What we learned from Karl Dorrell on Early Signing Day

BOULDER — Early Signing Day is in the books!

Karl Dorrell met with reporters Wednesday afternoon to talk about his second recruiting class as Colorado’s head coach. The Buffs pulled in 18 signees, with another committed to sign in February.

Here’s what we learned:

Dorrell likes his guys

This might not be a surprise, but Karl Dorrell is a fan of his 2022 recruiting class.

“We had a good signing day,” Dorrell told reporters. “It’s a good class of guys, so far, in our class.”

The class is ranked No. 6 in the Pac-12 by the 247Sports Composite Rankings, but that ranking is thanks in part to the size of the class. The Buffs are bringing in 19 recruits. Only one Pac-12 team has more.

The average Colorado signee is graded out to a little better than .85, good for 10th in the conference. That’s the second-best mark in the past seven years. Only Mel Tucker’s 2020 class graded out higher, and the margin is slim.

The top recruit is Dylan Dixson, a safety out of Texas.

The best group is probably the linebackers, with four of the top six playing inside or outside linebacker. One of those linebackers was Kenny Soares, who flipped his commitment at the last minute. Another linebacker, Shakaun Bowser, won’t sign until the February signing period.

Travis Gray, outside linebacker Eoghan Kerry, punter Ashton Grant, wide receiver Grant Page, athlete Oakie Salave’a and cornerback Joshua Wiggins will join the team for the spring semester, which starts in January.

The Buffs aren’t done

While Colorado already has a big class, more is on the way.

“We feel there’s still good players out there, both form a portal standpoint and for guys who can help us in this ’22 class,” Dorrell said. “We feel like this first part of this class is exactly what we’re looking for.”

Dorrell said he expects to have about seven scholarships left to play with either for transfers or freshmen.

“There are some positions we need to address,” Dorrell said.

Those positions, according to Dorrell, include safety and offensive line, but not many positions are ruled out.

“We probably have enough running backs but we’re hoping to gain another,” Dorrell said.

Colorado will continue to be active moving forward.

The offensive coordinator is on the way

Colorado still doesn’t have an offensive coordinator.

The Buffs fired Darrin Chiaverini shortly after the season ended and the process to replace him is still ongoing. But, according to Dorrell, the Buffs could have their guy soon.

“We’re really close on that decision,” Dorrell said.

The pool has been narrowed to just a few finalists for the position, and Dorrell has conducted remote and in-person interviews for the job. There’s a good chance the announcement will come by the end of the week.

While Dorrell’s ties are primarily to the professional game, where he spent 11 of 12 seasons before signing on as Colorado’s head coach, it sounds like he’s going after somebody from the college ranks.

“I am staying in the college realm,” Dorrell said.

Why?

Dorrell brought up his 2005 coaching staff at UCLA that finished with a No. 16 ranking. That team had coaches like Dino Babers, Eric Bieniemy, Tom Cable and Jon Embree. It was a talented staff, packed with coaches who went on to impressive careers.

But after the season, six of Dorrell’s nine assistants left for the NFL, and Dorrell said the lack of coaching talent was part of the reason the Bruins only won seven games in 2006.

Dorrell isn’t looking for young coaches trying to move up through the ranks.

“That doesn’t help me,” Dorrell said.

Instead, he’s looking at proven coaches who want to help build Colorado for the long haul.

For more Signing Day coverage, check out are tracker here.