Colorado Daily

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Colorado Daily – North Dakota State Week

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August 31st 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Neill Woelk’s Takeaways from Game One

From CUBuffs.com … In retrospect, North Dakota State might have been the perfect opening opponent for the Colorado Buffaloes.

The visiting Bison gave the Buffs everything they wanted — and maybe a little more — Thursday night before CU finally walked off Folsom Field with a 31-26 victory.

NDSU tested the Buffaloes in every area. The Bison made CU’s offense work for its points and they pushed the Buffs’ defense to its limits. The Bison were physical in the trenches, played with discipline and didn’t hurt their cause with too many unforced errors.

But in the end, the difference came at the skill positions, where Colorado’s speed and talent proved to be too much for NDSU. Simply, the Bison didn’t have an answer for Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders and WRs Travis Hunter and Jimmy Horn Jr.

Still, the game proved to be exactly the kind of test Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders’ team needed in its opener. Colorado had to respond to adversity, had to come up with big plays when it mattered most — and maybe most importantly, the Buffs got a good look at the areas they spent an offseason working to improve.

Questions about the running game are still unanswered. On paper, CU’s rushing attack was less than impressive: 23 attempts for 59 yards, a mere 2.9 yards per carry.

Perhaps most stark was CU’s attempt to convert a fourth-and-1 in the first half. The Buffs were stuffed and the turnover on downs resulted in an NDSU field goal.

But there were some bright spots. Newcomer Dallan Hayden showed some power inside and Charlie Offerdahl had a big 5-yard gain on third down to keep CU’s decisive 80-yard scoring drive alive in the fourth quarter.

Coach Prime didn’t seem to be too worried about CU’s lack of a rushing attack. As he noted, “We would like to see a little more balance. But what is balance? Balance is wins, really. That’s what balance is.”

Still, no matter how good Shedeur and Co. prove to be, the Buffs are going to face situations where they absolutely have to run the ball with authority. The guess here is they will keep working on their game and it will improve.

O-line is improved. Yes, QB Sanders did find himself under pressure on several occasions. He did have to extend plays with his legs and he did take some big hits after releasing the ball.

But CU yielded only one sack all night, the fewest in the Coach Prime era. The Buffs’ offensive linemen actually graded out fairly well according to Pro Football Focus, and it’s worth remembering that this was the first game for the starting five playing together (the same five played every offensive snap).

The line will also need to get more physical in short-yardage situations. That missed fourth down conversion came because the Buffs didn’t get enough push off the snap, another issue Coach Prime brought up in his postgame press conference.

“We got to get that,” he said. “We got to convert that. That’s kind of putting your stamp on it. We got to be physical.”

Continuity comes with experience, and there’s no reason to think they won’t continue to improve as the season progresses.

Unforced errors were kept to a minimum. Early on, it looked like the penalty bug might be a problem for the Buffs. A couple of early flags were costly, including one that kept an NDSU scoring drive alive.

But Colorado finished with just three penalties for 30 yards and none in the second half. Those are numbers just about any coach will take for a game.

One other area of concern arose when CU’s offense came dangerously close to absorbing a couple of delay of game penalties, forcing the Buffs to use timeouts they would have rather saved.

“I’m just reminding him about the clock,” Coach Prime said of a conversation with his quarterback. “You see that big thing up there? That’s a clock. Those numbers up there, running down like that? That’s for you, OK? Look at that so I don’t have to burn these timeouts.”

Coach Prime also had a talk with his QB about throwing deep late in the game when the Buffs should have been keeping the ball on the ground and running the clock out. As it turned out, no damage, but that’s not a gamble CU wants to repeat in another critical situation.

We’re guessing the messages will be received loud and clear.

… Continue reading story here …

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Nick Saban: “I think they’re improved. Are they improved enough to have a winning season? I hope so”

From msn.com … Following their opener on Thursday, Nick Saban has given his first impression of Colorado this season.

Saban spoke about the Buffaloes’ debut in their 31-26 over North Dakota State during his appearance on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ on Friday. He started with their offense as he liked their clear talent at the skill positions. However, he does think they need to even out their attack with more of a run game.

“Well, I think that – a couple things,” said Saban. “First of all, I think they got better skill guys to go with the quarterback, which I think is going to be important.”

“I think they need to try to improve their ability to run the ball because they didn’t have much balance last night, which showed up at the end of the game when they couldn’t take the air out of it and gave the ball back to North Dakota State,” Saban said.

Of the 504 yards of offense for Colorado, 445 were through the air with just 59 on the ground. It was a great night in passing from Shedeur Sanders but the unit had its issues with just 2.6 yards a rush. That arguably nearly cost them in the end too with how their final possession went as Saban noted.

As for the defense, Saban thinks the Buffs were better on that end. He just wonders how good they can be on that side regardless, though, with that offensive approach.

“I do think their defense might be a little bit improved. Now, whether it’s good enough, I don’t know,” said Saban. “You have to be a really good defense to play with that kind of offense who has to throw the ball all the time. Just like they probably gave up 90 yards at the end of the game that the other team shouldn’t have ever had the ball.”

Colorado did allow 449 yards last night to NDSU. The Bison moved it at nearly eight yards per play while staying on the field on third and fourth down. In the end, it was a so-so outing for the Buffalo defense with some moments yet plenty to work on.

All in all, Colorado will take the five-point opening victory over that high-quality opponent from the FCS. Saban thinks it was a decent start too in what could end up being a good year in Boulder.

“You know, I think they’re improved,” said Saban. “Are they improved enough to have a winning season? I hope so.”

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August 30th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU/NDSU draws 4.8 million viewers (best ESPN Thursday opener since 2017) 

FYI … I went back to look for ESPN’s Thursday opener in 2017 … It was No. 2 Ohio State at Indiana, with the Buckeyes trailing the Hoosiers at halftime (before pulling away in the second half) …

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Coach Prime okay with offensive line play: “The line played a good game, man. We’ve got to give them love”

From the Daily Camera … Throughout the offseason, the main on-the-field storyline about the Colorado football team was the overhaul of the offensive line.

The line struggled mightily last year and all five regular starters are gone, as one graduated and four jumped into the transfer portal.

In Thursday’s 31-26 season opening win against North Dakota State, the Buffaloes debuted their new line, with mixed results.

On the plus side, quarterback Shedeur Sanders was sacked just once all night. The most-sacked quarterback in the country last year (52 times), Sanders was sacked at least three times in every game he played in 2023.

Sanders did take some shots from NDSU during the first half, but his father and CU head coach Deion Sanders was focused more on the reduced number of sacks on a night when Shedeur completed 26 of 34 passes for 445 yards and four touchdowns.

“You never want to see your son get hit, let alone your quarterback,” Coach Prime said following Thursday’s game. “But no, the line played a good game, man. We’ve got to give them love. I mean, the guy got sacked one time, dropped back, what was it, 34 times? I’m good with that. I’m good with that.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 29th – Game Day!

… CU in a few minutes … 

Drew Litton

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Neill Woelk’s Keys to the Game

From CUBuffs.com … Thursday’s game will give the nation its first look at Coach Prime’s retooling effort. In his second year at the helm in Boulder, Sanders rebuilt CU’s offensive and defensive lines while also adding key pieces at just about every other position. He also made significant staff changes, including the addition of new coordinators Robert Livingston (defense) and Pat Shurmur (offense).

But the most important pieces of CU’s attack are the returning players, beginning with quarterback Shedeur Sanders, two-way star Travis Hunter, wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr., safety Shilo Sanders and linebackers LaVonta Bentley and Trevor Woods. They give CU a foundation on which the Buffaloes believe they can build a winning record this year and earn a postseason berth.

So how do they get off on the right foot and open the season with a win? Our first edition of our weekly Fast Five:

1. Give QB Sanders time to operate. OK, no secret here. CU’s fate all season will depend greatly upon how much time Sanders has to work in the pocket.

Sanders is one of the nation’s best quarterbacks. He has great accuracy at all ranges, has a penchant for big plays, doesn’t turn the ball over and can keep plays alive with his feet.

But if the Buffs are going to take a step forward this season, they need to cut last year’s total of sacks allowed (56) roughly in half — and that won’t be easy against an NDSU defense that returns nine starters from last year. The group includes the top four tacklers and four quality defensive linemen.

The Buffs’ new offensive line has to give Sanders a clean pocket. That will give time to keep the ball moving and put the Bison on their heels early.

2. Make the most of their team speed. In terms of pure physicality, especially in the trenches, the Bison will be a match for Colorado. They are used to playing tough, hard-nosed ball and the Buffs won’t be able to bully them.

But what the Bison don’t usually see in their FCS schedule is the team speed CU harbors, especially on the outside. From Horn to Hunter to LaJohntay Wester to Will Sheppard, the Buffs have better speed in the big-play area. If CU can utilize that speed, Colorado will make the difference with big plays.

… Read full story here …

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August 28th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Shedeur Sanders signs multi-million dollar NIL deal with Nike

From CBS Sports … Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders has signed an NIL deal with Nike that will include both apparel and footwear, he announced in a joint Instagram post. His deal comes nearly 30 years after his father, Deion Sanders, signed with the athletic apparel company.

Deion famously had a contract with Nike in the 1990s and produced massively popular signature shoes. His cleats were called Nike Air Diamond Turfs (DTs) because of his fame on both the gridiron and baseball diamond as perhaps the best all-around athlete ever. He separated from Nike in 2009 but returned in 2023 with the promise of future vintage shoe releases. In June, Nike released the Air Max DT ’96 Black Varsity Maizes, a revamped version of a popular colorway among sneakerheads.

Shedeur spoke about his father’s shoe line on his podcast Tuesday and said he’d be interested in furthering the line with an updated version of the shoes. With the new agreement, Sanders could potentially wear versions of Deion Sanders’ cleats on game days while at Colorado.

“I would want to build on it,” Sanders said. “I want to build on it, have like a different version. But I think concept, because I feel like it’s more … like now, like just looking at life and looking at everything, it’s more about generational. It’s more about what could be passed down year after year after year after year rather than everybody starting to think they’re whole new wave … because there’s no real substance behind it. Everything that’s great has to have a story behind it.”

… Read full story here …

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Five Bison to Watch

From the Daily Camera … 5 Bison to Watch

DE Dylan Hendricks: Had a breakout season in 2023, earning first-team all-conference honors. He finished second on the team in tackles for loss (10.5) and sacks (6.5). He’s the top returner in both of those categories. He also had 40 tackles and three pass breakups.

LB Logan Kopp: Earned first-team all-conference honors last season. He was second on the team in tackles with 85. He also had 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions, four pass breakups, three QB hurries and two forced fumbles.

QB Cam Miller: Back for a fifth season, Miller has started 38 consecutive games for the Bison. He’s coming off the best year of his career, posting personal bests in completions (208), attempts (289), completion percentage (.720), passing yards (2,688), touchdown passes (19) and rushing yards (629). He also ran for 13 touchdowns and threw only four interceptions.

DT Eli Mostaert: Preseason All-American posted 37 tackles and four tackles for loss last season. He has 120 tackles, 12.5 TFLs and 13.5 sacks in his career.

QB Cole Payton: Although he is NDSU’s backup quarterback, he’s also one of the top rushers on the team. Last year, he threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns, while also ranking third on the team with 615 rushing yards and tying Miller for the team lead with 13 rushing touchdowns.

… Continue reading story here …

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NDSU head coach: “Running the ball will be critical to our success”

From the Daily Camera … From the moment the 2023 season came to a close, Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders made it clear there were top priorities on the to-do list.

Offensively, of course, it was make sure quarterback Shedeur Sanders was protected and that the running backs had room to run. Defensively, the clear objective was to improve the ability to stop the run.

Both areas will be tested when the Buffs open the season against North Dakota State on Thursday (6 p.m., ESPN) at Folsom Field. But it might be the run defense that plays the bigger role against the Bison.

“I just take from my experiences, you can’t be a good defensive line if you can’t stop the run game,” CU defensive line coach Damione Lewis said. “So that’s always going to be a challenge. So every week, No. 1 rule, we stop the run. So that’s going to be our focus, and then after that, we earn the right to rush (the quarterback).”

Stopping the run will be particularly important against the Bison, who come in as the No. 2-ranked team in the Football Championship Subdivision.

A year ago, NDSU was fourth in the FCS in rushing, at 237.3 yards per game, while ranking sixth in yards per rush (5.77) and racking up a Division I-best 47 touchdowns on the ground.

NDSU has a new head coach in Tim Polasek, but the philosophy is the same. The Bison have always been known for running the ball and that won’t change under Polasek, who spent the past three years as the offensive coordinator at Wyoming. His career also includes nine seasons coaching NDSU backs.

“Running the ball will be critical to our success,” Polasek said in his weekly press conference on Monday.

For NDSU, there will be challenges in that regard. Fullback Hunter Brozio, who was first-team all-conference in 2023 without carrying the ball, is out for the season. And Barika Kpeenu, projected to be the starting running back, has been battling a knee injury and his status for Thursday is up in the air.

Even if Kpeenu – who rushed for 501 yards last year – doesn’t play, the Bison have capable ball carriers, including at quarterback.

… Continue reading story here …

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August 27th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU still have 2,400 tickets available for season opener

From Brian Howell at the Daily Camera …

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August 26th

… CU in a few minutes … 

ESPN Top 100 Newcomers includes four Buffs

From ESPN … In this era of transfer portal transactions and constant roster turnover, attempting to keep up with who went where can be a dizzying exercise for even the most devoted college football fan. Consider this your cheat sheet: the top 100 newcomers you need to know for the 2024 season.

We surveyed coaches and staffers throughout the country about their most impactful transfer portal additions and true freshman recruits. Here’s who they predict will have breakout seasons.

There are dozens of other transfers and freshmen who will become starters and play important roles in the race to the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, but these players stood out in preseason practice and have the talent and opportunity to be difference-makers.

Big men

Quality offensive and defensive linemen are worth more than most when they hit the portal. These linemen are set to play important roles.

DE Dayon Hayes
Pitt to Colorado

It’s tough to pick just one Colorado defensive lineman for this list after the Buffs’ dramatic overhaul up front with 11 transfers joining the program this offseason. Hayes, a 6-foot-3, 265-pound senior who broke out with a team-high 10.5 tackles for loss in 2023, will certainly help the pass rush. Hayes, fellow Pitt transfer Samuel Okunlola and Arizona State transfer BJ Green all look prepared to produce for a defense that’s looking to get a lot better in a hurry.

OL Kahlil Benson
Indiana to Colorado

On the other side of the ball, the Buffs are rolling with a new-look offensive line and have high hopes for Benson, who brought a solid résumé to Boulder with 17 starts in the Big Ten over the past two seasons and experience at both right guard and right tackle. He’ll help fortify a unit that surrendered 56 sacks last year and will have an opportunity to get drafted if he can put together a good season.

Moving up

Key transfer portal additions for Power 4 teams who are making the jump from Group of 5 or FCS programs.

WR LaJohntay Wester
FAU to Colorado

Wester led the AAC in receptions (108) and receiving yards (1,168) last season, scored 10 total touchdowns and took home AAC Special Teams Player of the Year honors after averaging 19.9 yards per punt return. He’s a dynamic player with the ball in his hands who makes the Buffs’ offense better. Shedeur Sanders already had top targets Travis Hunter and Jimmy Horn Jr. returning and gets even more help with transfers Wester, Will Sheppard (Vanderbilt) and Terrell Timmons Jr. (NC State) joining the mix.

Freshmen to watch

Ten top-100 recruits who will have an opportunity to make a name for themselves as true freshman contributors.

OL Jordan Seaton
Colorado | 2024 ESPN 300 rank: 19

The five-star blocker’s late-cycle commitment to Colorado represented the most important pledge in Deion Sanders’ 2024 class. This fall, Seaton represents an upgrade at left tackle on an offensive line that struggled to protect the quarterback in 2023. As attention naturally follows Sanders’ program this fall, focus will remain firmly on the blocking unit now helmed by the 6-foot-5, 285-pound freshman tackle.

… Continue reading story here …

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Coach Prime sets up bank accounts for children of players

From The Athletic … Colorado coach Deion Sanders posted a message on X on Thursday afternoon looking for a bank to partner with his program.

Colorado’s collective, the 5430 Alliance, had already been working on a partnership for a financial literacy seminar.

“That aligned perfectly with what coach wanted to do,” said Reggie Calhoun Jr., who joined the 5430 Alliance as director of operations and business development in April. “Coach just took it to another level.”

On Sunday morning, after a speech on fatherhood to his team, Sanders brought the eight Colorado players who have children to the front of the meeting room.

He ceded the stage to a representative of Elevations Credit Union who presented the players with a bank account for their children stocked with $2,121, a nod to Sanders’ signature number.

“It made my whole day. I was like, ‘This is amazing. This is crazy,’” Calhoun Jr. said. “To have a coach talking about building men and see him put the work in and put actions forth, it changes the way you view coaching in the college sports world.”

Elevations already had several relationships across CU’s campus but found a new one with Sanders and the Buffaloes’ collective. The gift to the players was part of the financial literacy presentation that explained compound interest and the value of saving money over time.

“By the time the baby is 18, the baby will be straight and have a head start on life,” Sanders said, emphasizing his guest’s speech explaining savings accounts for kids that can be used to pay for college. “That’s what we need. Imagine if you had 100 grand dumped on you when you were 18. … Let’s pave the way, let’s lay it out so the child has an advantage in life.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 25th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Coach Prime: “I feel like everybody’s goal in the building is to win”

From the Daily Camera … For starters, CU has arguably the best quarterback in the country, and perhaps the best in program history with Shedeur Sanders. The head coach’s son set a school record with 3,230 passing yards last year, was one shy of the record for passing touchdowns (27) and was picked off just three times. And that’s while getting sacked a program-record 52 times and missing the last six quarters with an injury.

Hart sees similarities between Shedeur and his former teammate, CJ Stroud, who was the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year last season.

“Yeah, they handle their business as professionals,” Hart said. “You can easily see it with those guys, that they’re professional athletes. They handle it on and off the field, and they’re great quarterbacks. They’re super smart, they throw a great ball, and they work super hard at it.”

Shedeur might be worth the price of admission on his own but may not even be the best player on the team. Travis Hunter is an All-American candidate at cornerback and receiver – a rare two-way star who, like Shedeur, is projected as a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Hunter was selected by Big 12 media as the preseason defensive player of the year in the conference, while Shedeur was picked as the first-team All-Big 12 quarterback. The fact that CU could have two stars like that and still land 11th in the media poll suggests that there’s not a lot of faith in everyone around them.

Within the walls of the Champions Center, though, there’s a lot of belief in what the Buffs have built this offseason. Coach Prime said he wants four Buffs to go in the first round next spring and he sees NFL talent all over the roster, but team success is vital.

“Of the top, I think, four teams in college football, including Florida State, those schools collectively had the most kids that were drafted,” he said. “That’s what winning does. So if you want more young men to go into the draft from your team, win. That’s all you’ve got to do. Just win.”

The Buffs believe they can do that, not only because of Shedeur and Hunter, but a plethora of talent at receiver, an upgraded offensive line, a more experienced and talented defensive line, upgrades at linebacker and in the secondary, and a kicking game they trust.

Of course, confidence is there, too. Coach Prime and his sons have been winners all their lives and they plan to win this year.

“I don’t think we out there working out every day to try to lose,” Shedeur said. “That is not what we’re trying to do. Obviously things happened last year to where we didn’t make that happen, but I feel like everybody’s goal in the building is to win. … What I feel confident in is we’re all better versions of ourselves, and we have new and improved players. So, you just do the math. It’s got to add up.”

… Read full story here …

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August 24th

… CU in a few minutes … 

*Coach Prime’s North Dakota State Press Conference*

… “Truly a brotherhood … especially with six sets of brothers on the team … We set out to build a defense to stop the run. Don’t underestimate the depth we have at that position … On adding George Helow to the staff : You talk about a professional. He commands their attention … We really don’t care about naming starters. It matters who makes the most out of their opportunities. Some guys play better early; some guys play better late. What matters is depth. I love the roster we have established. Those guys are challenging each other to play at a higher level … Expectations: I never talk about what I am going to do. I want to win. I expect to do some amazing things … (Center) Hank Zilinskas is consistent, a great young man. He loves to be an underdog … Our punter (Mark Vassett) will be a pro … Mata is Mata … With our coverage teams. We probably have five starting corners. We have so much talent, we should have outstanding special teams … Who we are encourages (North Dakota State) … They know the world will be watching … It’s a closing of a chapter with my kids, but I am 100% sure I will not be their coach next year, so I’m still playing the role of dad … Everything I do is competitive, even when I am doing endorsements …

(To Kiszla): I’ve never read an article and said ‘oh, that’s going to make me go hard’, the comments make me know where you stand … I’m not negative … I’m not a hateful guy. Now, when you show me where you stand, I don’t have to come where you are … I don’t feel persecuted … This is not my first time for this … Instead of lashing out, I want to know why …

Tight ends – block first, receiver second … When we put a tight end in, we want the defense to change their personnel. If they don’t, we may as well go with (five wide receivers) … Warren Sapp – he has done more than a phenomenal job. You’ve got to know the personalities, and he is doing just that … L patches are for Leaders … D is for Dawgs, to be given out the week of the game … We have a bunch of guys who can fill that role …

Also interviewed at the press conference … kicker Alejandro Mata and punter Mark Vassett …

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