KD Nixon to Colorado: Buffaloes Land 4-Star Athlete Prospect

KD Nixon, one of the most dynamic offensive playmakers in the 2017 class, announced Tuesday he's planning to continue his football career at Colorado.

The speedster explained his selection in a Twitter message:

Nixon is a 4-star prospect who rates as the No. 191 overall recruit in the class of 2017, according to Scout's player rankings. He's also listed as the No. 13 athlete among the incoming class and the third-ranked player under that distinction from Texas. 

The DeSoto High School standout is a unique case, though. He possesses the skill set of a top-50 recruit with offensive versatility and game-changing quickness. The only reason he's not rated that high is his 5'8" frame, which raises questions about his ability to handle weekly punishment.

It's a situation where the coaching staff will need to create scenarios to get him the ball in space, where he can make people miss. He's not a player who's going to handle a heavy workload every game, and that does have a negative impact on his overall stock.

That said, Brian Mohr of the Rivals Camp Series highlighted some of the athlete's playmaking talent:

While that play illustrated his ability to beat defenses over the top with his speed, he's also capable of handling backfield work. Most likely, the staff will move him around the formation to create the best possible matchup rather than pigeonhole him into a certain role.

Nixon had previously committed to Tennessee before deciding to reconsider his options. He told Bleacher Report's Damon Sayles the initial announcement just came too soon.

"I just needed more time," Nixon said. "At the end of the day, you have to make the best decision, and it takes time. I have to put myself in the best situation possible."

Choosing Colorado over one of the more high-profile schools that was interested is a risk, but an understandable one. Though he won't be in the national spotlight quite as much, there's a better chance for him to receive a realistic opportunity to get extensive playing time.

At a place like Tennessee or Ohio State, Nixon would have likely been limited to the aforementioned niche role. And quite frankly, that's probably the long-term outcome for his football career. But he doesn't have to concede that probable result yet.

Joining the Buffaloes keeps him in a major conference with a program that's made steady progress while still keeping his options wide-open in terms of playing opportunities. It's the best of both worlds for a player with a unique set of skills. 

Ultimately, Nixon's first involvement figures to come on special teams while the coaching staff works to figure out how to utilize him within the offense. But the talent is there for him to become a high-impact contributor despite the lack of ideal size.