Here's the link to the roster: https://static.cubuffs.com/custompages/football/2024/roster.pdf
Here's the link to recruiting: https://247sports.com/college/colorado/Season/2025-Football/Commits/
What we expect back:
QB: backups (need a top prep and a good transfer). We haven't seen anything that instills confidence if the 2025 starter is anyone currently on the roster.
RB: Hayden & Augustave are sophomores and Welch is a freshman. This looks like a team strength next year.
WR: losing a ton (Travis, Horn, Wester, Sheppard), but there's talent waiting for its turn with O Miller, D Miller, Timmons, Mikell and several talented other guys who haven't gotten an opportunity. Probably need an impact transfer here, but it's a solid group of playmakers even without that.
TE: Smalls returns, which makes me pretty comfortable. He's getting better each week and is a plus blocker for the position right now while getting some involvement in the pass game. Recruiting commitment here already and a transfer with 2+ years of eligibility would be very useful.
OL: Seaton, Benson, Houston & Zilinskas all come back along with some developing depth and what looks to be shaping up as an excellent recruiting class. 5* prep is possible. Adding a good transfer could make this one of the best OLs in the Big 12.
Right now, I think we're set up to be a physical running team that won't have to rely on a QB covering deficiencies to be an effective offense. We'll be a very different team on O, but potentially a lot more consistent and balanced.
S: losing Shilo & CSC, which is a huge hit. Stoutmire and some developing depth come back and we've got good recruiting here. One really good transfer would make this a very good position group.
CB: you can't replace Travis and Hodge is also a huge loss. McKinney might be an all-conference level guy coming back. After that, it's developing underclassmen with talent but not much proven. I'd expect a transfer or two here.
ILB: NHG & Bentley both gone. Not sure if we've got any guys behind who would be plus starters next year, so this has got to be priority #2 after QB.
DT: Cokes & Nwanko are major losses, but there's a lot coming back with McNeill, Barnes, Thomas, etc. Recruiting and portal important here, but has the makings of a very good group.
DE: losing Green & Hayes, but I think we've got a lot of reason to be excited about Okunlola, McCoy, Wade, Walker & Davis-Swain. Keep recruiting, but should feel confident about this group.
I think the defense could be pretty special with a few transfer additions as long as they can get ILB figured out. The biggest key is probably not getting Livingston poached away.
Kicker: Mata might have turned a corner and he has 1 more year.
Punter: need one.
Returners: need them.
This is a work in process. With the composition of the 2025 team, we are going to need to win special teams. This has got to be a priority.
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In short, I think that we'll be much deeper and that we'll be better at just about all positions. But you don't simply replace guys like Travis and Shedeur. We'll need everything else to be significantly better to be as good without those guys. There's definitely a realistic path, though.
Here's the link to recruiting: https://247sports.com/college/colorado/Season/2025-Football/Commits/
What we expect back:
QB: backups (need a top prep and a good transfer). We haven't seen anything that instills confidence if the 2025 starter is anyone currently on the roster.
RB: Hayden & Augustave are sophomores and Welch is a freshman. This looks like a team strength next year.
WR: losing a ton (Travis, Horn, Wester, Sheppard), but there's talent waiting for its turn with O Miller, D Miller, Timmons, Mikell and several talented other guys who haven't gotten an opportunity. Probably need an impact transfer here, but it's a solid group of playmakers even without that.
TE: Smalls returns, which makes me pretty comfortable. He's getting better each week and is a plus blocker for the position right now while getting some involvement in the pass game. Recruiting commitment here already and a transfer with 2+ years of eligibility would be very useful.
OL: Seaton, Benson, Houston & Zilinskas all come back along with some developing depth and what looks to be shaping up as an excellent recruiting class. 5* prep is possible. Adding a good transfer could make this one of the best OLs in the Big 12.
Right now, I think we're set up to be a physical running team that won't have to rely on a QB covering deficiencies to be an effective offense. We'll be a very different team on O, but potentially a lot more consistent and balanced.
S: losing Shilo & CSC, which is a huge hit. Stoutmire and some developing depth come back and we've got good recruiting here. One really good transfer would make this a very good position group.
CB: you can't replace Travis and Hodge is also a huge loss. McKinney might be an all-conference level guy coming back. After that, it's developing underclassmen with talent but not much proven. I'd expect a transfer or two here.
ILB: NHG & Bentley both gone. Not sure if we've got any guys behind who would be plus starters next year, so this has got to be priority #2 after QB.
DT: Cokes & Nwanko are major losses, but there's a lot coming back with McNeill, Barnes, Thomas, etc. Recruiting and portal important here, but has the makings of a very good group.
DE: losing Green & Hayes, but I think we've got a lot of reason to be excited about Okunlola, McCoy, Wade, Walker & Davis-Swain. Keep recruiting, but should feel confident about this group.
I think the defense could be pretty special with a few transfer additions as long as they can get ILB figured out. The biggest key is probably not getting Livingston poached away.
Kicker: Mata might have turned a corner and he has 1 more year.
Punter: need one.
Returners: need them.
This is a work in process. With the composition of the 2025 team, we are going to need to win special teams. This has got to be a priority.
...................................
In short, I think that we'll be much deeper and that we'll be better at just about all positions. But you don't simply replace guys like Travis and Shedeur. We'll need everything else to be significantly better to be as good without those guys. There's definitely a realistic path, though.
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