Head Coach Jon Embree blazes the recruiting trail

When Dan Hawkins was fired as Head Coach of the University of Colorado's football team, many worried that his replacement, would struggle to recruit players. "I honestly didn't know much about him [Jon Embree]," said CU senior Mark Moersbacher.

The charismatic new head coach hit the recruiting trail and got 17 recruits to commit to CU in just 13 days.

"We had to get guys that had a chance to help us," said Embree at his recruiting luncheon. "Special teams-wise or at the position or guys that we felt like could do it academically and not lose it down the road."

The 17 recruits join two holdovers who committed while Hawkins was in charge and one gray-shirt who has already enrolled in classes for the Spring semester. While 20 recruits is normal for most programs, Embree created this class in less than two weeks. Most coaches spend an entire year scouring the country for players.

"We were able to convince them [recruits] and show them what we had and what Colorado's all about. And we were able to get them to want to come and be a part of this program," said Embree.

However, the most impressive part surrounding Embree's first recruiting class is CU's new staff convinced seven players to switch commitments from other schools and sign with the Buffs. Three of these players switched from future Pac-12 rival schools: Paulay Asiata (Washington), Woodson Greer (Arizona State) and Marc Mustoe (UCLA).

"We were in a situation with a lot of kids committed, that we had to go to where the players were," smirked Embree. "We went a little further than we normally did and we were able to get them. And I'm very excited really about not only our class, but the job that our coaches did."

Fans around the community praised the new staff's efforts as well.

"I think in the long run, it's going to be huge because he [Embree] has so much support from alumni and that's gonna transfer over to students. I think people are gonna have his back," said Moersbacher. "This state loves to get behind teams that do well, and I think that's what's gonna be the case here at CU."

In an even greater showing of support, 1,200 boosters and fans donated $75,000 to the athletic department during the recruiting luncheon. Not only were fans high on the staff's recruiting efforts, but such donations demonstrate that they buy into the system Embree is running.

It is now up to Embree and his staff to deliver on the field. With only seven months separating the new-look Buffs from their first game at Hawaii, fans hope all of Embree's talk translates to the field.