdowns.
ISHMAEL ACEVES
Position: Linebacker
High school: Mullen
College commitment: New Mexico State
Star rating: 3
Notable: The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Aceves had 122 tackles.
TELL WADE
Position: Edge
High school: Wray
College commitment: Wyoming
Star rating: 3
Notable: The 6-foot-2, 235-pound Wade was named 1A first-team All-State. He had 78 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks this season.
TANNER MORLEY
Position: Offensive line
High school: Valor Christian
College commitment: Colorado State
Star rating: 3
Notable: The 6-foot-5, 280-pound Morley was named 5A first-team All-State.
JESIAH STEVENS-SILVA
Position: Tight end
High school: Fountain-Fort Carson
College commitment: Central Michigan
Star rating: 3
Notable: The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Stevens-Silva had 25 catches for 504 yards and five touchdowns.
Other local connection commits
Javion Smith-Combs: The Cherry Creek edge had 38 tackles as a senior and is committed to Colorado State.
Tyler Kubat: The Fossil Ridge quarterback completed 63% of his passes for 2,033 yards (254 per game), 23 touchdowns and four interceptions. He's committed to Lindenwood.
Mac Busteed: The Fossil Ridge tight end had 143 receiving yards in an injury-plagued senior season. He's committed to Lindenwood.
Bryce Olson: The Fossil Ridge kicker hit eight of his nine field goal attempts in 2022 with a long of 53 yards. He's committed to Air Force.
Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on Twitter and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: 2023 Colorado high school football recruiting class, rankings