Colorado adds another Sunshine State star in defensive back D'Montae Tims

Coach Prime has dipped back into his home state in recruiting.

Seffner (Fla.) Armwood defensive back D’Montae Tims announced his pledge to Deion Sanders and company over fellow finalists Georgia and Louisville. He is a former Missouri commitment.

The Buffs happened to be the latest program to offer the rising-senior recruit, jumping in on June 1. An official visit was quickly scheduled less than two weeks later and now he is on board for good as of Wednesday.

“Colorado just separated from everybody else by how real and consistent they were with me,” Tims told Rivals. “From the jump, they showed me how much I was needed, how I fit their vision, and that they could really develop me into the player and man I wanna be.

“It just felt genuine, and they made it clear this wasn’t just talk…They backed it up every time we talked. That energy just hit different than the others.”

Of course a secondary recruit from the state of Florida picking the Big 12 program has plenty to do with the head coach in Boulder.

“It’s special, for real,” Tims said of committing to Sanders. “Being committed to Coach Prime is different because you know you’re learning from one of the greatest to ever do it. He’s more than just a coach, he’s somebody who’s been where I’m trying to go and he keeps it real with you while still pushing you to be great.

“It’s a blessing to be able to play for a legend like that.”

Sanders, Buffs see Tims moving around in college

Tims is a late-blooming recruit compared to many at his own prep program or even club 7-on-7 team (Miami Raw). He burst onto the scene in the New Year with great camp efforts en route to the Mizzou pledge. Georgia, Miami and many others came in thereafter, resulting in the recruiting reset.

What made Tims valuable on various programs’ boards was his versatility. At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, he has experience at safety and has also worked a lot of man coverage from the slot, potentially supplementing the projection as a nickel.

The new Buff commitment will trust Sanders to see the long-term fit.

“He’s been great,” Tims said. “He really wants me at his school and he makes it clear. They see me playing nickel or safety…

“I fit perfectly, it’s the same role I play at my high school.”

Colorado now holds seven verbal commitments in the class of 2025, with Tims representing the first win among defenders in the Sunshine State. Fellow Floridian Xavier Payne jumped on board earlier this week.

“We comin’, SkoBuffs!” Tims said.