This is a post in our series of Hello posts, where we breakdown each newcomer in the 2024-2025 recruiting class and transfer portal. Up next is TE Zayne DeSouza. For our last Hello! post, see:
Position:
Tight end.
Size:
6’6”, 255 pounds as currently listed on the CU roster. DeSouza will have the largest frame of any tight end on the CU roster (Sav’ell Smalls is 6’3” and 260 pounds). DeSouza’s size on the CU roster matches his recorded size on recruiting websites so no altitude shrinkage — which makes sense because DeSouza plies his trade at Loveland High School’s 4,997 ft. above sea level.
Offers:
DeSouza had 3 offers — CU, Northern Colorado and Washington State. The Washington State offer is interesting — Washington State is heavily recruiting Colorado high school players. This year, WSU has offers out to 9 Colorado prep players including WSU safety commit Aiden Knapke (Cherry Creek) and former commit and Northfield tackle Aidan Martin. Last year, WSU landed Erie standout Jackson Cowgill. It’s clear that Washington State thinks Colorado high school football is under-valued and is making significant efforts to land Colorado prep players.
Recruiting Rankings:
DeSouze is ranked a 3-star recruit by each of 247, On3, rivals and ESPN. On the 247 composite ranking, DeSouza is ranked the #62 tight end nationally and the #3 player in the State of Colorado. ESPN is much more bullish on him, ranking him the #26 tight end in the country.
High School:
DeSouza plays at Loveland High School in Loveland, Colorado. Loveland is a Class 5A school that has an enrollment of 1,525 students and alums include former CU Buff greats Jeremy Bloom and Dave McCloughan. Wikipedia also notes that Rick Steves, the travel guy and inventor of the nose pillow, attended Loveland High School. Folks, you can’t trust everything you read on Wikipedia.
Loveland High School runs a run-heavy modified wing-T offense, which makes it tricky for a tight end to rack up big receiving yards. In DeSouza’s senior year, however, he totaled 51 catches for 446 receiving yards. During his junior year, he racked up 330 yards receiving with one touchdown.
DeSouza is also a great high school basketball player. This season he’s led Loveland to the Colorado high school playoffs while averaging 15 points and 9 rebounds per game. In his basketball videos he shows surprising shooting range and great hands as he routinely forces turnovers. I also pity any player that tries to take a charge from DeSouza.
To check out hoops highlights from one recent game, check out: http://www.hudl.com/v/2Rphmh
The Scooooooooooop:
DeSouza is one of the lowest ranked players in the CU recruiting class.
Yet I am almost positive he will substantially outperform his recruiting rankings.
Why? 2 primary reasons:
Reason #1: Camp performances
DeSouza plays in a high school offense that prevents him from piling up big stats and plays in a geographical area that isn’t heavily recruited. Thus, to make a name for himself in recruiting circles, DeSouza attended 2 football camps. And he showed out at both.
First, DeSouza attended Colorado’s Elite camp in June. His play quickly caught the attention of Deion Sanders. DeSouza noted:
“They really liked me and how I move. Coach Prime really look a liking to me. He was coaching me a lot during the camp. I guess you can say I just kind of put myself out there. I was trying to steal reps, to get as many reps as I could to get my name out there and just showing out and just going as hard as I could and just competing.”
DeSouza’s play earned him a scholarship offer on the spot.
Then, later in June, DeSouza attended the Under Armour Camp in Salt Lake City and was dominant.
247 Sports named DeSouza one of the top 5 offensive players at the camp, and gave the following scouting report:
DeSouza was probably the best tight end at today’s camp. He showed great body control, hands and separation from linebackers and corners and caught everything thrown to him. He was quick off the line and had good burst but showed the physicality to take on handsy linebackers who tried to hold him and separated himself to grab passes anywhere in his catch radius.
DeSouza told Adam Munsterteiger at 247 sports: “I always felt like I was being slept on so being able to go to camps and perform like that, I just never had a chance to showcase it. So it felt really good being able to do that.
After showing out at these two camps, DeSouza committed to Colorado and shut down his recruiting, which probably impacted DeSouza’s recruiting rankings. Recruiting sites love players that play the recruiting game as opposed to players that commit early and then shut everything down.
The CU staff was excited to land the prospect. DeSouza said, “When I committed, CU’s staff was ecstatic. They said, ‘We don’t want to change you. Don’t change for anybody.’ It just felt like home.”
One of the reasons that Boulder might feel like home is because DeSouza’s father, Daniel DeSouza, played football at CU for a time before transitioning to rugby.
Reason #2: Basketball skills demonstrate great footwork
There are many pundits that believe that DeSouza is going to follow the path of former CU great Nate Solder and transition from tight end to offensive tackle. Given his frame, it’s a natural thought.
However, after watching his basketball film, it’s clear that if he is forced to make this transition, it won’t be due to a lack of athleticism. DeSouza has great footwork as he’s often switched onto guards and does a great job of staying in front of them defensively. That bodes well for his abiilty to get downfield and be agile in the passing game. When combined with the scouting report from DeSouza’s play at the Salt Lake City camp about his receiving skills, I think he’ll stay at tight end.
Listen folks — a 6’6” 260 pound tight end with great footwork is really hard to find.
Run the tape!
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18933954/676761d3a232c3c8c268f575
DeSouza’s size jumps off the screen. He towers over everyone on the field.
DeSouza has had a lot of run blocking experience due to Loveland’s modified wing-T offense. He’s a solid run blocker. In the film, DeSouza does a good job of blowing linebackers and defensive ends off the ball. DeSouza agrees with the assessment that his run blocking is fairly advanced:
“I feel like I am pretty athletic for my size and I feel like I can be another blocker and be really good in the run game. I have a lot of experience with run blocking at Loveland High because we ran the Wing-T the past couple years.”
Despite limited receiving targets due to Loveland’s offense, his film shows that he has a large catch radius and strong hands. Most importantly, he appears quick off the line of scrimmage. As noted above, I think he has enough athleticism to stay at tight end instead of having to move to offensive tackle.
But how will he fit into the CU multi-verse?
DeSouza has a chip on his should because he was under-recruited. And he is extermely loyal to CU — he knows that Colorado has taken a chance on him that many other programs weren’t willing to take. He’s also a legacy player, so playing for the black and gold means more to him than it may mean to others. He’ll fit right in.
Overall excitement level:
3.5 stars (out of 5). DeSouze is probably the biggest dark-horse player in the recruiting class. After digging into his play and his background, I think he was criminally underrecruited. He projects as a potential future starting in-line (non-flex) tight end that can move bodies in the run game and sneak out and make key catches in the pass game. I fully expect a redshirt this upcoming season — DeSouza didn’t graduate early (presumably because he wanted to play basketball) and so he may be behind a bit at the start of fall camp. Still, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him get meaningful minutes his redshirt freshman year and then push for a starting job thereafter.