Tag: colorado buffaloes football

Colorado’s Jaylen Wester among highest-graded returning Big 12 linebackers

Jaylen Wester is more than ready to dominate in the Big 12

Brothers and former Florida Atlantic standouts Jaylen and LaJohntay Wester are two of Colorado football’s most intriguing incoming transfer portal players.

LaJohntay, a wide receiver, shined during the Buffs’ spring game while the younger Jaylen adds some much-needed talent to Colorado’s linebackers room.

According to Pro Football Focus College, the younger Wester comes to Boulder as the second-highest-graded returning LB in the Big 12 Conference. Jaylen’s overall grade of 84.5 ranks behind only Iowa State’s Caleb Bacon, who checked in at 89.3. The only other returning Big 12 linebacker who graded above an 80 was UCF’s Xe’ree Alexander (84.1).

At FAU last season, Jaylen played in 11 games (five starts) while racking up 55 total tackles, 7.5 TFLs, one sack, one forced fumble and two pass breakups. The Palmetto, Florida product had 58 total tackles, 5.5 TFLs and an interception during his freshman campaign in 2022.

LaJohntay’s PFF grade from last season was 82.1, making him the fourth-highest-graded returning Big 12 wide receiver.

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College Football News names Van Wells as Colorado’s biggest transfer portal loss

Do you agree?

While the Colorado Buffaloes’ offensive line was largely atrocious last year, sophomore center Van Wells was an occasional bright spot. The Karl Dorrell era holdover started in 10 games and received a solid 80.7 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus.

However, following his second season in Boulder, Wells entered the transfer portal and soon landed at Oregon State along with left tackle Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan and running back Anthony Hankerson.

College Football News publisher Pete Fiutak recently previewed Colorado’s looming 2024 season and named Wells as head coach Deion Sanders’ biggest transfer portal loss. Here’s what Fiutak wrote on Wells:

It would’ve been nice to have a bit more cohesion on the beleaguered offensive front, and it would’ve started with a center who started for a bulk of last year before getting hurt late. It’s a low bar, but he was one of the better Colorado linemen. Now he’s at Oregon State.

Overall, Colorado improved greatly this offseason via the transfer portal, but Wells, Christian-Lichtenhan, Hankerson and running back Dylan Edwards were all notable losses.

Fiutak named former Vanderbilt wide receiver Will Sheppard as Colorado’s top incoming transfer.

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Colorado the only Big 12 team in PFF’s top 10 college football receiving corps

Shedeur Sanders is going to have fun throwing to this group

The Colorado Buffaloes have a talented group of receivers in Boulder, arguably the best in the 16-team Big 12 Conference.

Pro Football Focus college analyst Max Chadwick thinks so, ranking Travis Hunter and Co. on his list of college football’s top 10 best receiving corps. The black and gold were the only team in the Big 12 to make the list.

Here’s some of what Chadwick wrote about the Buffaloes’ receiving corps:

While the offensive line remains a question mark, Shedeur Sanders will once again have some very capable receivers to throw to. His top target will likely be the cover athlete of EA College Football 25, Travis Hunter. The two-way star was tied for third among Pac-12 receivers in 2023 with 18 forced missed tackles on receptions despite missing three games due to injury. Jimmy Horn Jr. also returns and led the team with six receiving touchdowns last season.

While a few months still separate everyone from the first real glimpses of Colorado, April’s spring game backed up Chadwick’s statements. Hunter reeled in the most catches while Wester racked up the most receiving yards and scored a touchdown.

The Oregon Ducks’ receiving corps was ranked No. 1 on Chadwick’s list.

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Deion Sanders denies requiring Colorado players to attend Lil Wayne concert

Coach Prime called out a report for being “one of the best lies I’ve heard”

Colorado football head coach Deion Sanders has denied a recent report saying he required his players to attend an on-campus Lil Wayne concert in April.

Athlon Sports reported earlier this week that according to CU player sources, Sanders “threatened to dismiss anyone who skipped out.” The concert was held following the Buffs’ spring game on April 27 and featured Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders performing his debut rap single.

Athlon also reported that Coach Prime’s alleged request was the last straw for a few players who later entered the transfer portal.

On Friday, Coach Prime took to X (formerly Twitter) to deny the report.

“This is one of the best lies I’ve heard,” Deion Sanders wrote in a quote tweet. “God bless u and I pray u sleep well tonight because we are. Lawd JESUS.”

 

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Colorado’s season opener among Athlon’s five early games with ‘upset potential’

One college football writer believes that Colorado-North Dakota State has major “upset potential”

For some time now, the Colorado Buffaloes’ decision to host Football Championship Subdivision powerhouse North Dakota State in their season opener has been widely criticized.

The most recent to offer worry about the game is Athlon Sports writer Scout Springgate, who included the Week 1 matchup on a list of five early season games with upset potential. Here’s what Springgate wrote about the game:

While North Dakota State has not been as dominant in recent years, it is still a top-tier program at the FCS level and has been known to play FBS programs fairly tight. Head coach Deion Sanders is coming off a 4-8 first season with Colorado. The scheduled clash with the Bison will serve as a big test for his team as they strive to continue rebuilding the program. If the Buffs let the Bison hang in this contest, don’t be surprised if the game ends in a potential upset.

Springgate’s reasoning aligns with most who doubt how the Buffs will play the Bison. After all, North Dakota State has knocked off seven Football Bowl Subdivision programs since 2010.

Colorado-North Dakota State is set for a 6 p.m. MT kickoff on Aug. 29. ESPN will televise the Week 1 showdown at Folsom Field.

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Colorado star lands spot on Pro Football Focus’ early All-American team

Colorado had one player featured on Pro Football Focus’ early All-American team

Heading into his second and likely final season with the Colorado Buffaloes, two-way star Travis Hunter remains arguably the most gifted player in college football. Just check out his highlight reel if you aren’t convinced.

The durable cornerback/wide receiver was a consensus first-team All-American last year and now appears primed for an even more impressive 2024 campaign.

As expected, Pro Football Focus recently named Hunter to its way-too-early All-American team. Hunter, considered a “flex” player, was Colorado’s only representative on the preseason list.

Here’s what PFF writer Mitch Kaiser wrote on Hunter:

It would be almost impossible for any other player to fill this role better than the Shohei Ohtani of college football. Hunter played 1,074 snaps last season (622 on defense, 452 on offense and 30 on special teams). Not only does he play both sides of the ball, but he is very good at both, earning 70.0-plus PFF grades in almost every category.

Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon and Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan were the only other Big 12 players mentioned on PFF’s early All-American team.

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Colorado freshman RB Micah Welch working toward NFL dream

Incoming freshman Micah Welch has his sights set on the NFL

Incoming freshman Micah Welch has done nothing but impress since arriving on Colorado’s campus earlier this year. The young running back flashed his impressive athletic abilities during spring practices and now appears primed for a big rookie season in Boulder.

While his college career is only beginning, Welch recently shared that making the NFL remains a driving force in his daily pursuits. In a recent video posted by Colorado football’s X account, the freshman gave a great response when asked a simple yet potentially deep question: What makes you work?

“To change my family’s life, change my life and get to the NFL,” Welch said. “That has always been a dream of mine, so I’m going to make that happen. You’re going to see one day, I’m telling you.”

Fortunately for Welch, projected first-round picks Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter should attract plenty of NFL scouts to Boulder this fall. Can the Georgia native make a strong first impression?

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Colorado analyst shares intriguing NFL player comp for Shedeur Sanders

Do you agree with the comparison?

While Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders is unique in many regards, he has been compared to various NFL players throughout his three-year college football career.

During Wednesday’s episode of the DNVR Buffs podcast, analyst Jake Schwanitz dropped another intriguing NFL quarterback comp for Sanders: Joe Burrow. Schwanitz argued that Sanders and Burrow excel in many of the same areas, including arm accuracy, toughness and confidence.

Burrow, who won the Heisman Trophy and a national championship with the LSU Tigers, has already thrown for over 14,000 yards and nearly 100 touchdowns in four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Check out the full clip of Schwanitz comparing Sanders to Burrow:

Earlier this month, Complex Sports asked Sanders if he aligns more with Tom Brady or Michael Vick. Sanders admitted he sees himself as a combination of the two retired NFL greats.

“I’m a mixture,” Sanders told Complex in an interview. “I’m able to stay in the pocket and want to deliver the ball each and every play like Brady but be able to extend plays and if it’s not there, take it like Vick.”

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National writer includes Jordan Seaton on list of college football’s premier true freshmen

The Jordan Seaton hype continues to grow

In desperate need of help on the offensive line, the Colorado Buffaloes made a huge splash by signing top-ranked class of 2024 offensive tackle Jordan Seaton earlier this offseason.

Seaton, a consensus five-star prospect from IMG Academy, is currently expected to start at left tackle next season as a true freshman, meaning he’ll have the critical responsibility of protecting quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ blind side.

On Tuesday, 247Sports national writer Chris Hummer included Seaton on his list of 100 true freshmen who are set to “shake up the 2024 college football season.” In his reasoning, Hummer highlighted the important role Seaton will assume this fall:

Given Colorado’s offensive line struggles a year ago and the complete reset the room has undergone since, there are plenty of opportunities for young players to emerge on the o-line. Seaton was one of 13 traditional high school or JUCO signees for the Buffs in 2024. The five-star recruit worked as Colorado’s starting left tackle during the spring game, and it’s very likely he begins the year protecting Shedeur Sanders’ blind side.

Seaton was the only Colorado freshman featured on Hummer’s list.

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Tyler Johnson makes On3’s preseason all-transfer portal team

One Colorado player made On3’s preseason all-transfer portal team

Following two impressive seasons at Houston, Tyler Johnson is expected to play a major role in Colorado football’s revamped offensive line.

The 6-foot-5, 325-pound offensive guard was one of head coach Deion Sanders’ first transfer portal acquisitions of the offseason, announcing his commitment to the Buffs in early December. At the time, 247Sports ranked Johnson as the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in the portal.

The hype surrounding Colorado’s prized pickup remains strong as the graduate student’s final college season looms. On Tuesday, On3’s Jesse Simonton named Johnson to his 2024 preseason all-transfer portal team.

Here’s what Simonton wrote on Johnson:

The former Texas Longhorns signee found his home at Houston last season, earning third-team All-AAC honors. He made 12 starts, including 10 at right guard where he allowed just a single sack in 411 pass-blocking snaps — a much-needed skill-set for a Buffalos offensive line that couldn’t protect Shedeur Sanders all last season.

Johnson, who earned third-time All-AAC honors in 2022 (not 2023), was the CU Buffs’ only incoming transfer featured on Simonton’s list.

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