BJ Green II seeing a younger version of himself in Taje McCoy

BJ Green II and Taje McCoy have formed a valuable relationship

Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker. The teacher-student dynamic is an integral part of life, and it appears a great one is forming in the Colorado Buffaloes’ defensive end room.

Against Kansas State over the weekend, senior BJ Green II collected his first two sacks of the season while redshirt freshman pass rusher Taje McCoy collected his team-leading third. There are a lot of similarities between the two pass-rushing threats. Both were three-star prospects coming out of high school and made impacts early in their college career. Green sacked the quarterback five times during his first season at Arizona State and McCoy has risen up the depth chart this year after redshirting his first season in Boulder.

The similarities are not lost on Green,  who was asked about McCoy on Tuesday:

“He reminds me of myself during my freshman year,” Green said. “Having those third-down opportunities and seeing him flash like that (makes me) reminiscent of how I got started in Power Five football.”

Green is making sure he passes on information to McCoy as well:

“Being able to give him those bits and pieces so that way when I’m gone, he (McCoy) has those things that he can push forward,” Green said. “He can be that guy that steps into my shoes and people can look up to. At the end of the day, you want to be the person that gives them (help) and they can pass that on.”

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Colorado football 2023 state of the position: Outside linebacker

Colorado’s OLBs room holds many of the Buffs’ best pass rushers

Position classifications get tricky in college football, and the Colorado Buffaloes are no different this season. Most will see a player labeled “outside linebacker” and assume they will be dropping in coverage and playing the run. But when you look at the names that have been assembled at the position for the Buffs, they will also be getting after the quarterback.

Colorado has gathered a boatload of pass-rushing talent and almost all of them are listed as OLBs on the official roster. On obvious passing downs, expect to see one or more of these OLBs on the edges ready to get after the QB.

Here’s a look at Colorado’s primary “outside linebackers:”

Coach Prime Factor: Every 2023 Colorado commitment since Deion Sanders was hired

Deion Sanders is getting busy rebuilding Colorado’s football program in his own image.

Deion Sanders is getting busy rebuilding Colorado’s football program in his own image.

Since Sanders was hired as the Buffaloes’ new head coach a couple weeks ago, hundreds of recruits have reached out and a few high-profile names have verbally committed – including 2025 five-star wide receiver Winston Watkins Jr., cousin of NFL receiver Sammy Watkins.

The Buffaloes have also added a few more recruits to their 2023 class since. Here’s a look at everyone who has committed  since Sanders was hired.

More recruiting news

QB Marcel Reed flips from Ole Miss to Texas A&M

QB Dante Moore flips from Oregon to UCLA