Deion Sanders' Colorado has convinced 4-star safety Antonio Branch to flip his Penn State commitment: REPORTS 

By Aman Sharma

Modified Sep 23, 2024 19:07 GMT

The Colorado Buffaloes, led by head coach Deion Sanders, have made headlines by securing the commitment of four-star safety Antonio Branch, flipping him from Penn State. Branch, a standout from Miami (Fla.) Northwestern, had previously committed to the Nittany Lions but changed course after visiting Boulder.

Branch’s mother, Trina, explained that the opportunity for her son to potentially start as a freshman played a significant role in their decision.

“I would say it’s a good potential fit because he has an opportunity to start as a true freshman,” Trina told On3. “Who wouldn’t want to be coached by Deion Sanders. Someone that played the same position Antonio is playing."

Beyond football, Trina praised the family-like atmosphere and the breathtaking mountain views that made Boulder feel special.

“Besides the football, the atmosphere, the mountains, oh my God, the view of that was gorgeous. The people there were wonderful. Nice and loving. It felt like family.”

Branch himself echoed these sentiments, emphasizing Sanders' influence on his decision.

“It felt like home to me,” he shared with 247 Sports. “Why not get coached by the best to do it?”

Before his visit to Colorado, Branch had taken official visits to both Penn State and Nebraska in the spring. However, when Colorado extended their offer on September 5, Branch quickly arranged a visit to Boulder. The visit coincided with the Buffaloes’ thrilling overtime win against Baylor.

Antonio Branch is ranked as the No. 38 safety nationally and the No. 57 player in Florida. He is the eighth commitment for Colorado’s 2024 class and the first since athlete Zayne DeSouza committed in August. His addition helped elevate Colorado from No. 85 to No. 79 in national recruiting rankings.

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Deion Sanders secures safety Antonio Branch, Penn State left with thin depth

Antonio Branch previously fielded offers from notable programs like Nebraska, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, and UCF. Taking advantage of a bye week for his high school team, Branch visited Colorado and ultimately decided to switch his commitment from Penn State.

During his current senior season, Antonio Branch recorded 18 tackles in three games after transferring from Miami Booker T. Washington, where he recorded 52 tackles and two interceptions. Last year, as a junior, he added 28 tackles and another interception.

With Branch’s departure, Penn State is left with only one safety, three-star recruit Braswell Thomas, in their 2024 class. The loss comes at a challenging time for the Nittany Lions, who are dealing with a “long-term” injury to safety Kevin Winston Jr.

Both Winston and fellow safety Jaylen Reed are expected to declare for the NFL Draft next season, putting pressure on freshmen Dejuan Lane and Vaboue Toure to step up for the 2025 season.

Meanwhile, Coach Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes have had a strong start to their 2024 season with a 3-1 record, including a thrilling 38-31 overtime win against Baylor in their first Big 12 game.