National signing day arrived in Colorado on Wednesday and brought with it zero drama — as well as a familiar theme.

Each of the state’s most coveted recruits stayed true to verbal commitments made months ago, with every last one of them signing letters of intent with schools outside the Centennial State.

The state’s top-rated Class of 2024 prep prospect, three-star offensive lineman Gage Ginther out of Fossil Ridge, was among them. In fact, he’d already joined his new team at Tennessee before the early signing period for senior high school football recruits began Wednesday.

Ginther’s pledge to the Volunteers marked the seventh straight year that Colorado’s top-rated prep recruit signed with a program outside the state lines. The 6-foot-5, 287-pound lineman joins fellow Fossil Ridge grad Trey Zuhn (Class of ’21, Texas A&M) as the second No. 1 overall recruit from the Box State to head to the SEC in the last four years. Throw in former Valor Christian running back Gavin Sawchuk, who signed with SEC-bound Oklahoma in 2022, and that number rises to three.

A year ago, CU Buffs coach Deion Sanders made a late run at Cherry Creek’s Blake Purchase, but the four-star edge rusher ultimately chose to sign with Oregon.

Coach Prime did not have a single in-state recruit sign with his program on Wednesday’s early signing day, a year after signing just one. While CSU Rams coach Jay Norvell did add three in-state recruits, none were among Colorado’s top 10 recruits on 247Sports.com’s composite rankings. All 10 of those seniors signed outside state lines.

The one program rolling the dice on Centennial State kids the most? Northern Colorado and second-year head coach Ed Lamb, who reeled in 11 Coloradans on early signing day.