Colorado place-kickers have made 16 of 35 field goal attempts over the past two seasons combined. So it figured coach Dan Hawkins would eventually get around to signing a kicker in this recruiting cycle.

Hawkins finally received a pledge on Sunday from Justin Castor, a 6-foot-5 prospect from Arvada West High School, who was committed to Kansas until that school made a coaching change last month.

Castor is known for a big leg. He has made field goals of 50 yards or more in games and his highlight reel includes footage of a 65-yard kick in practice during his junior season.

"The recruiting process has definitely been a roller coaster ride in terms of emotions but everything worked out for the best," Castor told

Buffs Head Coach Dan Hawkins answers questions from the media after the University of Colorado game against Nebraska on Friday on Folsom Field in Boulder November 27, 2009. Photo by Paul Aiken / The Camera

Castor is the 17th known commitment for the Buffs` 2010 recruiting class, with national signing day just more than two weeks away. Castor suffered some of the same accuracy problems as a senior that have plagued incumbent CU kicker Aric Goodman the past two years. Castor made 15 of his 24 attempts for Arvada West as a senior, but earned all-state recognition as a punter.

Castor will battle Goodman, redshirt freshman Zach Grossnickle and walk-on Marcus Kirkwood for the kicking and punting jobs next summer in fall camp. By adding Castor, the Buffs will have three scholarship kickers on the roster in 2010.

Goodman and former CU kicker Jameson Davis combined to make six of 17 field goal attempts in 2008, missing all five attempts from between 40 and 49 yards. Goodman made 10 of 18 attempts in 2009, but just two of seven from 40-49 yards.

Colorado coaches hosted seven recruits on official visits over the weekend, including Joe St. Germain, a longsnapper from Mater Dei High School in California.

CU is in the market for a longsnapper after losing Justin Drescher to graduation. Drescher had manned the position for four full seasons after inheriting it from Greg Pace, who also held it for four years.

Walk-on Joe Silipo is the only longsnapper on the CU roster going into spring ball. He also plays defensive tackle.