Big day gets even bigger for Buffs

Shortly after Jonathan Van Diest became the first prospect from the Class of 2017 to announce his commitment to Colorado, Dante Sparaco, his teammate at Englewood (Colo.) Cherry Creek, followed suit.

A “big athlete” at 6-foot-4, 253-pounds, Sparaco could end up playing on either side of the ball at the next level. He worked at both tight end and defensive end at one of Colorado's camps in Boulder last summer, and it was his performance at that camp that prompted the Buffs to extend an offer.

“They have told me they could see me playing outside 'backer, they could see me playing defensive end, or they could see me playing tight end, even as a slot guy,” Sparaco told BuffStampede.com last week. “They haven't really put a label on exactly what I'd be playing for them.”

Princeton, Columbia, Colorado State, Air Force and Utah State have also offered Sparaco, and he has heard from coaches at California and Stanford. An opportunity to “get a good education and play big time football” is what sold him on committing to the Buffaloes.

“CU was my first offer from a power five program and they have done a good job of selling me on the program. They talk about how it is close to home, and how Boulder is the best college town in the nation,” Sparaco recently said. “They have great facilities, and great coaches, and they are selling me on the fact the program is on the rise.”