Colorado football is making an early move in the 2028 recruiting cycle, extending an offer to explosive Virginia athlete Keith Nolen Jr. on Thursday. The move signals that head coach Deion Sanders and his staff are already looking ahead, even as they build toward the 2027 class.

Nolen, a 6-foot-1, three-star prospect, is ranked as the No. 359 overall player in the 2028 class, the No. 26 athlete nationally, and the No. 8 recruit from Virginia. He already holds offers from 11 programs, including Duke, Kentucky, Maryland, Rutgers, South Carolina, Syracuse, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and UMass.

What makes Nolen stand out? Explosiveness. In his sophomore season, he primarily lined up at wide receiver and contributed on special teams. Despite limited touches, he made the most of them—hauling in 14 receptions for 367 yards and four touchdowns. That averages out to a jaw-dropping 26 yards per catch, a stat that screams big-play threat.

Nolen fits the mold of the versatile, two-way athletes that Sanders has prioritized since arriving in Boulder. Much like Colorado's use of Travis Hunter—who played both wide receiver and cornerback at an elite level—Nolen has the skill set to contribute on both sides of the ball. His frame, speed, and playmaking ability make him a natural fit for a program that has embraced the "ironman" mentality.

Colorado's 2028 class currently has no commitments, but that's expected at this early stage. The focus has largely been on the 2027 cycle, where the Buffs have just three pledges so far. Still, offers like this one show that the staff is thinking long-term, identifying talent that can develop into the next wave of difference-makers.

For now, Nolen is a name to watch—a dynamic athlete with the tools to become a key piece of Colorado's future recruiting puzzle.