Report: Colorado transfer running back Alton McCaskill commits to Arizona State

Former Houston and Colorado running back Alton McCaskill has committed to Arizona State out of the NCAA transfer portal, he told ESPN.

McCaskill was the AAC Freshman of the Year at Houston in 2021 and had a monster year, putting him on the radar or just about every major Power Five team. He wound up transferring to Colorado prior to 2023 but had a limited impact.

He spent just one season in Colorado and did not have nearly the kind of production he would have hoped for. He saw just 14 carries and logged 59 yards, while also catching two passes for 19 yards.

He entered the transfer portal as a result, seeking a new home where he can return to form.

Alton McCaskill was widely regarded as one of college’s best after his freshman season at Houston in 2021. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry and racked up 961 yards and 16 touchdowns rushing. He also recorded 21 catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns.

For whatever reason, that didn’t translate at Colorado and McCaskill found playing time difficult to come by.

So he entered the NCAA transfer portal to find a new home, which he did in Arizona State. McCaskill also visited UCLA and Virginia Tech before making his decision.

Prior to enrolling at Houston, Alton McCaskill was a four-star prospect and the No. 386 overall recruit in the 2021 recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.

He also checked in as the No. 26 running back in the class and the No. 54 overall player from the state of Texas, hailing from Conroe (TX) Oak Ridge.

Colorado has once again seen plenty of attrition via the NCAA transfer portal this offseason. According to On3’s tracking, the Buffaloes have lost 17 players to the transfer portal since the season ended, while gaining 33 new players through the portal.

Those numbers will help supplement the roster after the Buffaloes took a very light 11-man 2024 recruiting class.