Colorado continuing late push for elite 4-star Kam Mikell

Colorado’s 2024 recruiting class currently features just 11 commits with the Early Signing Period just six short weeks away. While Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes aren’t expected to bring in a full class to Boulder next season, there’s still plenty of room on the pledge list.

One of Colorado’s highest-ranked targets still on the board in the 2024 class is Statesboro (Ga.) four-star cornerback Kam Mikell. On Sunday night, the 6-foot, 180-pounder announced that he will be committing on Thanksgiving, Nov. 23.

The Buffaloes are one of six finalists for the No. 91 overall prospect in the 2024 cycle — per the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s fresh off a visit to Georgia, but will make his second fall game visit to Boulder this weekend.

With a decision date approaching, Sanders and Co. will have another shot to make an in-person impression and swipe the blue-chipper’s pledge. Fending off the in-state Bulldogs and other contenders won’t be easy, however.

“You know what they say, follow the visits. He was at Georgia — the hometown team — this past weekend. Georgia has really dialed up the push on Kam,” On3 national recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman said on The Inside Scoop. “Getting him on campus and then he sets a date. Getting him back on campus for Colorado of course looms incredibly large.”

Georgia is the current leader in Mikell’s recruitment, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM). His recent visit to Athens was his sixth documented trip, the most of any programs in the running for his pledge.

“They talked to me about how they really want me there and how good of a player I can be. The coaches talked to me about the different positions I could play and how they would use me,” Mikell told On3 following his latest visit.

Playing both ways has given Colorado traction with Mikell

The Buffaloes made a humongous splash at the beginning of the season — and Mikell was one of the first high-profile recruits to take notice. He took an official visit to Boulder on Sept. 8 to watch Colorado defeat Nebraska. That trip made a real impact on his recruitment.

“Man I loved it,” he told On3. “The fans were telling me that last year it was barely any people at the game and now the stadium was packed out. They were very happy about Colorado’s new winning era. It made me happy to see that. They have really changed the program around.”

Things haven’t been as smooth on the field for Colorado since, but the Buffs still have plenty of momentum with the elite athlete. That’s in-part thanks to Colorado’s want for Mikell to play on both sides of the football at the next level. Another factor in favor of the soon-to-be Big 12 program is it recently acquired the commitment of Mikell’s Statesboro teammate, four-star EDGE Amontrae Bradford.

“We’ve talked about this in the past, Kam, even though he’s one of the blue-chip cornerbacks in this recruiting class, go to Colorado and you have opportunities to make plays on both sides of the ball like he does at Statesboro High School,” Spiegelman said. “I think that’s why Colorado is going to have a seat at the final table with Kam Mikell. He’s also going back to Tennessee — which of course is one of the favorites down the stretch as well.”

Kam Mikell Scouting Summary

“Top athlete with a multi-faceted skill set who has the physical upside to develop into one of the top cornerback prospects in the 2024 cycle. Measured in at over 6-foot, 180 pounds prior to his senior season. A strong sprinter with some of the better track times among top 2024 cornerbacks. Finished third in the 100 meters at the state track finals as a sophomore with a personal best 10.50 mark. Backs up that speed in the camp setting and on the field.

…Primarily plays quarterback and corner for Statesboro High. Dangerous with the ball in his hands. Has the ability to rip off long gains with his home run speed. Flashes the long speed to stay attached on downfield routes as a cornerback. Also shows outstanding range as a run defender and in downfield pursuit.”

Mikell has an On3 NIL Valuation of $108K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.