Buffs pluck one from the Peach State

Colorado's first two commitments from the Class of 2016 have come from prospects that live outside the Buffaloes' normal recruiting grounds. Beaverton (Ore.) High quarterback Sam Noyer verbally committed on June 2, and nine days later, Woodstock (Ga.) Sequoyah wide receiver Derrion Rakestraw jumped on board.

"I committed to [head] coach [Mike] Mac[Intyre] and he was excited," said the 6-foot-3, 175-pound Rakestraw. "I was one of the main guys they wanted."

Rakestraw's commitment to the Buffs came a day after he returned from an unofficial visit to Boulder. He took the trip with his father.

"My dad loved it just as much as I did and I want to get my mom out there sometime soon. But my dad is on board just as much as I am," he said. "My family agreed with my decision."

Rakestraw claimed 20 scholarship offers, but Colorado was his most attractive option. His other offers were from non-power conference programs or from schools that compete at the FCS level. Arizona State, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Minnesota, Missouri, Purdue and Tennessee were recruiting him but hadn't offered yet.

"[Colorado] offered pretty early so that is how I knew they wanted me a lot," Rakestraw said. "A lot of these other power conference programs, they are talking to me but they haven't actually offered."

Rakestraw plays for James Teter, the same coach that tutored Colorado cornerbacks coach Charles Clark when he was in high school. Clark is responsible for his recruitment from the Buffs' staff.

"Colorado believes in me and I believe in them, too," Rakestraw said. "The campus really sold itself and then the facilities they are building, they are going to be among the best in the nation. And the coaching staff was great. They were a bunch of real good dudes that know what they are doing. It is a little bit different from where I am at right now and I liked that. Everybody says the campus is beautiful and I saw it in pictures but actually seeing it in person, that really sold me."

Rakestraw hauled in 51 passes as a junior and he is also a full-time starter at cornerback. He could end up playing on either side of the ball when he enrolls at Colorado, but he will most likely factor in at wide receiver.

"Yeah, I will start out at wide receiver," he confirmed. "[Colorado knows] that I can make plays on the ball when it is in the air. They like my character and everything, the fact that I am a good kid and have good grades. They just think I will be a really good fit in their program."

Rakestraw's leap of 23-feet-9-inches in the long jump during track season was the second best in Georgia this spring and qualified him for the state meet.

Colorado today was 💯💯. Had a great time with the coaches and the players I met ✊🏽 pic.twitter.com/ZYwW6OElra- Derrion ⚡️ (@Derrixn) June 10, 2015

Blessed to say I'm officially committed to the University of Colorado 🙏🏽💯 #GoBuffs 🎓 pic.twitter.com/pMqdDuS5r8- Derrion ⚡️ (@Derrixn) June 11, 2015

Shout out to my boy @Derrixn for committing to CU! Excited to be throwing him TD's in a few years #GoBuffs- Sam Noyer (@SamNoyer24) June 11, 2015

Congrats to my brother since middle school on committing to Colorado, big things in store man ✊🏻😈 @Derrixn pic.twitter.com/KKmxWa8K8P- Ashton Griffith (@NoChillAsh) June 11, 2015

Congrats from all of the Sequoyah Nation on committing to Colorado. We are so proud of you.@Derrixn @RunRalphieRun pic.twitter.com/fIudhetGTy- SequoyahChiefs (@SequoyahChiefs) June 11, 2015[rl]