RSSBot
News Junkie
Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images
There’s a lot of fresh faces in Boulder.
Colorado’s spring game is less than a week away, which means it’s time to talk roster composition. Keeping up with Colorado’s current roster is no easy task with the revolving door that is the transfer portal, so we’re gonna do you all a favor. A lot of fans (including myself) could use a little reminder of who is even on the team after a hectic spring portal period, so allow us to break down and speculate what the Buffaloes’ current depth chart looks like.
Offense
Quarterback
- Starter: Shedeur Sanders
- Backup: Ryan Staub
- Other names of note : Walter Taylor III
Let’s start off with quarterback, as this is the biggest given on the depth start. There is a 100% certainty Shedeur Sanders will be the top quarterback for the Buffs in 2024. Shedeur balled out in 2023, breaking several school records, and he’ll look to continue his dominance in Boulder for one more season.
It’s only April, but people are already talking about how Shedeur will fair in the Heisman race. Sanders is also in the running for the #1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Sanders has the possibility to be the best quarterback we’ve ever seen play for the Buffaloes and he can look to cement that status in 2024.
As for the backup, it’s looking like Ryan Staub will fill that role. Staub started Colorado’s final game on 2023 against the Utes in Salt Lake City and had a genuinely impressive showing, so he’s probably the safe bet to back up Shedeur.
There are some wildcard options that Colorado snagged in the transfer portal, namely Walter Taylor III. The 6-foot-7 Vanderbilt transfer has the size and athleticism to be an intriguing piece in CU’s offense, but it remains to be seen if and how they’ll utilize him.
Running back
- Projected Starter: Dallan Hayden
- Potential Starter: Micah Welch, Rashad Amos
The running back position is kind of a toss up at the moment. Colorado’s two best backs, Alton McCaskill and Dylan Edwards, both hit the portal during the spring period, leaving the fate of this position as a bit of a mystery. As of now, it’s looking like the Buffs have two solid options to choose from as RB.
The first option is transfer Dallan Hayden. Hayden, who just announced his transfer to Colorado from Ohio State, brings some solid experience to the group. In his one year as a Buckeye, Hayden made significant contributions in Columbus. Hayden rushed for 553 yards and five touchdowns as a true freshman, including a three touchdown game against Maryland. Colorado’s newest running back has played at the highest level and knows that it takes to win.
The most recent addition to Colorado’s running backs room is a big one. Miami of Ohio transfer Rashad Amos brings some impressive size and power-running to the group. Last season in Oxford, Amos bulldozed the MAC, tallying 1,075 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. With the departure of Sy’veon Wilkerson, expect to see a lot of Amos in short yardage or goal-line situations under Pat Shurmur. Buffs fans should expect a 1-2 punch of Hayden and Amos as things currently stand.
Also notable is the Spring emergence of Micah Welch. Welch, a 5-foot-9, 195 Ibs three-star recruit could see some action as a true freshman. In his short time in Boulder, Welch has impressed the coaching staff and put his name on the map. Running backs coach Gary Harrell has repeatedly sung the praises of Welch, describing him as an aggressive runner who gets downhill fast. It’s sounding like Welch will play a big role in the offense this season and may potentially even start, but that remains to be seen.
Wide Receivers
- Starters: Will Sheppard (X), Jimmy Horn Jr. (slot), Travis Hunter (Z)
- Other names of note: LeJohntay Wester, Omarion Miller
If one position group benefited most from the transfer portal (other than the offensive line), it’d be the wide receiver corps. Catching balls from Shedeur Sanders is a good selling-point to receivers in need of a new home, as Colorado snagged two extremely high-end WRs for the 2024 campaign.
The first of which is Vanderbilt transfer Will Sheppard. Sheppard balled out on a terrible Vandy team in 2023 and raised a lot of eyebrows, making him the fifth best receiver available in the winter portal period. Sheppard is a plug-and-play deep threat and Colorado will utilize him as such. He’s fast, agile and lethal down the sidelines. Sheppard will likely be Colorado’s WR1 and the direct successor to Xavier Weaver.
The other big portal name that Colorado snagged is LaJohntay Wester from Florida Atlantic. Wester played four years at FAU and quickly became the Owls’ most consistent pass catcher. Colorado’s new star slot receiver is the definition of a speedster and has a knack for getting open across the field. Adding a player like Wester to an already stacked WR corps is going to make the Buffs an extremely scary offense to face. He’s also going to be the main returner and was an All-American selection in that role last season.
Despite the addition of Wester, it seems likely that Jimmy Horn Jr. will still start in the slot. Horn had a very productive season for Colorado in 2023 and he’ll look to up that in 2024. Colorado fans are already familiar with the Horn’s hands and route running savvy, so we’ll be getting to see more of that this year.
Little surprise here, but Travis Hunter will probably be starting at the Z position for the Buffs. The two-way superstar and All-American proved he could succeed at the FBS level last season and he’ll continue his tear on both sides of the ball in 2024. Maybe a deeper receiver group means fewer snaps for Hunter, but resting him doesn’t seem to be the first priority for the coaching staff.
Omarion Miller, who went nuclear last season against USC, is also still around. With the way Pat Shurmur runs his offense, Colorado is likely to go four-wide A LOT this year, giving players like Wester and Miller ample opportunity to make a huge impact.
Tight Ends
- Starter: Sam Hart
Of all of Colorado’s position groups, the tight ends are in the most dire need for some help via the portal. After the departure of Mikey Harrison following the 2023 season, CU picked up a huge transfer in Cincinatti’s Chamon Metayer as his replacement. Metayer was poised to be the Buffs’ top TE, but he would end up transferring out of Boulder after only ten practices with the team.
As of now, it looks like Sam Hart will likely be the starter if nothing changes. Hart is an Aurora native who played the last three seasons at Ohio State, seeing action in five games while in Columbus. Hart is the most experienced TE on the roster by a wide margin, so he currently has an edge over the competition.
Coach Prime and his staff will likely be hunting for more TE talent in the portal, so we’ll circle back and update this section if anything changes.
Offensive Line
- Starters: Jordan Seaton (LT) Tyler Brown (LG), Yakiri Walker (C), Justin Mayers (RG), Kahlil Benson (RT)
As Coach Prime promised, the Buffs have completely overhauled their offensive line from one season ago. None of Colorado’s starters from 2023 have returned and it looks as though Colorado’s new o-line is going to be a massive improvement from the monstrosity it was last season.
First things first, we have to talk about the addition of Jordan Seaton. Colorado managed to get the single best offensive line recruit in the country, snagging the commitment of five-star Seaton from IMG Academy. Seaton was Colorado’s biggest pickup of the off-season, straight up. He’s a freak athlete who can move like a receiver, despite his 6-foot-5, 295 ibs frame. He’s going to be an absolutely stud for us.
Tyler Brown is also a massive addition to the line. Brown transferred to Colorado along with Coach Prime in 2023, but the NCAA made him sit out last year due to dumb transfer rules (it’s complicated). Brown was the best lineman on Deion’s roster at Jackson State and he’ll finally get the opportunity to hit the field as a Buff.
Justin Mayers was the previous started left guard at UTEP before joining up with Deion in Boulder. Having started all of his 35 games with the Miners, Mayers is bringing a lot of FBS experience with him to the team.
Yakiri Walker will likely start at center for the Buffaloes this season. Walker comes to Colorado from UConn, where he played 797 snaps for the Huskies in 2023. Walker has emerged as a very talent pass-blocking center, which is exactly what Colorado needs.
Last but not least, Indiana transfer Kahlil Benson will likely start for Colorado at right tackle. Benson was listed as the 12th best interior offensive lineman in the transfer portal and he’ll bring his talents to Boulder.
Defense
Defensive Line
- Starters: Dayon Hayes (DE), Chidozie Nwankwo (DT), Shane Cokes (DT), BJ Green (DE)
- Other names of note: Quency Wiggins (DE), Anquin Barnes (DT), Armani McNeill (DT), Rayyan Buell (DT)
For a team that’s gotten a lot of flack for having a lack of depth at non-skill positions, Coach Prime and his staff sure have built themselves one hell of a defensive line.
To start, Colorado managed to take both of Pitt’s starting defensive ends and plug them right into their system. Hayes led Pitt with 10.5 tackles for losses in 2023, while Okunlola led the Panthers with five sacks. One of the two Pitt transfer is likely to start for Colorado, and my money is on Hayes since he has more experience.
The other starter for the Buffs at DE will be Arizona State transfer BJ Green. Green’s addition has flown super under-the-radar for just how pivotal it is. Last season with the Sun Devils, Green was one of the best edge rushers in the Pac-12, as he received second team all-conference honors after posting a career high in tackles (39) and sacks (6). Green is a gigantic upgrade on the defensive line and will make an immediate impact.
Colorado’s defensive end room is now tremendously deep. Including the guys listed above, the Buffs also added LSU transfer Quency Wiggins and retained Arden Walker, who was a contributor for the Buffs last season. With that type of talent, Colorado looks poised to make a statement.
At defensive tackle, Shane Cokes will return and start for the Buffaloes. Cokes was probably the best player on Colorado’s defensive line last season and he’s the sole starter to remain in Boulder from that group. Joining Cokes in the trenches will be Houston transfer Chidozie Nwankwo. Nwankwo started 33 games with the Coogs, picking up five tackles for loss, one sack and a blocked kick last season.
The Buffs managed to retain Armani McNeill from last season and added Alabama transfer Anquin Barnes, along with Arkansas transfer Taurean Carter. However you spin, this group is a massive upgrade from last season.
Linebackers
- Starters: LaVonta Bentley (ILB), Trevor Woods (WLB)
- Other notable names: Keaten Wade (OLB), Nikhil Webb-Walker (OLB), Jaylen Wester (ILB)
The heart of Colorado’s linebacker corps remains the same from last season, but the coaching staff was sure to add some quality depth to the unit. Trevor Woods, who made the move from safety to weak-side linebacker last season, will play the entirety of his senior season in his new role.
LeVonta Bentley will also be returning to start on the inside for the Buffs in 2024. Bentley started seven games at LB for Colorado in 2023 and will look to continue his success in his final year of eligibility.
Behind Woods and Bentley sits a plethora of transfers that provides impressive depth of the linebackers room. The aforementioned Samuel Okunlola is able to fill in at the BUCK position if needed, which will be a huge help for the group. Kentucky transfer Keaton Wade and NM State transfer Nikhil Webb-Walker are also great assets at OLB if new defensive coordinator Robert Livingston needs them.
Cornerbacks
- Starters: Travis Hunter (CB), DJ McKinney (CB), Preston Hodge (NB)
No surprises here. Travis Hunter will be headlining Colorado’s cornerback group for the second year in a row. The All-American has proven himself to be one of the best defensive backs in the country and he’ll likely be mentioned in the Heisman race at bare minimum when the season ends.
The only new starter in Colorado’s secondary is Oklahoma State transfer DJ McKinney. McKinney played in all of OSU’s 14 games last season, racking up 38 tackles and five pass breakups for the Pokes. CU’s newest corner brings a plethora of Big XII experience to the team ahead of their first season back in the conference.
Liberty transfer Preston Hodge is the likely favorite to start at nickleback for the Buffaloes. Ranked as the 4th best safety in the transfer portal by 247, Colorado managed to get a dawg. Playing his last two seasons with the Flames, Hodge played in 25 games, where he tallied 60 tackles, two interceptions (including a pick-six), and a forced fumble. Hodge was a major contributor to that Liberty team that made it to a New Year’s six bowl last season, and will now bring his talents to Boulder.
Safeties
- Starters: Shilo Sanders (FS), Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig (SS)
- Other names of note: Carter Stoutmire, Travis Jay
Other than quarterback, this is the position group that has changed the least. Shilo Sanders, the fast and hard-hitting son of Coach Prime, will return for his final year of eligibility with the Buffs. Sanders was awesome for Colorado last season and he’ll look to boost his draft stock in 2024.
Cam’Ron Salmon-Craig emerged as the unsung hero of Colorado’s secondary in 2023, but that won’t be the case this year. Silmon-Craig proved himself as perhaps the best ball-hawk on Colorado’s secondary (other than maybe Travis Hunter), finishing the year tied for the team high with three picks. In 2024, Silmon-Craig will look to further cement himself as one of the nation’s most underrated safeties.
Other familiar names, like Carter Stoutmire and Travis Jay, will return to add a tremendous amount of depth to Colorado’s safeties room. CU’s safety corps is absolutely stacked so expect a big year from the group.
by RylandScholes
Continue reading...