As Travis Hunter prepares for the 2025 NFL Draft, Colorado’s main focus in 2025 will be to address the void left by the current Heisman winner’s impact. Deion Sanders is already taking significant actions towards this goal by recruiting former Tulsa wide receiver Joseph Williams, the 2024 AAC Freshman of the Year, who is transferring to the Buffaloes from Utah.
Williams confirmed his transfer on Sunday to 247 Sports. The talented receiver initially committed to the Utes on December 18 but changed his mind just four days later for reasons that remain unclear.
Despite Tulsa’s struggles in 2024, Williams emerged as a bright spot for the Golden Hurricane. He finished second on the team in both receptions and receiving yards, with a total of 30 catches for 588 yards, and he scored five receiving touchdowns, earning him the AAC Freshman of the Year award over his teammate, quarterback Kirk Francis.
With 588 receiving yards, Williams ranked sixth among all freshmen in Division I. In addition to offers from Colorado and Utah, he also attracted interest from Michigan, LSU, USC, and several other schools through the transfer portal. Although he didn’t have a strong recruiting profile as a freshman, his 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame caught the attention of various Power Five programs.
Before joining Tulsa, Williams was a three-star recruit from Mansfield Summit High School in Arlington, Texas, and had received only two Power Five offers from Oregon State and Washington State. Ultimately, he chose to stay closer to home for immediate playing opportunities.
As Colorado prepares for a rebuild in 2025, the team faces the challenge of replacing not only Hunter but also the contributions of Shedeur Sanders, Jimmy Horn Jr., LaJohntay Webster, and Will Sheppard. While the Buffaloes have made progress each year under Sanders, they are expected to face a decline in the coming season.
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