Colorado lands 2027 safety Samari Howard after busy June recruiting weekend

Colorado added another piece to its 2027 recruiting class on June 7, pledging Fort Lauderdale safety Samari Howard after what has been billed as a pivotal stretch of June recruiting activity for the program. Yahoo Sports reported the commitment as Colorado’s fifth added recruit following the Buffs’ June 5 weekend, pushing the class total to 14 commitments for 2027.

Howard is a three-star safety from St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida, a program that has continued to produce major college-level prospects. Rivals ranking services peg Howard as the No. 75 safety and No. 708 overall prospect in the 2027 cycle, and On3 reported he is the No. 69-ranked player in Florida.

On the field, Howard’s profile has been centered on playmaking and versatility. Sports Illustrated reported he recorded 34 tackles, four pass breakups, and three interceptions during the 2025 season at St. Thomas Aquinas, and described his physical build as 5-foot-11, 168 pounds. The same report said his ability to make plays on the ball, move with receivers, and contribute in different defensive alignments could give Colorado multiple ways to use him early in his career.

Colorado’s decision to keep pressing during the June 5-7 visit weekend fits that approach. Sports Illustrated previously previewed the Buffaloes hosting Howard during the June 5-7 window and framed him as part of a broader defensive priority in the class. The report also emphasized Howard’s match to a secondary plan in Boulder that is looking for safeties who can handle both coverage over the top and roles closer to the action.

The timing also carried recruiting geography significance. On3 reported that Howard came off an official visit to Boulder and then returned to Florida with Colorado in a lead position for his commitment, with Indiana and West Virginia listed among other schools in contention. The same On3 update noted Howard would join fellow Florida commitments from that weekend, including offensive tackle Zaquan Linton and running back Steven Alexis, while cornerback Davon Dericho had committed earlier in the cycle.

For a program now competing in the Big 12, the larger intent of the 2027 haul is to build depth that can eventually translate to sustained league-level consistency. Colorado officially re-entered the Big 12 beginning in 2024, and the current recruiting push is part of the ongoing effort to reset the roster pipeline under head coach Deion Sanders. Sports Illustrated characterized earlier Colorado recruiting results as having struggled in prior years, while calling the current 2027 class buildup “working” in Boulder.

In terms of what Howard represents inside the class, Sports Illustrated’s recruiting breakdown listed a wide mix of positions already on board for Colorado’s 2027 group, including quarterback Andre Adams, wide receiver Jaiden Kelly-Murray, offensive tackle Li’Marcus Jones, defensive tackle Kenny Fairley, edge rusher Ba’Roc Willis, and cornerbacks Devon Dericho and Will Rasmussen, among others. Adding Howard gives the Buffs another defensive-back addition after stacking commitments across the front and in the skill spots, which may help Colorado maintain recruiting momentum while filling remaining needs on the defensive side.

It is still worth tracking whether Colorado makes further additions after this weekend’s commitments, especially at defensive back, where one pledge can help define the staff’s remaining targets. Since an official University of Colorado athletics announcement for Howard was not located in the research gathered for this report, readers should treat some class-total and recruiting-rollup details as subject to confirmation by Colorado’s own recruiting channels.