A former Auburn wide receiver will be heading to Colorado to join Deion Sanders’ program this season.

Tar’Varish Dawson Jr., who entered the transfer portal when the post-spring window opened April 15 and committed to Cincinnati five days later, has flipped to Colorado, he announced on social media Monday afternoon. Dawson joins a Colorado program that is undergoing a remarkable roster rebuild this offseason, as the Buffaloes had 42 players depart the program since the start of the post-spring transfer window, while more than 50 have left the program since Sanders took over as head coach.

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A speedy 5-foot-10, 159-pounder who signed with Auburn as part of its 2021 class, Dawson opened last season as Auburn’s starter in the slot, where he edged out Ja’Varrius Johnson for the top spot on the depth chart. Dawson started the first two games of the year before Johnson reclaimed the starting role, and he appeared in just four total games last fall before falling out of the Tigers’ rotation at receiver altogether. He opted to transfer in late October, less than a week before Bryan Harsin was fired, and he withdrew from the transfer portal on Dec. 5, a week after Hugh Freeze took over as head coach.

Dawson, a former four-star prospect, caught two passes for 30 yards last season and added a pair of carries for 10 yards. He did not record a stat as a true freshman in 2021.

He spent this spring competing for a role in Auburn’s wide receiver room, and he showed an ability to stretch the field with some explosive plays — including the Tigers’ longest play from scrimmage on A-Day, a 39-yard reception up the seam on a pass from Robby Ashford. That wasn’t enough, though, as he chose to transfer a week later.

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.