Statnite

Class of 2029 athlete Makai Buchanan from Victor Valley (CA) has drawn early offers from SMU, Georgia, UNLV, Miami, Purdue, UCLA, USC, Oregon, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Colorado State, South Florida, Louisville, Ohio State, Syracuse and several others. With the ability to line up in the backfield, split out wide or roam the secondary, Buchanan has quickly become one of the most intriguing young prospects in the country.

“They like that I’m versatile,” Buchanan said. “I play running back, receiver in the slot or safety. Every time I go to camps, I get offered on the spot. They just say that they like the way I work, the way I am in drills, and 1-on-1’s. No one really plays like me. I’m just different. I set myself apart because I can do so many things on the field.”

While college coaches see him as an “athlete” on the recruiting trail, Buchanan is in no rush to settle on one position.

“I’m getting recruited right now as an athlete,” he said. “For college, where ever I go, where ever they like me at the best and where ever it feels like home. Whether that’s at receiver, running back or the slot, wherever i can help the team is what i will do.”

Buchanan’s expectations for his freshman season are anything but modest.

“After the season ends, i should be the number one player in the country,” he said. “I should go for 1,500-1,700 all purpose yards, over 12 touchdowns, and me and my team should win CIS and state.”

Among the programs pushing hardest are some of college football’s biggest names.

“The major ones are Georgia, Ohio State, UCLA, USC, Oregon, Miami, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Arizona, SMU, Ole Miss and Texas A&M,” Buchanan said. “Those are like the top ones on my radar right now, and the coaches I’m closest with.”

With so much attention coming so early, Buchanan knows staying locked in will be key to sustaining his momentum.

“I just got to stay focused because it can go away in a snap,” he said. “One wrong move and it can go away. Everywhere i go, everybody looking at me, they know who i am. i just got to stay on top of my game and keep working hard.”

If Buchanan’s vision for himself comes true, his name could be one that college football fans get used to hearing well before he graduates high school.