Tuioti-Mariner to the Big 12, Scott to follow
For the last month, we've been hearing Corona (Calif. ) offensive lineman Max Tuioti-Mariner was on the verge of making a decision. We kept hearing it was Oregon or Cal for the lineman but he'll be leaving the West to play his college ball.
"I just called up Coach Grimes and committed to Colorado," Tuioti-Mariner said. "It was a really hard decision and my head is still kind of spinning right now. I think it came down to just feeling like Colorado was the best overall fit for me.
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"They say that when you go on a visit, sometimes from that special feeling you get in your stomach, you just know that's the right place for you and that happened for me at Colorado. I love the coaching staff and I can't say enough about Coach Grimes.
"He said he wants to coach guys that are nasty and that's the kind of coach I want to play for. I think he's the guy that can help make me the best player I can be. I'm also looking forward to blocking for Darrell Scott, I hear he's going there and it will be fun to block for the No. 1 back in the nation.
"Colorado is a beautiful place and I just think it's where I belong. It came down to CU, Oregon and Hawaii and I loved those schools too. Like I said, it wasn't easy for but I went with my gut feeling and that was Colorado."
Tuioti-Mariner missed his entire senior year from a torn ACL but said his rehab is going great.
"I'm working out every Monday, Wednesday and Friday," Tuioti-Mariner said. "I'm probably about 75% back right now and I'm working on getting all my strength back in my lower body. I think I'll be ready to compete for playing time at CU in the fall and I'm looking forward to that."