Coach Prime smells opportunity. Just months ago, the Colorado Buffaloes pulled off one of the biggest flips in the country. 4-star QB Julian Lewis — straight out of Carrollton, GA — ditched USC and chose the Buffs. That move turned heads. Now, Lewis is already battling for the starting job in Boulder as a true freshman. Ranked the No. 7 QB in the nation, he came ready. But now, Deion Sanders is eyeing another Peach State prize. A 5-star phenom is back on the market. And Colorado’s coming in hot. The Buffs already did it once — can they do it again?
Just a day after a bombshell shook USC’s 2026 class, Coach Prime is already turning heads. A 5-star defensive beast — 6-foot-2, 220 pounds of pure chaos — has reopened his recruitment. He’d been locked in with the Trojans since July 2024. But after some drama over campus visits, the door cracked open. And Deion Sanders kicked it wide. Now, Colorado is charging full speed ahead. The CU Buffs aren’t just in the mix — they’re making noise. And when a game-changer hits the market, Colorado doesn’t wait.
On May 17, the buzz got real. Just two days after backing off his USC pledge, five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin hit X with a major update — Colorado was the first to offer. Deion Sanders wasted no time. Griffin’s not just any recruit. He’s the No. 28 overall prospect in the nation. The No. 2 LB in the 2026 class. And the No. 3 player in the entire state of Georgia. So big-time talent. Big-time attention. And Colorado’s already in the front seat. Makes perfect sense — as Prime knows a game-changer when he sees one.
Colorado has offered 5-star LB Xavier Griffin
Griffin decommitted from USC on May 14.
Read: https://t.co/kfqYIyPTyc pic.twitter.com/8rMfGQOPm7
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) May 16, 2025
Look, Xavier Griffin isn’t just hype — he’s a havoc machine. Over the last 2 seasons, the Georgia native racked up 90+ tackles and 22 sacks. Straight domination. His Gainesville squad stacked seven wins in 2024, finishing as the No. 17 team in the state, per On3. But Colorado’s not alone in chasing the prize. Griffin’s summer is heating up with official visits lined up. Ohio State gets the first crack on May 30. Then it’s Alabama on deck June 6, Texas rolling in June 13, and Florida State closing things out June 15.
Simply put, Deion Sanders made the first move — but the battle’s far from over. However, who will he choose to commit to? “My commitment has been a question for a few months now, but the hard decision has come within the last two weeks,” said Griffin. Adding, “I wanted to still be able to enjoy my process and go on my official visits, but be respectful of USC at the same time, so this happened after a lot of talking with my mom and praying.”
But Griffin isn’t dragging things out. He’s aiming to make his final call before his senior season kicks off at Gainesville. So don’t expect a long, drawn-out drama. Meanwhile, the Buffaloes have been stacking elite talent on campus all month. Deion Sanders is building serious momentum — and he’s hoping to add Griffin’s name to that VIP list real soon.
However, the most interesting part? It seems Griffin was forced to decommit from USC during the Lincoln Riley era.
How Deion Sanders seizes the moment
The USC Trojans just lost a big one. Five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin has officially walked away from his commitment to the Trojans. Did he jump? Or was he pushed? Maybe both. Look, under Lincoln Riley’s new policy, it’s simple: you’re either all in with no more visits, or you’re out. No gray area. No wiggle room. Here, Griffin made his choice. He chose freedom. Now, one of the nation’s top defenders is back on the market — and the chase is on.
Simply put, heading into 2025, Coach Lincoln Riley has one clear mission: no more slip-ups. USC’s B1G debut didn’t go as planned — a 7-6 finish with a shaky conference record. Not exactly what the Trojans had in mind. Before they could recover, the transfer portal hit like a storm. By March, 23 players had packed their bags. Now, Riley’s drawing a hard line. If you’re not fully locked in, you’re out. No second-guessing. No halfway loyalty. However, that no-nonsense approach? It likely played a role in Xavier Griffin’s exit.
So, USC’s message was crystal clear — only the fully locked-in get to stay. That’s all Coach Prime needed. Deion Sanders saw the opening and wasted no time. Now, he’s going all-in to land Xavier Griffin. However, it’s not like Griffin had his heart set elsewhere. Even USC analyst Tim Prangley left the door cracked: “He may end up going through the whole process and come December or come fall be like ‘You know what, no I want to be at USC like what they offered is great’ and then recommit.” But by then? The train might’ve left the station.
Now, Lincoln Riley will likely have moved on, chasing other prospects. And Griffin? He might just find a new home in Boulder — with Deion Sanders waiting at the finish line.
The post Deion Sanders’ CU Buffs Jumps the Chance for 5-star Prospect Who Was Forced to Take Decommitment Call from USC appeared first on EssentiallySports.