Tag: Justin Mayers

Colorado offensive lineman Justin Mayers declares for NFL draft

Justin Mayers has his sights on the NFL draft

About two weeks after turning heads at the Hula Bowl, Colorado football offensive lineman Justin Mayers announced via X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday that he’ll declare for the 2025 NFL draft.

Mayers spent his sixth and final college season with the Buffs, splitting time between left and right guard. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound graduate student saw 442 snaps during the regular season as an integral part of Colorado’s improved offensive line.

Before transferring to Colorado in December 2023, Mayers played in 35 games across five seasons with the UTEP Miners.

In his draft declaration announcement, Mayers thanked Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, former offensive line coach Phil Loadholt and others:

“To Buff Nation, Thank you for embracing me into the Buff family, providing opportunities, and allowing me to complete my education,” Mayers wrote. “Thank you to Coach Prime, Coach Phil Loadholt, and the entire Buff staff for their mentorship and leadership lessons on and off the field. I am grateful for the lifetime brotherhood and ties formed. My time as a Buff was a thrilling one, and together we made history.”

The 2025 NFL draft is scheduled for April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

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Justin Mayers, Chidozie Nwankwo turn heads at Hula Bowl

Two Buffs were named standout performers at the Hula Bowl

The 2025 Hula Bowl was held Saturday in Orlando and a pair of Colorado football players were named standout performers by CBS Sports.

According to CBS Sports’ Emory Hunt, defensive tackle Chidozie Nwankwo and offensive guard Justin Mayers both turned heads at the annual college football all-star game. Scouts from all 32 NFL teams, all nine CFL teams and eight UFL teams were in attendance at FBC Mortgage Stadium, per Hunt.

This past season, Nwankwo recorded 32 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, five TFLs and one forced fumble in 11 games played. The former Houston defensive tackle declared for the 2025 NFL draft earlier this month.

Mayers, a former UTEP transfer, started in five games at left guard and one at right guard during the regular season.

Four other Colorado players participated in the Hula Bowl: punter Mark Vassett, defensive end BJ Green II, defensive tackle Shane Cokes and linebacker LaVonta Bentley.

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Justin Mayers comments on Colorado’s approach in the trenches at Nebraska

Justin Mayers spoke on how Colorado can find success in the trenches against Nebraska

The Colorado Buffaloes’ offseason improvements on both sides of the ball will be tested again in their Week 2 matchup against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Nebraska has a history of producing excellent play in the trenches, and this year is no different, according to CU offensive lineman Justin Mayers.

Mayers met with the media on Tuesday to discuss Saturday’s game in Lincoln, and he was asked about Nebraska’s defensive size up front. After praising the Huskers’ talent in the trenches, he spoke on how the Buffs can find success at the line of scrimmage:

“I give it to them (Nebraska), their game on both sides of the ball is really the trenches, probably O-line and D-line,” Mayers said. “We know their personnel, we’re studying them pretty hard. I’m not really worried about the size. As long as we rely on our technique and be aggressive, I think we should be good.”

Colorado and Nebraska will kick off on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. MT (NBC).

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Justin Mayers speaks on how Colorado’s new offensive line is coming together

A leader on Colorado’s new-look offensive line spoke on how his position group is coming along

Former UTEP Miners offensive guard Justin Mayers is entering his sixth preseason camp as a college football player and his first at Colorado. As one of head coach Deion Sanders’ many incoming transfers, Mayers shared his belief that the Buffs’ new-look O-line is gelling well ahead of the new season.

I sat down with Mayers at CU’s fall sports media day to discuss topics ranging from why he wears No. 66 to the wildlife he has encountered in Colorado. When we got down to football, the topic shifted to how the Buffs can elevate their offensive line play in 2024.

Here’s what Mayers had to say regarding Colorado’s progress on the O-line:

“It’s just consistency,” Mayers said. “They (coaches) did a great job recruiting. It feels like we’ve all known each other for years. Now it’s just finding that glue to hold everything down where you can look at your partner next to you and he knows exactly what you’re thinking. That’s what we’re trying to get to. I think it’s coming along pretty good.”

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Colorado’s Justin Mayers among highest-graded returning OL in Big 12

All eyes will be on Colorado’s offensive line next season

Following the much-needed additions the Colorado Buffaloes have made to their offensive line this offseason, UTEP transfer Justin Mayers will be a player to keep an eye on as the highest-graded returning interior offensive lineman in the program, according to Pro Football Focus.

PFF recently revealed the top 10 returning interior OL in the Big 12 and Mayers’ 78.5 grade from last season ranked fourth in the conference. He’s also CU’s only interior OL to crack the top 10. Baylor boasted three linemen on the list, Texas Tech and Cincinnati had two, and Kansas and UCF each had one.

The 6-foot-4, 320-pound Mayers transferred to Colorado in December after starting the last two years at UTEP. In those two seasons, he posted an 86.3 PFF pass-blocking grade and only allowed two sacks in 846 pass-blocking snaps.

While the Conference USA certainly isn’t the Big 12, putting up such numbers at any Division I Football Bowl Subdivision conference is eye-opening.

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Most intriguing transfer portal options at guard

Most intriguing transfer portal options at guard #GoBucks

We already broke down our expectations for how Ohio State could handle the quarterback position and then dived into the possible running backs and recently covered the wide receiver position (if things break a certain way), tight ends, and offensive tackle, but now we need to discuss one of everyone’s favorite positions, guard.

I read the social media comments and I get it, Ohio State fans understand the importance of adding offensive line talent and as noted from the offensive tackle list, there is only one guy left on that list that would provide any kind of improvement, but perhaps there are more options on the interior side of the line.

It is pretty clear the Buckeyes are going to add talent to the offensive line from the portal, but the biggest questions are who and when?

In my opinion, there is a high likelihood that Ohio State will add two offensive linemen from the portal with one coming during this current opening and the other during spring, but we will see. The following are the five most intriguing guard options in the transfer portal.

Transfer offensive linemen Justin Mayers, Kahlil Benson commit to CU Buffs

Welcome to Boulder, Kahlil Benson and Justin Mayers

For anyone who watched Colorado this past season, it was evident that the Buffs needed help on the offensive line. Fortunately, they’ve wasted little time this offseason in adding reinforcements along the line.

After getting commitments from transfer offensive linemen Tyler Johnson and Yakiri Walker early on Saturday, Colorado secured pledges from another pair of transfer OLs later that evening.

Former UTEP guard Justin Mayers was first. The 6-foot-3, 310-pound road grader was considered one of the top linemen available in the transfer portal and should be a favorite to start at one of the guard spots next season. In 2022, Mayers was an All-Conference USA honorable mention selection as well.

Fans were over the moon about getting Mayers after landing Johson and Walker, but the excellent news wasn’t done for the day.

Soon after Mayers announced his pledge, former Indiana offensive tackle Kahlil Benson decided to pull the trigger on his commitment, giving new O-line coach Phil Loadholt four new transfers to supplement his group.

Listed at 6-foot-6, 310 pounds, Benson excels in pass protection and was a 12-game starter for the Hoosiers this past season.

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