Is Colorado football the biggest loser from Early Signing Period?

Colorado football signed just five recruits on Early Signing Day. Does that make the Buffs one of the biggest losers in the 2024 class?

Nov 17, 2023; Pullman, Washington, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders looks on during
Nov 17, 2023; Pullman, Washington, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders looks on during / James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
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On Wednesday, we talked about the winners from Early Signing Day. However, there wasn't much debate about one team that failed miserably in the 2024 class: Colorado football.

Frankly, it's hard to explain what the Buffaloes are doing. Colorado football signed five players on Wednesday, which ranks them 99th in the team rankings for the 2024 class according to the 247 Sports team rankings.

It's staggering. Yes, Colorado football has been active in the transfer portal. When considering the 16 transfers the Buffs are slated to bring in, Colorado's ranking for the 2024 class improves to 21st. However, the transfer portal rankings have a long way to go being finalized.

And that doesn't even consider the fact that a high school recruit tends to have more value than a one or two-year transfer. Transfers can provide immediate help and Colorado football has landed five transfers ranked as four-star prospects, but still, signing five players is a concern.

Making matters even worse is that Colorado whiffed on five-star Jordan Seaton -- at least it has so far as Seaton hasn't signed and is talking with Maryland, Tennessee, and Nebraska.

Losing Seaton would be the exclamation point on a terrible Early Signing Period for the Buffaloes. It just makes you wonder what Deion Sanders is doing? If he actually spending the time required to succeed in high school recruiting or did he believe the four-win season and his name would be enough?

Maybe it's fair to ask if Colorado football fans still believe? There are moves that could make the Buffaloes better next season. If Shedeur Sanders is back next season, Colorado football might be able to make a bowl game, but if Deion building something in Colorado?

It's hard to say what. It's like a revolving door and the bottom line is that Colorado isn't much closer to the top of the sport than it was when Deion Sanders took over a year ago. Yes, Prime has gotten players that Colorado wasn't going to get before, but what's the future look like?

Next. NEXT . 5 biggest winners from Early Signing Day . dark

Is there any plan beyond the 2024 season? Maybe the transfer portal philosophy will work. We've seen it in other places, but rarely does it work year-over-year without any investment in high school recruiting. Your roster has to have a backbone at some point and it's hard to construct that in the portal.