On Sunday morning, Ca'Ron Baham became the first person in his immediate family to be handed a high school diploma. And the speedy 6-foot-0, 190-pound athlete from Marrero, La., is just getting started.

Baham will depart to begin his college education, and continue his football career, at Colorado at the end of the month.

"I am very excited, very blessed for the opportunity. I am just ready to come out to Colorado and take advantage of that opportunity," he said.

Despite missing his senior season at John Ehret High School due to a torn ACL, the Buffaloes coaches have told Baham repeatedly that they hope he can help them out early on.

"They said it doesn't matter what class I am in, freshman or senior, if I can make an impact on the field, I can play immediately," he said. "They told me to be ready to play."

Baham has done nine months of rehab on his knee, and he has done some cutting.

"I feel great. I have confidence in my knee," he said. "I just have to go out to Colorado and get tested and get cleared out there. Nothing is holding me back at this point, I just have to show them my ability to cut so I can start working out this summer."

A standout at quarterback at John Ehret before the injury, Baham is expected to factor in on the defensive side of the ball at Colorado, at either nickel back or cornerback.

"They told me they have five defensive backs on the field almost all the time so that is a good opportunity," he said. "They will probably put me in to test out the ACL and see how that is and then they will probably also put me at kick and punt returner."

One of the Buffs' fastest signees from the Class of 2016, Baham raced past defenders to gain 1,514 rushing yards as a junior in 2014. He averaged 9.8 yards per rushing attempt.

"This young man can fly. Ca'Ron has speed to kill," CU head coach Mike MacIntyre said on signing day. "I’m really, really excited about him. It was fun going to his house. His mother made red beans and rice and Cajun chicken; it was really, really hot. I had to drink a lot of water, but it was really good. I’m really excited about what Ca’Ron brings to the table and his excitement. It’s exciting for us to get back into New Orleans again."

Baham has a two-and-a-half month old daughter named Cadence. He will spend his first year at Colorado by himself, but Baham hopes to be joined by his daughter and his daughter's mother in Boulder next year.

"It is kind of something I have dreamed about, having my daughter there in the stands watching me put on a great show," he said.