Who is Cash Cleveland? Colorado freshman scripts history for Deion Sanders' team
Cash Cleveland is the latest buzz out of Colorado in college football. While the Buffaloes have gained national attention, thanks in large part to coach Deion Sanders, quarterback Shedeur Sanders and top Heisman candidate Travis Hunter, Cleveland got the spotlight when Colorado played Utah last week.
The offensive lineman out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, became the first walk-on freshman to start in his position in Buffaloes history. Previously. he has appeared and taken snaps, but, this week, for the first time, he will start.
Cash Cleveland hails from Rockwall, Texas. On3 ranked him as a three star recruit, No. 279 interior offensive lineman in the nation and the No. 396 player from Texas. Before playing for IMG Academy, he spent three seasons for Rockwall-Health High School in Texas.
"Coming out of high school, I didn't have a lot of looks, you know," said Cleveland. "I was overlooked because I'm a smaller offensive lineman. But it's all about leverage and getting to the perfect angle and the perfect point. I feel like I do a great job of that."
Cash Cleveland impresses Buffs, developing in his role and becoming a starter
Cash Cleveland did well protecting Shedeur Sanders playing in the middle of the revamped O-Line against Texas Tech.
Earlier this season, when Cleveland made the team as a walk-on, Coach Prime asked him to stay prepared in case he had to take snaps out there.
"I would hit my knees every night and pray to God that if I ever got the opportunity I would take full advantage of it," Cleveland said on "Coach Prime's Playbook with Romi Bean."
Up until the middle of October, the opportunity didn't arrive, but since his debut against Arizona, his role has grown with the team. Ahead of his upcoming game against Kansas where he will be starting, Cleveland received a shoutout from former NFL center Jason Kelce.
"From one center to another, best of luck. Stay low ... outwork them baby," Kelce said.
Cash Cleveland fell short of words on hearing his name from a Super Bowl-winning center.
"It was awesome. Getting that shoutout means a lot because he's one of the best centers to ever play the game of football," Cleveland said.
With Colorado inching closer to make the playoffs, Cleveland will be tasked with more formidable challenge in coming games.