Buffs offer Dallas area athlete first
Thabo Mwaniki is sure to have more college options before he signs his letter of intent in little less than 12 months. The Buffaloes were the first in line, though.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Thabo Mwaniki, who hails from Denton (Texas) Guyer, has had a chance to talk with multiple Buffs coaches since receiving the offer.
"At my school I move around a lot. I played outside linebacker, rover and receiver last season. I have played safety, I can play corner. [Colorado co-offensive coordinator, receivers] coach [Darrin] Chiaverini told me he likes kids like me that can just play ball, pure ball players, pure athletes," Mwaniki said. "He talked about all the nice facilities they built up there. They have a state-of-the-art weight room and everything else is brand new. But he said they need ballplayers.
“I also spoke to their defensive backs coach about the new facilities and how great things are ahead for the program. I would like to plan a visit to Colorado to see the campus sometime. I have heard it is really nice.”
Mwaniki was in phone contact with coaches from Oregon on Monday, and he has also drawn early interest from Tulsa, Houston, SMU, Colorado State and Texas State. Colorado is the only program that has stepped up with an offer so far.
“I am planning on majoring in Chemical Engineering so I would have to look into their Engineering school,” Mwaniki said when asked what he is looking for in a college. “Distance from home is really not a problem. I am fine with going to school anywhere in the nation. My relationship with the coaching staff and how I would fit into the program will probably be the biggest factors in my decision."
Mwaniki said it is too early to start thinking about which college might be his favorite, but he did add, “Colorado definitely has my interest. I have high interest in them.”
A first-team all-district selection as an outside linebacker last season, Mwaniki recorded roughly 70 tackles, and he had 18 catches on offense.
Most colleges are simply recruiting him as an athlete. Given his size and skills, it is very likely Mwaniki will factor in as a defensive back at the next level.
“I don't have any preference on position at all. I will figure it out on campus,” he said. “At defensive back, I do have the rare ability to cover, hit and I have excellent ball skills. I have had coaches tell me it is rare to come across kids that have two of those three qualities, so the fact I have all three is something they like a lot.”
Mwaniki said he is focused mostly on his footwork this off-season. He plans to compete in the long jump and on multiple relay teams during track this spring.
