Colorado recently sent out the coolest recruiting letters in college football. However, in doing so, the Buffaloes (probably) committed a violation.
They provided an item of value to a prospective player before he arrived to campus as an enrolee.
To be completely honest, I do not think the NCAA is going to crack down on Colorado because of this specific incident. Nor do I think it is a big deal. There is likely a loophole to avoid any kind of reprimand.
With that being said, we cannot ignore the reality of the situation. It is technically considered illegal.
Colorado’s college football recruiting letters are so cool.
Preston Ashley committed to the Buffaloes as a four-star prospect in the college football recruiting Class of 2026 at the end of June. The Mississippi-native chose Colorado over 23 offers from schools like Florida, UCLA, Ole Miss, Auburn, Tennessee and Nebraska.
He ranks as the No. 24 player at his position and a top-215 athlete overall. Things can always change but he shut down his recruitment and will not take any additional visits. (As of now!)
The Buffaloes sent their official offer through the mail earlier this month. It is the coolest offer letter I have ever seen.
The trifold pocket folder features multiple sheets of trading cards. There is the first-ever trading card of Ashley at Colorado to celebrate his official offer. The other 18 cards are of former players, like Travis Hunter, and current coaches, like Warren Sapp.
I think this is brilliant. The Buffaloes are showcasing their NFL-focused staff in a unique way that I have never seen before.
Is it a violation?
There is only one issue with this letter. NCAA rules strictly prohibit boosters and/or representatives of a specific university’s athletic department (or the actual athletic department) from providing a gift or anything of value to prospective student-athletes or their families during the recruiting process.
That rule includes clothing, tickets, money, etc. That rule likely includes trading cards.
Technically speaking, assuming the cards in the offer letter to Ashley are real, they are of value. Maybe not extreme value but value nonetheless.
Thus, this can be considered a gift and, in turn, an NCAA violation. Vinny Nardella, the Former Assistant Director of Football Creative at Auburn, agrees.
“Now I am a little washed a few years removed, but pretty sure you can’t send like physical stuff, has to be literally just paper. There’s creative ways and things to do with paper for sure. Could make the argument the card in case and the sleeves are probably not allowed,” he said.
The “creative ways” refers to something like this, from North Carolina State:
NC State’s recruiting department sent creative physical offer letters out today.
— Noah Fleischman (@fleischman_noah) August 1, 2025
It’s the small details that matter.
(🎥 via: @MooreZykir) pic.twitter.com/NxWmcmA69P
Nothing of value was provided. It was all paper (with a little screen) and nothing else.
Nothing is going to happen to Colorado and that is more than okay with me. The Buffaloes should not be punished for the coolest offer letter I have ever seen, even if it is against the rules at its core. It’s not like the NCAA has any power these days anyway. There are much bigger fish to fry.