When a major program loses a key recruit, Rivals.com takes a look at how big of a blow it is to the respective school, analyzing it from a local and national level. To quantify the “sting” of each decommitment, we assign a score from one to 10, with one being no big deal and 10 being a catastrophic hit.
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MORE STING FACTOR: Which October decommitments hurt the most?
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THE STORYLINE
Wesley Watson has had a wild ride through the recruiting process, but it now looks settled.
The three-star receiver from College Station (Texas) A&M Consolidated was first committed to SMU but backed off that pledge in favor of Colorado.
But when coach Karl Dorrell was fired midseason, Watson started to consider other options in his recruitment, with Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Houston and others getting involved.
Over the weekend, Watson was in Manhattan to watch the Wildcats completely dominate Oklahoma State in a stunning 48-0 decision.
By the time he left, the three-star receiver was the Wildcats’ newest commit and a big addition because he can put up big numbers.
Colorado currently ranks seventh in the Pac-12 team rankings with 16 commitments, including three receivers in Edward Schultz, Isaiah Hardge and Taylor Starling, all three-star prospects.
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LOCAL REACTION
Waston’s decommitment from Colorado’s 2023 recruiting class came shortly after his visit to Kansas State over the weekend. The loss of a lucrative three-star wide receiver prospect provides a further perspective on the state of Colorado’s football program.
Out of the class, only Watson and OT Naquil Betrand (on July 4) have decommitted from the program. During the offseason, Dorrell and former defensive coordinator Chris Wilson signed 18 players — including Weston and Betrand.
The Sting Factor for Waston’s departure could be lower. Colorado is currently one of the worst teams in FBS, so a change of plans is understandable. This football program has a few years ahead to rebuild and reestablish itself as a competitive program. Offers from No. 13 Kansas State are appealing in comparison.
The majority of the recruiting class is still signed with the Buffs, mostly three-stars. However, with the introduction of a new head coach in December and the future of the program, more players could follow suit.” - Nicolette Edwards, CUSportsReport.com
Sting Factor: 6
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NATIONAL REACTION
When I saw Watson at the Dallas Rivals Camp this offseason he was one of those players who doesn’t blow you away physically but runs all the routes incredibly well, gets open and makes a lot of catches. In his senior season, Watson has only 28 catches but nine of them have gone for touchdowns and he’s averaging nearly 22 yards per reception.
He’s going to be a nice addition to the Kansas State offense. He will bring some ability to stretch the field or take short passes and make defenders miss and then pick up big yards. Watson would have been a nice addition to Colorado’s receiver room, too, but he’s not an absolute game-changer. It’s not a terrible hit for the Buffs as they work through their coaching change.” - Adam Gorney, Rivals national recruiting director
Sting Factor: 5
