Deion Sanders has never been one to shy away from a challenge, but the next phase of his Colorado Buffs rebuild might be the toughest yet. With Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter off to the NFL, the Buffs are facing a harsh reality in the recruiting landscape. Their NIL valuation has taken a hit, and the class rankings reflect it—37th nationally, fourth in the Big 12. To regain momentum, Coach Prime needs a win on the trail, especially against heavyweight programs that won’t back down. Fortunately, a new hire on his staff might hold the key to landing a promising defensive force.

That’s where Domata Peko got his cue. Longtime NFL defensive lineman who recently joined Colorado’s staff fresh off a stint with the Cincinnati Bengals. His presence alone adds credibility to the Buffs’ defensive line development. But more importantly, he has a direct connection to one of the West Coast’s rising recruits—his son, Joseph Peko. The younger Peko, a 6-foot-3, 315-pound defensive lineman from Oaks Christian (CA), has been a prime target for Riley’s USC, a program that has long been the frontrunner for his commitment.

The Trojans, who boast the second-ranked 2026 recruiting class, have an NIL valuation that reflects their dominance. According to On3, USC’s average NIL valuation sits at $195,000, a stark reminder of the financial arms race Colorado must navigate. Despite that, the Buffs have made their move. Joseph Peko took to X to share his excitement today about receiving an offer from Deion Sanders and dad-led Buffs, writing, “BLESSED!! To receive an offer from The University of Colorado!”

The connection is obvious—a father coaching his son at the next level isn’t unheard of, and Folsom Field has already seen similar setups with Deion coaching Shedeur and Shilo Sanders, as well as Kaleb Mathis, son of CU assistant Kevin Mathis. If Joseph Peko chooses Boulder over Los Angeles, it would mark another father-son tandem in the making, but pulling him away from USC won’t be easy. But Prime is more than just a football coach, and for his 14 commits, he said, “We had a great class. We did some wonderful things. I rely heavily on portal and not high school. I think most we ever took from high school I think was 14 kids. You got to be careful with these young ones because it’s a little different nowadays.”

Lincoln Riley and the Trojans have been working on Peko for nearly a year, extending an offer in October 2023. Since then, he’s made multiple visits to the USC campus, and the program remains in a strong position to land him. His recruiting rankings may not jump off the page—No. 62 among defensive linemen, No. 712 overall per On3 Industry Rankings—but his raw talent and college-ready frame make him an attractive option for any defensive front.

If Colorado can land him, it wouldn’t just be about the talent—it would be a statement that Coach Prime can still go toe-to-toe with a recruiting powerhouse despite the financial gap. With six months until the 2025 season kicks off, Colorado still has time to gain ground, but the margins for error are razor-thin. The Buffs need a momentum shift in recruiting, and winning a head-to-head battle against USC for a player like Peko would be a much-needed boost.

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Peko’s recruiting battle: Can Deion Sanders fend off the GOAT?

The Buffs could use a big-time recruiting win, and landing a player like Joseph Peko over USC would be a massive momentum boost. But hold on—just when Deion Sanders thought his main competition was Lincoln Riley, the stakes just got even higher. Enter Bill Belichick, the man with six Super Bowl rings and a brand-new gig at North Carolina.

That’s right—the GOAT is now in the mix. After North Carolina extended an offer to Peko this week, Belichick’s NFL pedigree immediately became a factor. It’s safe to say his résumé speaks for itself, and you better believe that’ll catch Peko’s attention. Of course, USC is still a major player, and schools like UCLA, Miami, Oregon, and Michigan State are also knocking at the door.

But now, with his dad’s CU offer on the table and Belichick making a strong push, the decision just got a whole lot tougher. So, what’s it gonna be—Dad Domata’s and Coach Prime’s vision, the bright lights of USC, or the NFL-level expertise of Belichick?