Tag: Phil Loadholt

Recent Colorado signee flips transfer pledge to UCF

Carter Miller’s time in Boulder was short-lived

Colorado football’s offensive line room looks a bit different now than it did only 24 hours ago.

Soon after Louisiana Tech transfer OL Zarian McGill announced his commitment to the Buffs on Sunday morning, news dropped that Colorado had lost recent signee Carter Miller. The UCF Knights announced Miller as a transfer portal signee on Monday.

The 6-foot-2, 300-pound Miller was committed to Colorado for about three weeks.

Fortunately for the Buffs, McGill is coming off a considerably better 2024 season compared to Miller. Here’s what Adam Munsterteiger of BuffStampede wrote on the two offensive linemen:

According to Pro Football Focus, the Buffs are getting an upgrade, at least based on 2024 performance. Miller graded out at 58.5 over 714 offensive snaps. McGill graded out at 69.9 over 429 offensive snaps. Both played at center this past season.

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders has yet to announce a replacement for former offensive line coach Phil Loadholt, who was hired by Mississippi State late last month.

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Former Oklahoma, Colorado assistant heading to Mississippi State

Former Oklahoma Sooners lineman and offensive assistant heading to Mississippi State.

As the coaching carousel continues, former Oklahoma offensive lineman and offensive analyst [autotag]Phil Loadholt[/autotag] is reuniting with Jeff Lebby at Mississippi State, according to a report from Steve Robertson and Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.

Loadholt spent time with Lebby at UCF and Ole Miss before joining the Oklahoma Sooners staff as an analyst for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. After Lebby took the Mississippi State coaching job, Loadholt joined Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes as their offensive line coach for 2024.

Now, Loadholt returns to the SEC. The Mississippi State Bulldogs finished 2-10 and in the SEC cellar during Lebby’s first year in Starkville.

Loadholt was a part of the Oklahoma Sooners electric 2008 offense that led the nation in scoring and helped Sam Bradford win the Heisman Trophy. He was a second-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2009 and spent seven seasons in the NFL before joining Lebby as an offensive assistant at UCF in 2018.

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Colorado loses pair of assistant coaches to Mississippi State, per report

Coach Prime is reportedly losing two of his top assistants

Two of Colorado football’s top position coaches are reportedly leaving the Buffaloes for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

According to Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, offensive line coach Phil Loadholt and defensive ends coach Vincent Dancy are joining head coach Jeff Lebby’s Mississippi State staff. Both assistants are expected to continue working with their respective position groups.

Loadholt, who played his high school football in Fountain, Colorado, joined head coach Deion Sanders’ staff last offseason and oversaw major improvements on the offensive line. Most notably, the Buffs allowed 17 fewer sacks in the 2024 regular season compared to the year prior (56 to 39).

Dancy came to Boulder as a defensive quality control analyst before being promoted to coach defensive ends last offseason. His unit also took a major step forward with BJ Green II, Arden Walker and others enjoying strong years.

Mississippi State won only two games in 2024 and finished last in the SEC standings (0-8).

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Phil Loadholt addresses battle at center between Hank Zilinskas, Cash Cleveland

The rise of Cash Cleveland has left Colorado with an interesting situation at center

The Colorado Buffaloes have seen improvement up and down the offensive line, though that hasn’t meant every single player has reaped the benefits.

Hank Zilinskas, who has started every game at center for Colorado this season, hasn’t finished two of his past three contests. Offensive line coach Phil Loadholt took to the microphone on Wednesday and addressed the sophomore’s struggles, particularly in snapping the ball.

“I don’t know what it is with him, maybe it’s a confidence issue or going on the road,” Loadholt noted of certain times Zilinskas has had poor snaps blow up plays for Colorado’s offense.

Freshman Cash Cleveland has been the replacement when trust in Zilinskas has been in doubt, and the freshman has taken his newfound opportunity and seized it. Cleveland allowed just one pressure in 51 pass-blocking snaps against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Saturday and is has a serious chance of starting this weekend against the Utah Utes. Time will tell if Zilinskas is able to secure the starting spot once more.

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Phil Loadholt calls Tyler Brown the strongest player he has ever been around

Former NFL offensive tackle Phil Loadholt is in awe of Tyler Brown’s strength

New Colorado football offensive line coach Phil Loadholt has been around many massive human beings throughout his college, NFL and coaching careers. None, however, match up to the strength of Tyler Brown, Loadholt recently revealed.

Speaking with Thee Pregame Show’s Uncle Neely, Loadholt called Brown the strongest player he has ever been around at any level. That’s some high praise coming from somebody who started 89 career games at right tackle for the Minnesota Vikings.

Brown transferred from Jackson State to Colorado before last season but was denied immediate eligibility by the NCAA due to being a two-time transfer. The NCAA’s ruling received widespread criticism as many thought Brown’s waiver should’ve been approved due to his documented mental health struggles.

Fortunately, the 6-foot-3, 310-pound offensive guard is cleared to return for the 2024 season.

Here’s the full clip of Uncle Neely speaking about his interaction with Loadholt on the DNVR Buffs Podcast:

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CU Buffs OL coach Phil Loadholt praises Jordan Seaton’s football knowledge

Jordan Seaton’s football knowledge is on par with his physical tools, says Phil Loadholt

Former Fountain-Fort Carson High School star-turned-NFL tackle Phil Loadholt was a specimen of an offensive lineman during his playing days. Standing at 6-foot-8 and 345 pounds, Loadholt parleyed his physical tools into a seven-year NFL career.

Now coaching Colorado’s offensive line, Loadholt understands that the mental side of the game is just as important as the physical, and he sees both aspects as being strong in five-star freshman left tackle Jordan Seaton.

Following the Buffs’ first spring football practice on Monday, Loadholt answered questions from the media. Naturally, he was asked about Seaton. Loadholt shared that he has been particularly impressed by Seaton’s high-level football knowledge.

“Being a freshman coming in, a guy straight out of high school, his knowledge is up there,” Loadholt said. “He’s a student of the game, he works hard, he comes up and watches film and does everything he’s supposed to do. That’s been the most impressive part of him. Obviously, physically, you can see that he’s advanced, you know what I mean? But his mental part has been impressive to me.”

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Colorado football assistant coaches to make record amount in 2024

Colorado’s assistant coaches will be making a record amount this year

Deion Sanders’ coaching staff will look a little different entering his second season leading the Colorado Buffaloes.

Both of last year’s coordinators and multiple position coaches have moved on, and defensive coordinator Robert Livingston, O-line coach Phil Loadholt and wide receivers coach Jason Phillips are all new to Boulder. Pat Shurmur has been promoted to full-time offensive coordinator and defensive analyst Vincent Dancy will be coaching Colorado’s outside linebackers.

With that, Coach Prime’s 2024 staff will be the highest-paid in program history. According to BuffZone, Colorado’s 10 full-time assistant coaches will be paid a “combined $4.65 million in base and supplemental salary,” up from last year’s previous record amount of $4.59 million.

Here’s how much each of Colorado football’s new/promoted assistant coaches will be making in 2024:

Five things to know about new Colorado OL coach Phil Loadholt

Get to know Colorado’s new offensive line coach

The Colorado Buffaloes’ coaching staff has undergone a lot of changes early on this offseason, and a lot of that has to do with Sean Lewis leaving to become the head coach of the San Diego State Aztecs.

Others have followed, and the Buffs hired Phil Loadholt as the new offensive line coach after Bill O’Boyle left to join Lewis in San Diego.

Loadholt has a lot of experience and played in the NFL, so this is a big hire by Deion Sanders, who has been working hard already to improve the Buffs’ offensive line.

Here are five things you should know about Loadholt:

71 days until Vikings season opener: Every player to wear No. 71

With 71 days remaining until the start of the Minnesota Vikings season, we take a look at every player to wear No. 70 in team history.

It’s the final countdown…

Well, sort of.

The Minnesota Vikings will kick off their 2023 regular season in 71 days at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 10.

From now until then, we will take a trip down memory lane and count each day by revisiting the players that have worn that specific jersey number.

Offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw currently wears the number, and it’s tough to imagine a situation where he does not wear it for a long time.

With 71 days until kickoff, here’s a look at every player to wear No. 71 with the Vikings (via Pro Football Reference):

Sooners 2023 signee Keyon Brown heading to Garden City Community College

Oklahoma signee Keyon Brown will not be enrolling with Oklahoma and plans to go the junior college route instead.

Oklahoma’s plans at wide receiver for the 2023 season took a hit on Monday evening. Sooners wide receiver signee Keyon Brown will no longer join the Oklahoma Sooners when the team reconvenes in a few weeks.

According to Sooners Illustrated writer Collin Kennedy of 247Sports, Brown is going the junior college route, attending Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kansas.

Oklahoma offered Brown on June 2, 2022, after an incredible showing at an OU-hosted prospect camp. He also earned an offer from Alabama. He committed to the Sooners on June 5, 2022.

In 247Sports’ rankings, Brown checks in as a three-star recruit, a top-60 wideout in the cycle and a top-70 prospect in Florida. His size and speed combination made him feel like a player destined to outplay his recruiting positioning. Oklahoma won out over Auburn, Alabama, Florida State and Tennessee.

Garden City Community College has ties to Oklahoma’s program. Head coach Brent Venables went to Garden City before transferring to play for Bill Snyder at Kansas State. Former Sooner offensive lineman Phil Loadholt played at Garden City before committing to Oklahoma.

Without Brown joining the class, four-star wide receiver Jaquaize Pettaway will be the only receiver signee the Sooners bring in this recruiting cycle. It also puts that much more of an onus on receivers not named Jalil Farooq and Drake Stoops to step up, as Oklahoma’s depth will take a hit.

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