The recruiting battle that has been simmering for weeks finally boiled over on Monday when four-star offensive tackle Xavier Payne publicly backed away from his December 2024 pledge to Florida State just days after an official visit to Colorado. The 6-foot-7, 320-pound Miami native, rated the No. 67 tackle in the 2026 class by the 247Sports Composite, announced the news on social media, instantly shifting momentum toward Coach Prime’s Buffaloes.

Payne landed in Boulder late last week for a three-day stay and was treated to a full showcase of how Colorado plans to use him. “The best part was sitting down with the offensive line coaches and really seeing their blueprint for my development,” he told Rivals after returning home. That individualized attention, he said, made the trip “great” and gave him “some things to think about.”

What resonated most was the avalanche of NFL experience now embedded in Colorado’s staff. Head coach Deion Sanders is flanked by Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk, pass-rush legend Warren Sapp, and a growing list of pros turned mentors. “It really hit me how much NFL knowledge is in that building,” Payne explained. “They know the path because they’ve lived it—and they’ve helped others walk it, too.”

Payne’s decision doesn’t automatically push him into Colorado’s column, but it removes the biggest obstacle—his commitment to FSU—and positions the Buffaloes as the team to beat heading into the heart of the summer visit circuit. He has not yet announced a timeline for a final decision, but sources close to his recruitment expect additional trips before the early signing period.

For Sanders, flipping a prospect of Payne’s stature would deliver a statement in the trenches, an area he has vowed to overhaul after leaning heavily on the transfer portal in his first two seasons. At the moment, Colorado’s 2026 class features just two verbal commitments: three-star tight end Gavin Mueller and three-star athlete Domata Peko Jr.—the son of former NFL defensive lineman and current CU assistant Domata Peko. Landing Payne would give the group an anchor up front and signal that the Buffs can win head-to-head battles against traditional powerhouses.

The program’s upward trajectory under Sanders has been undeniable. After inheriting a 1–11 roster in 2022, “Coach Prime” steered Colorado to a 4–8 rebuilding year in 2023, then shocked the Big 12 with a 9–3 regular-season finish and an Alamo Bowl appearance against BYU in 2024. That leap came largely on the shoulders of transfer stars Travis Hunter (Heisman Trophy winner) and Shedeur Sanders (Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year), both now in the NFL. With those household names gone, Sanders is pivoting to high-school recruiting to build depth that can sustain success.

Payne fits that blueprint perfectly. His length, raw power, and mobility have made him one of the most coveted tackles in the Southeast, and scouts believe his ceiling is even higher once he begins working with college strength coaches. Colorado’s pitch centers on early playing time, personal tutelage from NFL veterans, and a chance to be the foundational piece of a class that redefines the Buffs in the trenches.

Florida State, meanwhile, will fight to regain traction. The Seminoles entered the 2026 cycle determined to stockpile offensive linemen and viewed Payne as a cornerstone. Losing him would sting, but the program has weathered late-cycle turbulence before. Expect Mike Norvell’s staff to push for an immediate follow-up visit in Tallahassee and to showcase FSU’s own NFL résumé, most notably two straight playoff campaigns and a pipeline that kept linemen drafted in recent years.

Ultimately, Payne’s recruitment is far from over, but Colorado now controls the narrative. If Sanders can seal the deal, it would mark the Buffs’ first flip of a blue-chip prospect from a perennial ACC contender and underline that Boulder is once again a destination spot for elite high-school talent. For a coach who built his brand on swagger and headline-grabbing moves, winning the Xavier Payne sweepstakes would be both substance and sizzle—a tangible sign that the “Prime Effect” is maturing from hype into sustainable roster building.