Colorado lands commitments from 4-star brothers Xavier and Dolph McDonald

Colorado is getting a massive late addition to its 2026 class. Morton (Miss.) four-star wide receiver Xavier McDonald announced that he has committed to the Buffaloes.

McDonald was pledged to Sacramento State since the summer, but he decommitted once news broke that Hornets head coach Brennan Marion left to be Colorado’s offensive coordinator. He’s now following Marion to Boulder.

According to Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett, McDonald’s younger brother, Dolph, has also committed to Colorado, becoming the program’s lone pledge in the 2027 cycle. He is a four-star cornerback prospect who also plays for Morton High in Mississippi.

Xavier McDonald is the No. 372 overall prospect and No. 59 WR in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 15 recruit in Mississippi. Dolph checks in as the No. 323 recruit and No. 33 corner in the 2027 cycle.

The 6-foot-2 pass-catcher had an interesting recruitment that saw Sacramento State make a major splash on the Fourth of July. The blue-chipper chose the rising FCS program over LSU and in-state Ole Miss, among others.

The elder McDonald’s process had been fairly quiet this fall. There weren’t persistent flip rumors or buzz that he may come off his Sac State pledge. Upon Marion’s decision to leave for CU, though, it became apparent that the Big 12 program would be the new leader to land his signature.

The December signing period is now in the books, so McDonald won’t be signing until February. He gives the Buffs a major jolt to a smaller signee list, however.

More on Colorado Recruiting

It’s no secret that CU head coach Deion Sanders and his staff hasn’t prioritized high school recruiting. The Buffs have signed very light classes each of the last three cycles. With Xavier McDonald now committed, Colorado has 13 commits in its 2026 class, the other 12 of which have now signed.

Duncanville (Texas) three-star cornerback Braylon Edwards, a former SMU pledge, committed and signed on Friday. On Thursday, four-star athlete Alexander Ward reclassified to the 2026 cycle and signed with CU. He joined his brother, three-star WR signee Christian Ward.

The top-ranked signee in the class is JUCO four-star EDGE Domata Peko Jr. From the high school ranks, Brandon (Miss.) four-star cornerback Preston Ashley checks in as the No. 32 corner nationally.

The entire updated class, which now ranks No. 60 in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings, can be seen here.