"Actually one of our biggest commits based on needs": Colorado fans react as Coach Prime receives the commitment of 5-star Kicker

Coach Prime Deion Sander's Colorado received a significant boost on Tuesday evening as Class of 2025 kicker Elliott Arnold committed to the Buffaloes. Arnold, a five-star recruit per Kohl’s Kicking Camps, gained national recognition as a finalist for the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football High School Kicker of the Year award.

Arnold, a McCallie School senior from Chattanooga, Tennessee, has offers from powerhouse programs like TCU and Tennessee. Over the past season, he achieved 34 touchbacks on 40 kickoff attempts and nailed 15 of his 17 field goal tries, including a remarkable 51-yarder. Additionally, he converted 41 out of 43 extra-point attempts.

Fans have expressed excitement about Arnold’s addition, with one saying:

“Actually one of our biggest commits based on needs.”

“Prime mentioned in a press conference that kicking wasn’t going to be a problem next year,” another fan said.

Here is how other fans are expressing their reactions:

"Take advantage of that altitude Son," a fan said.

"Bros gonna get red shirted and enter the portal after yr 1," another fan said.

"My goat Mata clears," one fan said.

Arnold’s July performance at Kohl’s National Scholarship Camp reinforced his elite status. He tallied 17 points on field goals and posted an impressive 107.43 on kickoffs.

At the January 2024 Underclassman Challenge, he earned his 5-star rating by demonstrating consistency and power. His standout moments include a 69-yard kickoff with 3.22 seconds of hang time at the Kohl’s Future Stars Invitational.

Arnold’s commitment addresses a pressing need for Colorado’s special teams. Current kickers Alejandro Mata and Jace Feely, while reliable in other aspects, have struggled with kickoffs.

Last year Following Colorado’s 52-0 victory over Oklahoma State, Sanders said:

“We’ll have touchbacks next year, I’ll promise you that.”

With Arnold’s ability to boot 67-yard kicks and beyond, Sanders’ vision might come to life.

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Coach Prime eyes record-breaking Alamo Bowl farewell with his sons as Colorado faces BYU

The Colorado Buffaloes’ kicking struggles over the past two seasons have been a persistent issue, and while five-star recruit Elliott Arnold brings promise, he may not be the complete solution. Despite Arnold’s commitment, depth concerns within the unit remain.

Meanwhile, Colorado coach Deion Sanders is gearing up for an emotional moment as his team prepares to face BYU in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio on Dec. 28.

This game will mark the final college appearance for his two sons, quarterback Shedeur Sanders and safety Shilo Sanders, as they exhaust their eligibility.

“This is gonna be our last game,” Sanders said on an Alamo Bowl announcement. “And you talk about monumental. You talking about something that we started from the youth league. And guess what? It started right here in Texas.”

Sanders is also setting his sights on breaking attendance records at the Alamodome, where the largest Alamo Bowl crowd was 66,166 in 2007. The venue’s football capacity is 64,000, but its record is 73,086 from a 2013 George Strait concert.

“I hear that George Strait as well as Texas A&M has the record for attendance," Deion said. "I’m pretty sure we’re gonna break that one."

With 14 commitments, including elite quarterback Julian Lewis, Colorado’s 2025 recruiting class continues to build under Sanders’ leadership.