The Colorado Buffaloes had to scrounge together a roster after they suffered a mass exodus in the transfer portal this offseason. The way that coach Tad Boyle and his staff elected to do that was on the recruiting trail.Boyle brought in seven freshmen in the 2026 class, headlined by four-star recruit Rider Portela, according to 247Sports. Although Portela has been battling an injury setback, Buffs guard Barrington Hargress still feels good about the trajectory of his and his fellow freshmen classmates.Barrington Hargress’s Thoughts on the Colorado Buffaloes’ Freshman ClassJan 7, 2026; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes guard Barrington Hargress (24) dribbles the ball during the first half against the Utah Utes at CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectColorado’s freshman class has flown under the radar, as all of its commitments aside from Portela are unrated by all major recruiting sites. However, Hargress feels confident in their abilities and Boyle’s recruiting.“We brought in so many guys who are selfless, willing to do what it takes to win and make those hard decisions,” Hargress said. “When I look at all the freshmen, I’ve seen nothing but guys that have gotten into the gym, gone into very difficult practices, and have played their hearts out, and whether they make mistakes or not, they’re being very aggressive and doing the things that we need them to do.” Hargress’s words carry weight, as he knows what an underrated recruiting class looks like. His first season in Boulder featured breakout freshmen stars like Isaiah Johnson, Ian Inman and Alon Michaeli. All three were rated as three-stars or lower by 247Sports but went on to have impressive seasons in 2025. Rider Portela’s Injury OutlookSunnyslope guard Rider Portela (15) shoots the ball during a media day practice at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Friday, March 3, 2023, in Phoenix.