Four-star defensive line recruit Emanuel Ruffin commits to Buffs

Colorado picked up a victory on the recruiting trail on Tuesday.

Blue chip defensive tackle Emanuel Ruffin verbally committed to the Buffaloes and head coach Deion Sanders for the 2026 class.

Rated by 247Sports.com as a four-star recruit, the 6-foot-4, 290-pounder from Bessemer City (Ala.) High School took an official visit to CU this past weekend, watching the Buffs roll past Wyoming, 37-20.

Ruffin is rated by 247Sports as the No. 9 overall prospect in Alabama and the No. 19 defensive line prospect in the country.

In June, Ruffin took visits to blueblood programs Alabama, LSU and Ohio State. Those schools are among the 31 scholarship offers received by Ruffin. His offer list includes 11 SEC schools, as well as Miami, USC and Washington.

According to MaxPreps, Ruffin recorded 52 tackles and five tackles for loss as a sophomore at Bessemer City and added 51 tackles and two tackles for loss as a junior.

CU has 12 verbal commitments for the 2026 class, eight of them on defense. Ruffin is one of three four-star recruits, along with linebacker Rodney Colton Jr. (Newman, Ga.) and safety Preston Ashley (Brandon, Miss.).