Tag: colorado buffaloes football

Top-ranked transfer portal DL Derrick Harmon to check out Colorado’s spring game

Four-star transfer Derrick Harmon is reportedly checking out Colorado this weekend

Former Michigan State defensive lineman Derrick Harmon is planning to visit Boulder this weekend for Colorado’s spring football game, according to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz.

Harmon, the top-ranked uncommitted defensive lineman in the transfer portal (per 247Sports), spent three years at Michigan State before entering the portal on Tuesday. This past season, the 6-foot-5, 320-pound Detriot native tallied a career-high 40 total tackles while starting in 10 of Michigan State’s 12 games. He also had 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble.

With Colorado seemingly set in terms of edge rushers/defensive ends, Harmon would provide some needed help on the inside.

Harmon, a three-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class, is navigating the transfer portal for the second time this offseason. His name was previously in the portal for about three weeks in December.

Zenitz reported that Harmon is set to visit USC on Thursday, Colorado this weekend and Miami on Monday.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

Pat Shurmur praises ‘tough’ Colorado center Hank Zilinskas

Hank Zilinskas’ loyalty hasn’t gone unnoticed

Hank Zilinskas’ loyalty to the Colorado Buffaloes football program hasn’t gone unnoticed.

A local product from Cherry Creek High School who committed to CU during the Karl Dorrell era, Zilinskas has hung tough and was even rewarded with considerable playing time as a true freshman last season. The 6-foot-3, 285-pound offensive lineman started at center in wins over Colorado State and Arizona State last fall when Van Wells hit the injured list.

Speaking with the media on Thursday, new full-time CU offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur acknowledged that Zilinskas’ willingness to stay put and compete isn’t seen often in college football anymore.

“It’s easy now for guys to just pull the ripcord and take off,” Shurmur said. “Hank was here a year ago and got some reps. Then, he watched this winter as we brought in like six guys around him. He didn’t say anything. He kept working, he was resilient and he was tough. He kept learning, kept developing and got bigger. He did all the things you want from a young man that we’ve developed, so credit to him. If we had to play a game tomorrow, he’d probably be the guy in there.”

As Shurmur mentioned, expect Zilinskas to run with the No. 1 offense during Saturday’s spring game.

Colorado’s annual Black and Gold spring football game will begin at 1 p.m. MT on the Pac-12 Network.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

Colorado transfer RB taking UCLA visit

UCLA hosting a Buffs RB this weekend on a visit.

The UCLA Bruins football program continues to do work in the transfer portal. The latest update is a big one as former Colorado Buffaloes and Houston Cougars running back Alton McCaskill is set to visit UCLA this weekend, per a report from Pete Thamel of ESPN.

McCaskill transferred to Colorado from Houston after suffering an ACL injury with the Cougars. However, his lone season in Boulder did not go as planned and he ended up requesting a redshirt during the season.

McCaskill had just 14 carries for 59 yards and two catches in four games for the Buffs. He is originally from Texas.

Nonetheless, the Buffs bringing in McCaskill for a visit is a big move for DeShaun Foster and his program. Playing for Foster, a former UCLA RB and an NFL RB with the Carolina Panthers, among others, could be an intriguing idea for McCaskill.

McCaskill was the AAC Rookie of the Year in 2021 after a 1,000-yard all–purpose campaign.

UCLA reached out to Colorado transfer DB Cormani McClain

UCLA reached out to Cormani.

The Colorado Buffaloes football program has seen a large number of players enter the transfer portal this spring. It has been a bit of a surprising move for Deion Sanders and the Buffs.

One of the biggest departures was former five-star recruit Cormani McClain, who infamously flipped from Miami to come to the Buffs last offseason.

As a result, McClain instantly heard from a number of schools in the portal, including UCLA. Here is a list of some schools that reached out to McClain, per Hayes Fawcett of On3. 

  • LSU
  • Oklahoma
  • Texas
  • Auburn
  • UCLA
  • Texas A&M
  • USC
  • Oregon
  • USF
  • UCF
  • Georgia

The Florida schools and USC are viewed as the favorites by many, although it will be interesting to see where McClain ends up.

His time in Boulder was underwhelming by every means, but he is a talented player with a few years of eligibility, and UCLA took a shot by reaching out.

New date announced for Colorado football’s opener against North Dakota State

A new date has been announced for Colorado’s season opener

Head coach Deion Sanders’ highly-anticipated second season leading the Colorado Buffaloes will start two days earlier than expected.

Folsom Field will now open its doors for CU football’s 2024 season opener against the North Dakota State Bison on Thursday, Aug. 29, officials announced Monday. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 31.

The game’s date change is likely due to television, although the start time and television network are yet to be announced. Those details are expected to be revealed toward the end of May, along with more information on Colorado’s next two games against Nebraska and Colorado State.

When the end of August rolls around, Colorado and North Dakota State, one of the Football Championship Subdivision’s top programs, will meet on the gridiron for the first time in each team’s history.

The Buffs are 31-20-2 all-time on Thursdays but haven’t played on the day since 2012.

For a complete look at Colorado football’s 2024 schedule, check out our way-too-early preview.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

Defensive back Adam Hopkins leaving Colorado for transfer portal

After one season with the Buffs, former four-star prospect Adam Hopkins is entering the transfer portal

Former four-star prospect Adam Hopkins announced Monday that he’ll be leaving the Colorado Buffaloes to pursue other opportunities in the college football transfer portal.

Once recruited as a wide receiver out of Thomas County Central High School in Georgia, Hopkins converted to defensive back during his lone season in Boulder. The 6-foot, 175-pound Peach State product saw action in three games with the Buffs and recorded four total tackles, including two against USC in September.

Hopkins, who was committed to Auburn before flipping to Colorado in December of 2022, should have the talent to play either wide receiver or cornerback wherever he lands next. 247Sports ranked Hopkins as the No. 52 WR in the 2023 recruiting class.

Hopkins is the seventh Colorado defensive back to enter the transfer portal this offseason, joining Kyndrich Breedlove, Cormani McClain, Myles Slusher, Jahquez Robinson, Jaden Milliner-Jones and Vito Tisdale. Of those seven, only Breedlove has committed elsewhere (Purdue).

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

Colorado football lands former Ohio defensive lineman Rayyan Buell

TFL machine Rayyan Buell gave his commitment to Colorado

The Colorado football team landed former Ohio defensive lineman Rayyan Buell out of the transfer portal on Sunday amid an impressive weekend transfer portal haul.

Buell, a graduate student transfer, announced his commitment to head coach Deion Sanders and the Buffs Sunday afternoon via his X account.

The 6-foot-3, 277-pound defensive lineman found stardom at the junior college level before spending two seasons with the Ohio Bobcats. He appeared in 13 contests last season as a redshirt senior, racking up 30 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

247Sports labeled Buell as a four-star transfer and the No. 18 defensive lineman in the portal.

Buell played his high school football in Hornell, New York before spending two seasons at Northwest Mississippi Community College and two at Ohio.

Former Pitt defensive end Dayon Hayes and former Texas offensive lineman Payton Kirkland also committed to Colorado on Sunday.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

Former Texas offensive tackle Payton Kirkland transfers to Colorado

Colorado’s offensive line just got better and bigger

The Colorado Buffaloes and head coach Deion Sanders have attacked the trenches this offseason, adding numerous offensive and defensive linemen from the college football transfer portal. On Sunday, new O-line coach Phil Loadholt got another big get in former Texas offensive tackle Payton Kirkland.

Kirkland is a former class of 2023 four-star prospect (per 247Sports) who is a mountain of a human being. The Orlando, Florida product was listed at 6-foot-6 and 350 pounds on the Longhorns’ 2023 roster, but other outlets have since reported him to be anywhere from 350 to 385 pounds. Kirkland did not see the field at Texas this past season as he took a redshirt.

At Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, he played both tackle positions. However, because of his makeup, he’ll likely play on the right side of the line at Colorado.

Watching his highlight tape, you can see the power he holds as a run blocker. He’ll likely need some time to develop as a pass protector, so a move to guard could be possible given his ability to move defensive linemen around in the run game.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

Deion Sanders facing intense pressure to win in 2024, CBS Sports writes

CBS Sports believes Deion Sanders is facing an immense amount of pressure to win next season

Colorado football has received a lot of press since Deion Sanders took over the Buffs program, and some college football analysts believe there’s pressure on Coach Prime to produce a winning season in 2024.

Shehan Jeyarajah of CBS Sports released a list of college football coaches facing the most pressure going into 2024, and Sanders was one of the eight names mentioned. Jeyarajah stressed that the coaches on his aren’t on the hot seat, but they will be under the microscope.

The list features some big-time head coaches, including Ohio State’s Ryan Day and Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, along with some coaches whose programs didn’t do much winning last season, such as Baylor’s Dave Aranda.

While Coach Prime has brought plenty of energy to Boulder, the talent-rich Buffs are facing pressure to improve upon their four-win season last fall.

Here’s what Jeyarajah wrote on Sanders:

“Coach Prime” took the Buffaloes mainstream during a 3-0 start to 2023, boasting two of the top five, and five of the top 15, most-watched regular-season broadcasts of the year. However, Colorado lost eight of its last nine games and finished last place in the Pac-12. Sanders hit the transfer portal hard, adding 25 transfers alongside No. 1 overall tackle recruit Jordan Seaton, but the Buffs are working against the clock. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders and cornerback Travis Hunter have been the faces of Sanders’ revamp at Colorado, and both could leave after the 2024 season for the NFL. If Colorado misses a bowl for the second straight season, the Buffaloes will be starting from scratch in 2025 without proof of concept to sell.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

Could Texas have interest in Colorado CB Cormani McClain?

Cormani McClain says Texas is one of 11 schools that have contacted him since entering the portal.

One of the nation’s top cornerback prospects has entered the portal. Colorado defensive back Cormani McClain is looking to transfer and Texas is said to have expressed interest in bringing him to Austin.

McClain says he’s heard from 11 schools since he went to the transfer portal. Texas is one of those programs.

Should Texas bring McClain to the Forty Acres, it could be as much of a long term move as an immediate impact addition. That’s not to say that the former top cornerback recruit would not make an immediate impact, but rather that the Longhorns wouldn’t have to count on it.

Texas is in a good place at cornerback with Malik Muhammad, Jahdae Barron, Terrance Brooks, Jaylon Guilbeau and Gavin Holmes. The cornerback room has the starters and depth to compete in major college football. Albeit, McClain adds an upside that few players have at the college level.

The Longhorns don’t have to add McClain, but the move could make sense. The 2023 five star player ranked as the No. 1 cornerback and No. 13 overall player in the 247Sports composite. The Florida talent had 13 total tackles and two pass breakups as a freshman.

We’ll see if Texas adds any players who can play at Texas past the 2024 season.