Pac-12 Football Recruiting: The Top 10 Players to Sign with Colorado During the Internet Age

Colorado continues our 12-part series where we are ranking the best recruits to sign with each Pac-12 school since the advent of serious recruiting coverage on the Internet (2002 serving as the furthest year back that you can find rankings for players online). Our rankings are put together by combining players' rankings from recruiting sites, offers and the amount of hype that surrounded their singings.

Please note that these are taking only into account how highly-rated players were coming out of high school, not their college careers. So please, no angry, insult-laden comments about how only a child murderer wouldn't realize that LaMichael James (Or any player who had a great college career, but was an under-the-radar recruit) should be number three on the list.

1. Darrell Scott Class of 2008 RB Ventura, CA - St. Bonaventure

Scott looked like a can't miss prospect as he was ranked as the top running back in the country by Scout and one of the top prospects at any position due to his combination of size and speed. Scott had offers from pretty much every power in the country and made a huge splash when he chose Colorado over Texas and UCLA. Scott had a somewhat promising season as a freshman, but ended up transferring as a sophomore and ended up at South Florida before trying out for the NFL.

2. Ryan Miller Class of 2007 T Littleton, CO - Columbine

Miller had a dream body for an offensive lineman coming out of high school as he was 6'8 280 and teams from all around the country took note. Miller considered going to Notre Dame and some other premier national schools, but ended up staying home and signed with the Buffs, becoming one of the best prospects that they have signed in recent history. Miller was held back by injuries a bit and played for a lot of bad Colorado teams, but used his potential to get drafted by the Browns in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

3. Nick Kasa Class of 2009 DE Broomfield, CO - Legacy

A physical freak, Kasa was a 6'7 235 defensive end/tight end who could really move and make plays all over the field. Kasa was recruited by big time programs from all over the country including Florida and Oregon, but ended up being a huge score for the Buffs and staying at home. Kasa started out as a defensive end, but ended up moving to tight end during his junior season and played well as a senior before being taken by the Raiders in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

4. Lynn Katoa Class of 2008 LB Salt Lake City, UT - Cottonwood

Katoa was a five-star prospect who was very similar to Manti Te'o in that he was big, instinctual, played with a lot of heart and was wanted by almost every school in the country. Surprisingly, Katoa turned down a number of elite national programs and ended up heading to Colorado. Unfortunately, Katoa had so many off-the-field problems that he never ended even playing at Colorado and was recently arrested in 2012.

5. Jon Major Class of 2008 LB Parker, CO - Ponderosa

Big and fast with great hitting ability, Major was one of the top inside linebackers in the country in the Class of 2008. Major checked out the entire country and visited Oklahoma and Wisconsin before choosing to stay home. Major ended up having a solid career at Colorado and made honorable mention All-Pac-12.

6. Yuri Wright Class of 2012 CB Ramsey, NJ - Don Bosco Prep

With great size and athleticism, Wright was one of the most coveted cornerbacks in the nation and rated a four-star prospect by Scout. Wright committed to Michigan early, but caused a lot of controversy with some offensive Twitter remarks, got kicked out of high school and lost a lot of his offers before signing with Colorado. Wright saw time as a true freshman and looks like one of the best young defensive backs in the Pac-12.

7. Markques Simas Class of 2007 WR San Diego, CA - Mira Mesa

A pure receiver with great hands and route running, Simas was one of the top receivers on the West Coast and rated a four-star prospect by Scout. Simas considered a number of Pac-12 schools before choosing the Buffs over Arizona State, Oregon and Washington State. It took Simas a while to get onto the field, but he did have a good year in 2009 before being suspended indefinitely in 2010.

8. Brian Calhoun Class of 2002 RB Oak Creek, WI

Calhoun was one of the top running backs in the country as a big, strong Big Ten style back that was given four stars by Scout. Calhoun signed with Colorado, but transferred to Wisconsin quickly where he became an All-American.

9. Paul Richardson Class of 2010 WR Gardena, CA - Juniperro Serra

Richardson was a big target with soft hands that was one of the top pass catching targets out West in his class. Richardson signed with UCLA, but got into an off-the-field incident before his freshman year and transferred to Colorado. Richardson had great freshman and sophomore season before missing 2012 with an injury, and is no expected to return and be one of the best receivers in the Pac-12.

10. Paulay Asiata Class of 2011 T Honlulu, HI - St. Louis

A big, athletic tackle that could move, Asiata was one of the top prospects in the Class of 2011 to come out of Hawaii. Asiata considered a number of Pac-12 and committed to Washington at one point but signed with Colorado. Unfortunately Asiata quickly left school due to academic issues.

Others considered

Dominique Brooks Class of 2003 S Mesquite, TX - North

Donald Burgs Class of 2002 CB Houston, TX - James Madison

Brian Daniels Class of 2003 G Denver, CO - Mullen

Bryce Givens Class of 2008 T Denver, CO - Mullen

Gardner McKay Class of 2005 CB Los Angeles, CA - Crenshaw