Colorado Daily

—

Colorado Daily – Alamo Bowl

—

December 28th – Game Day!

… CU in a few minutes …

Daily Camera … Five Cougars to Watch

From the Daily Camera …

5 Cougars to Watch

DE Tyler Batty: First-team All-Big 12 selection by the coaches, he leads the BYU defensive front. He has 55 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, along with eight QB hurries.

CB Marque Collins: Among the leaders of a secondary that has been tough against the pass this season. He has 22 tackles, two interceptions and a team-high eight pass breakups.

LB Isaiah Glasker: Has earned All-Big 12 recognition from various outlets. He’s done a bit of everything, with 62 tackles, a team-high 13.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble.

WR/KR Keelan Marion: A first-team All-American by the FWAA and Walter Camp, he’s one of the most dangerous returners in the country, averaging 26.2 yards and taking two back for touchdowns. As a receiver, he’s caught 23 passes for 340 yards and a touchdown.

QB Jake Retzlaff: A first-time starter this season, Retzlaff has posted 2,796 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, while completing 57% of his passes. He’s also dangerous with his legs, ranking second on the team with 388 rushing yards and leading the team with six rushing touchdowns.

When BYU has the ball …

The Cougars have had a fairly balanced attack all season, but it is led by their quarterback, Jake Retzlaff. He struggled a bit in November, with just two TD passes and three interceptions, while BYU’s scoring average was just 22.0 points per game in those four games. Retzlaff did have a string of six consecutive games with multiple TD passes at one point, though. He also poses a running threat that CU hasn’t seen much in recent games from the quarterback. BYU didn’t have any first or second-team all-conference receivers, but Chase Roberts (51 catches, 843 yards, four TD) and Darius Lassiter (43 for 679, 4 TD) are reliable targets. LJ Martin is a solid running back, as well, leading the BYU ground game with 630 yards and five TDs, while averaging 5.2 yards per carry. The Cougars don’t have the most dynamic offense around, averaging 30.8 points per game (sixth in the Big 12) and 397.4 yards (12th), but they’re efficient. “Very sound team, very technically sound team,” CU cornerback DJ McKinney said. “They’re gonna do their job. They’re gonna execute what their coaches are calling and everything, so we’ve just got to be more disciplined than them, really.”

… Continue reading story here …

–

—

Neill Woelk’s Keys to the Alamo Bowl

From CUBuffs.com … It’s been 20 years and five head coaches since the Colorado Buffaloes last won a bowl game.

Now, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders and the Buffs (9-3) have an opportunity to turn the tide Saturday when they face off with fellow Big 12 member BYU (10-2) in the Valero Alamo Bowl (5:30 p.m., ABC).

The two teams tied for the regular season conference lead, both finishing with 7-2 league records. Thanks to a quirk in the bowl selection process this year, the Alamo was afforded the opportunity to take two teams from the same conference, making perhaps the most appealing non-playoff matchup of this year’s college bowl menu.

The Buffs are slight favorites, thanks in large part to the presence of the dynamic duo of Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders. The two were the main reason Colorado led the Big 12 in passing this season, averaging more than 327 yards per game in the air.

(Fun fact: BYU has faced a Heisman winner three times in the year in which the player won the award. The Cougars are 0-3 in those games: Herschel Walker, Georgia, 1982; Chris Weinke, Florida State, 2000; Matt Leinart, USC, 2004).

But CU will face a stiff test from the Cougars, who led the Big 12 in scoring defense by giving up just 20.1 points per game.

In terms of recent games, the Buffs had the hotter hand down the stretch. CU won five of its last six, scoring at least 34 points in all five wins, including a 52-0 thrashing of Oklahoma State in the regular season finale.

The Cougars had a disappointing stretch run. After winning their first nine and putting themselves in position for a Big 12 title game berth, they dropped two in a row before ending with a 30-18 win over Houston.

Coach Prime has made it clear the Buffs are on a business trip. They’ve enjoyed the week’s festivities, but are focused on getting CU a bowl win.

They will need to play well in all three phases to accomplish that goal.

… Continue reading story here …

–

—–

December 27th

… CU in a few minutes … 

*Coach Prime/Coach Sitake Alamo Bowl Press conference*

From Brian Howell at the Daily Camera …

–

—

Jimmy Horn grateful for first bowl game: “I cherish this. I’m just ready”

From the Daily Camera …  Jimmy Horn Jr. could not have asked for a better start to this senior season with the Colorado Buffaloes.

Horn caught seven passes for 198 yards and a touchdown in a season-opening win against North Dakota State on Aug. 29.

The four months since then haven’t gone quite as planned, but Horn is looking forward to ending his season – and his career – on the right note on Saturday when the No. 20 Buffs face No. 17 BYU in the Valero Alamo Bowl (5:30 p.m., ABC).

“I’m just thankful and blessed for this opportunity to be in a bowl game,” he said Thursday at an Alamo Bowl press conference. “I cherish this. I’m going to go out there and play real hard. So I’m just ready.”

Playing in a loaded receiver room and then dealing with nagging injuries that essentially wiped out his November, Horn has caught just 26 passes for 236 yards since the opener. He hasn’t caught a pass in a game since Oct. 26 against Cincinnati, missing all or most of the last four games.

Horn has been healthy and going through bowl practices, however.

“I’ve been feeling pretty good,” he said. “The way I got through it, I go to treatment every day, you know. Just got to show up and get the treatment for my body, so I can go out there and perform.”

… Continue reading story here …

–

—–

December 26th

… CU in a few minutes … 

ESPN: Expect a shootout at the Alamo Bowl

From ESPN … No. 17 BYU vs. No. 20 Colorado (-4, 54.5)
Saturday, 7:30 p.m.ET on ABC

This game has all the makings of an electrifying shootout, provided there are no significant opt-outs. Both teams bring dynamic, high-powered offenses to the table, setting the stage for a thrilling spectacle in San Antonio.

Colorado, led by the ever-charismatic Deion Sanders, has been an offensive juggernaut in the Big 12. Averaging 35 points per game, the Buffaloes’ aerial attack is nothing short of lethal. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders has been a revelation, ranking seventh nationally with 316 passing yards per game and second with 35 touchdown passes. His connection with Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter is pure magic. Hunter’s season has been one for the ages, a constant nightmare for secondaries with his unmatched ability to turn any play into a highlight reel moment.

BYU, meanwhile, brings its own impressive arsenal to the matchup. Quarterback Jake Retzlaff is the Cougars’ ultimate dual-threat weapon, blending dynamic playmaking with precision passing. His chemistry with standout receivers Chase Roberts and Darius Lassiter gives BYU the ability to strike quickly and from anywhere on the field, ensuring defenses are always on their heels.

Both teams are no strangers to lighting up the scoreboard. BYU’s offense has been on fire, topping 34 points in six consecutive games this season — a streak unmatched by the program since 1996. On the other side, Colorado’s offense led the Big 12 in efficiency, churning out 6.1 yards per play, while also looking for the big play.

Defensively, the cracks are evident. BYU has struggled on third downs, but its opportunistic defense has been a force in creating chaos, ranking second in the nation in turnovers forced. Colorado has shown vulnerability in containing explosive plays, leaving the door wide open for the Cougars to capitalize.

Taking the over here feels less like a gamble and more like an expectation. With solid quarterback play, playmakers galore and defenses prone to lapses, this game has all the ingredients for fireworks. If Sanders and Retzlaff take the stage at full strength, the Alamo Bowl could be one of the most entertaining games of the entire bowl season.

Pam’s pick: Total points OVER 54.5

–

—–

December 25th

… CU in a few minutes … 

BJ Green happy about his one year stay at CU: “It turned out the way I expected it to”

From the Daily Camera … BJ Green II took a chance on Colorado when he opted to spend his final season of college football with the Buffaloes.

Already an established star with Arizona State, Green could have wrapped up his career with one more solid season with the Sun Devils. Instead, he chose last offseason to transfer to CU, and he hasn’t looked back.

“It’s turned out the way I expected it to,” said Green, a senior defensive end who has been one of the top edge rushers in the Big 12 this season. “Coming here was, it’s uncomfortable, but that’s what I needed, and that’s what I needed to get to the next level.”

Green is one of several players who chose to spend their last season of college football with the Buffs, and many of them have made a significant impact. The 20th-ranked Buffs (9-3) will play No. 17 BYU (10-2) on Saturday in the Alamo Bowl (5:30 p.m., ABC), thanks in part to the contributions of the one-and-done Buffs.

In addition to Green, defensive lineman Chidozie Nwankwo and defensive back Preston Hodge have played starring roles on a resurgent defense.

Phillip Houston (now out with a knee injury) and Justin Mayers have been mainstays in the offensive line rotation, while Will Sheppard and LaJohntay Wester have been stars at receiver. The group also includes walk-on Kameron Hawkins, who transferred in from Arizona and has handled long-snapper duties all season.

Each one of them came to CU with a purpose last offseason, and each has seen some benefit.

… Continue reading story here …

–

—–

December 24th

… CU in a few minutes …

*Coach Prime / Rick George Alamo Bowl press conference*

From YouTube, courtesy of Brian Howell at the Daily Camera …

Disability insurance … Deion Sanders has always maintained that everyone was going to play, and now all of the players who are headed off to the pros will have disability insurance in case something happens during the game. Rick George detailed the plan on Monday.

“It was (Deion Sanders’) idea that we should get disability insurance for our student-athletes for this game to ensure that they play,” George said. “If there was some kind of injury that they’ll be well taken care of. So we worked together on that, we’re excited about it. We think it’s great that all of our players are playing in the game and that’s what all bowl games should be like.”

Incoming freshmen practicing … Before the bowl game, Sanders was very complimentary of the youngsters and the work that they have already done in just a few short days.

“We have some young talent here that’s going to help this program tremendously,” Sanders said. “I mean, when those guys walked on the field, you felt their presence and they wanted us to know that they belong. And it was phenomenal. I don’t want to throw names out, but we got some talent.”

Buffs not distracted … Deion Sanders maintains that Colorado has one singular focus this week, and that is knocking off BYU on Saturday.

“Well the purpose is to win the game,” Sanders said. “It’s the main course. The appetizers are all the other stuff. We’re happy to go through what we need to go through to get to what we need to get to, but the young men know what we’re here for. We’re not here for the festivities. We’re not here for all of the tangibles. We’re here to win this football game.”

–

—–

December 23rd

… CU in a few minutes … 

Coach Prime: “We’re not here for all the things, the intangibles. We’re here to win this football game”

From the Daily Camera … A mariachi band was playing, the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk was decked out in Colorado logos and graphics, and a host of fans welcomed the Buffaloes upon their arrival on Monday night for the Valero Alamo Bowl.

“We’re excited. We’re elated to be here,” said CU head coach Deion Sanders, who will lead his 20th-ranked Buffs against No. 17 BYU on Saturday at the Alamodome (5:30 p.m., ABC).

Coach Prime couldn’t remember the last time he was in San Antonio, but CU athletic director Rick George is here for the third time for the Alamo Bowl, as the Buffs played here in 2016 and 2020.

“The hospitality that we get when we’re in San Antonio is second to none,” George said. “I mean, the Valero Alamo Bowl does a phenomenal job, and the hospitality that they give all of our players and fans, it’s just a great week. They have a lot of things planned, and they just do a great job of embracing their community and allowing us to be guests in it. We expect to have a lot of fans here, and it’s going to be great for the city and the state, and it’s going to be great for our fans as well.”

The Buffs will have some fun during the week, but Coach Prime made it clear the Buffs are focused.

“The purpose is to win the game,” he said. “It’s like the main course. The appetizers are all the other stuff. So we’re happy to go through what we need to go through to get to what we need to get to, but the young men know what we here for. We’re not here for the festivities. We’re not here for all the things, the intangibles. We’re here to win this football game.”

… Read full story here …

–

—–

December 22nd

… CU in a few minutes … 

CB DJ McKinney looking to follow in Travis Hunter’s footsteps: “I could win an award, too, next year”

From the Daily Camera … Watching Travis Hunter win a plethora of awards last week, including the Heisman Trophy, has made an impact on his Colorado teammates.

Head coach Deion Sanders had Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders stand in front of the team earlier this week, talked about the awards both of them won and pointed out that some of them could be next.

Cornerback DJ McKinney is taking the inspiration from Hunter and the message from Coach Prime to heart.

“Man, it was amazing, just seeing him walk into the after party with the Heisman Trophy,” said McKinney, who was one of several Buffs who made the trip to New York City to support Hunter when he won the Heisman on Dec. 14. “Man, it kind of made me realize, like, I could win an award, too, next year.

“I could see myself carrying the trophy out and then it’s just surreal seeing him because he’s so deserving of it. It’s amazing being a part of it.”

McKinney and the 20th-ranked Buffs (9-3) are focused on trying to beat No. 17 BYU (10-2) in to Valero Alamo Bowl on Saturday in San Antonio (5:30 p.m., ABC), but McKinney is already looking forward to trying to fill Hunter’s shoes.

Although not a two-way star like Hunter, McKinney played cornerback on the opposite side of Hunter all season. With Hunter heading to the NFL Draft after the Alamo Bowl, McKinney could be the Buffs’ top corner next year, with eyes on the Thorpe Award for the top defensive back in the country (about the only trophy Hunter didn’t win).

“I’m just ready for it,” McKinney said of stepping into the lead role next year. “I’m gonna attack it, make sure I’m on top of my game so I can have everybody else around me on top of theirs, just being a leader.”

… Continue reading story here …

–

—–

December 21st 

… CU in a few minutes … 

LB LaVonta Bentley: “Oh, a lot of pride, man. My last ride, my last game here”

From the Daily Camera … Throughout a six-year college football career, LaVonta Bentley has seen just about everything.

He’s been to the College Football Playoff and endured a six-game losing streak to cap a disappointing season. He’s been a backup and a star.

It’s certainly been a roller-coaster ride, but Bentley was all smiles this week knowing his college career will end in a bowl game. He and the 20th-ranked Buffaloes (9-3) will face No. 17 BYU (10-2) in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28 in San Antonio (5:30 p.m. MT, ABC).

“I think every game is a big game, especially this time of the year,” the Buffaloes’ senior linebacker said. “Not making (a bowl game) last year, that was kind of tough, but getting back to one, that’s always great because those games are what most of the fans want to watch and see. We’re just blessed to be in that position.”

Bentley began his career playing four seasons (2019-22) at Clemson, one of the top programs in the country. Although he was redshirting in 2019, the Tigers went 14-1 and reached the College Football Playoff (CFP) national title game.

From 2020-22, Bentley helped Clemson go 31-8 with three more bowl appearances, including a trip to the CFP final four in 2020.

Although productive when he played, Bentley was a reserve linebacker at Clemson and came to CU in 2023 looking for a better opportunity. He found it and hasn’t looked back.

“Is there a better version of what college football should look like than LaVonta Bentley? He gives his all every play,” CU defensive coordinator Robert Livingston said.

… Continue reading story here …

–

—–

December 20th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Buffs leaving Monday for San Antonio: “They’ll never forget this plane that we’re getting on”

From the Daily Camera … The Alamo Bowl against the 17th-ranked Cougars (10-2) is important for different reasons.

For Hunter, there’s some motivation to once again prove why he was honored with the Heisman Trophy on Saturday. For Shedeur Sanders, it’s another opportunity to prove why he is the best quarterback in the country.

“You think Travis wants to go out there and get locked down with a Heisman in his house?” Coach Prime said. “You think Shedeur wants to go out there and play like hot garbage when he’s one of the premier guys and probably, arguably, the first pick of the whole draft?”

Hunter and Shedeur are sure-fire first-round picks, and probably top-five picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. But for others, there’s motivation to show out one last time for pro scouts while wearing a CU uniform.

Receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. has been hobbled for more than a month and has a chance to have a big game again. Receivers Will Sheppard and LaJohntay Wester have had great seasons and want to finish strong.

Defensive linemen Chidozie Nwankwo and Shane Cokes, linebacker LaVonta Bentley, safeties Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig and Shilo Sanders, and more, have plenty on the line, too.

As Coach Prime mentioned, there are many others who are planning to return to the 2025 Buffs who can make an impression on the staff going into the offseason.

“It’s not just a bowl game, where we’re going to go be merry and have a Merry Christmas and exchange gifts and do all that,” he said. “No, we want to go there and play Buff football. And we got some guys that want to end on a great note.

“We’ve got a lot of guys that want to ball out, and I can’t wait to see them. I think we even had a fight at practice today. I don’t recommend that, but I was proud of that.”

The Buffs will leave for San Antonio on Monday and will practice several days there before the game.

“I do know we’re flying in a heck of a plane on the way there,” he said. “We created that moment. They’ll never forget this plane that we’re getting on. So I can’t wait just for them to see that.”

… Continue reading story here …

–

—–

December 19th

… CU in a few minutes … 

*Video: Cornerback DJ McKinney and WR Will Sheppard*

From YouTube, courtesy BuffStampede.com …

Cornerback DJ McKinney … 

WR Will Sheppard … 

–

—

Travis Hunter; CU football team to be honored during men’s basketball game on Saturday

Press release from CUBuffs.com … Fans will be able to celebrate Travis Hunter winning the Heisman Trophy, see the trophy up close, and send the football team off to its Valero Alamo Bowl game matchup with BYU during the CU men’s basketball game against Bellarmine on Dec. 21 at 1 p.m.

Pre-game, Travis will warm up on the court in a pregame shootaround and will be honored with a short presentation involving the trophy before tip.

At halftime, the entire football team will take the floor for a final send off before they head to San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28.

Meanwhile, the Heisman Trophy will be on display in Chip’s Corral located in Boedecker Gym for photos with fans beginning at 11:30 a.m. The trophy will also be on display that evening in the same place when the women’s basketball team opens conference play against West Virginia beginning at 4:30 p.m. Tip-off for the women’s game is scheduled for 6 p.m.

In tribute to Travis, there will be reserve bench tickets available for the men’s game for just $12 and two for $12 tickets to the women’s game. Get your tickets now to celebrate Travis Hunter and the 2024 CU Buffs football team!

–

—–

December 17th

… CU in a few minutes … 

*Coach Prime Alamo Bowl Press Conference*

Also … Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and defensive coordinator Robert Livingston …

–

—–

December 16th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Travis wants to go out in style: “They helped me get this trophy, so why not go out there and help them?”

From the Daily Camera … Travis Hunter hasn’t forgotten the Buffaloes have another game. On Dec. 28, the 20th-ranked Buffs (9-3, 7-2 Big 12, No. 23 CFP) will face No. 17 BYU (10-2, 7-2) in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio.

Don’t worry about Hunter being ready.

“Who me? When I was flying here, what do you think I was doing? Watching film,” Hunter said on Friday during a media session at the Marriott Marquis. “I was watching film of BYU. I’ve been watching them all season. We thought that was gonna be a team we’d have to play, so I still have a little knowledge from before then but I definitely watched it (Thursday) when I was coming here.”

A year ago, Heisman winner Jayden Daniels of LSU elected to skip the Tigers’ bowl game to avoid the risk of injury ahead of the NFL Draft.

Although Hunter, a junior, will declare for the NFL Draft and is projected as a top-five pick, he is planning to play in the Alamo Bowl, and he’s looking forward to it, he said. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who is also projected as a top-five pick, will play, too.

“It’s gonna make my teammates go out there and play harder,” Hunter said on Saturday night after winning the Heisman. “Hopefully they get the eyes on them. All the eyes are probably on me right now, but hopefully they get the eyes on them. They helped me get this trophy, so why not go out there and help them?”

… Continue reading story here …

–

—–

December 15th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Buff legends weigh in on Travis Hunter: “He’s just a once in a lifetime kind of athlete”

From the Daily Camera … When he was coming out of high school in 1988, Deon Figures was labeled as an “athlete” and the idea of playing on offense and defense was discussed with recruiters.

“The thought was there,” Figures, a Colorado Buffaloes legend, told BuffZone this week. “It was pondered upon, but back then, that’s not what you did.”

Even today, it’s not what players do, with one remarkable exception. CU’s Travis Hunter is the first major college football player in decades to start – and star – on offense and defense, and it’s why he went into Saturday as the front-runner to win the 90th Heisman Trophy as the most outstanding player in the country.

“I don’t think I could have dealt with what this guy’s doing right now,” said Figures, a former CU cornerback who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday.

“When they made Travis Hunter, they broke the mold.”

One of CU’s two Jim Thorpe Award winners as the top defensive back in the country, Figures is arguably the best cornerback to ever play for the Buffaloes. Well, maybe until now.

“I’ve never seen a player like (Hunter),” said CU athletic director Rick George, who was the recruiting coordinator in the late 1980s when he helped get Figures to Boulder. “I used to think Deon Figures was the best defensive back that I’d ever recruited and watched on the college level. Travis Hunter exceeds that. … He’s just a once in a lifetime kind of athlete.”

… Continue reading story here …

–

Travis Hunter’s post-ceremony Press Conference … 

–

—–

December 13th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

*Video: Travis meets with the press in New York*

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStamepede.com …

–

—

Travis: “A lot of people tell me I can’t do it in the NFL, but I’m going to still do it in the NFL”

From ESPN … Travis Hunter has been different from nearly everyone else at each stop of his football career. It’s why the 21-year-old receiver and cornerback — a rare two-way player — is a massive betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday (-2250 on ESPN BET) and might be a top-five pick in next year’s NFL draft.

Hunter said winning the Heisman Trophy was his dream as a kid, but the idea of hoisting the stiff-armed trophy as the best college football player in the land seemed attainable only in video games. Hunter played EA Sports NCAA Football with his cousin, filling his roster with players with 99 grades and “trying to make them win the Heisman and all the good trophies,” he said. Now Hunter is tied for the highest rating in the current version of the game.

“I never envisioned this would happen for me, but I’m so happy to be sitting right here,” Hunter said in a news conference last month.

Hunter’s path to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York was anything but orthodox. After becoming one of the country’s most coveted recruits at Collins Hill, he shunned college football blue bloods Alabama, Florida State, Georgia and others to sign with Jackson State, becoming the first five-star recruit to choose an HBCU program.

After one season with the Tigers, Hunter followed his coach, Deion Sanders, to Colorado, where he became one of the sport’s most electrifying players.

This season, Hunter has 92 receptions for 1,152 yards with 14 touchdowns (No. 2 in the FBS) on offense, while allowing just 22 catches, 1 touchdown and 6 first downs on defense. He logged 1,356 snaps on offense and defense in 12 games — 434 more than any other FBS player.

Hunter has already collected the Walter Camp Award as the top overall player in the FBS, along with the Chuck Bednarik Award as the top defensive player and the Biletnikoff Award for the best wide receiver.

It’s a workload that would leave most players gasping for air. “There hasn’t been a game this year or last year where I felt like I’m too tired, I need to take a break, or I’m taking two minutes now to cool out,” Hunter said. “I don’t ever feel that way.”

With his blazing speed and playmaking ability as a receiver and lockdown cover skills as a cornerback, Hunter is considered a generational talent who wants to play on both sides of the ball in the NFL.

“I’m super confident, and I believe that I can do it at the next level,” Hunter said. “I’m not going to let anyone tell me that I can’t do something that I already done. They said I couldn’t do it in college, and I ended up doing it in college.

“A lot of people tell me I can’t do it in the NFL, but I’m going to still do it in the NFL. You know, a lot of people just let other people get in their ear, so they don’t let them do it, and some people don’t have the body type to be able to go both ways full time.”

When Hunter was asked about being described as a unicorn by a reporter, he said, “A unicorn is just different, different from everybody else. It’s just hard to do what the unicorn can do.”

… Continue reading story here …

–

—–

December 11th

… CU in a few minutes … 

ESPN: Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter Go No. 1 and No. 3 in NFL Mock Draft

From ESPN … We have reached the point of the 2024 NFL regular season when most fans fall into one of two camps: hoping for a Super Bowl, or hoping for a high draft pick and top prospect. With only four weeks left before the playoffs (and the college football regular season now behind us), we’re starting to look more and more to the 2025 NFL draft. So it’s a perfect time to dive into another mock draft, predicting first-round landing spots for the best players in next year’s class.

The draft order here is based on the current standings after Week 14 — where all 32 teams would slot if the season ended right now. No first-round picks have been traded yet, and I’m not projecting any moves today, either.

As we say before every mock draft, it’s important to remember things will change a good deal before the draft gets rolling on April 24. We still have bowl season, the College Football Playoff, predraft events, pro days, and countless shifts in rankings and team needs ahead. But for now, here is where things stand and how I’d project Round 1. (Note: Underclassmen are noted with an asterisk.)

1. New York Giants (2-11)

Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

The Giants’ multiyear quest to find a quarterback — recall they tried to trade up in last April’s draft — should come to an end in 2025. They benched and subsequently cut Daniel Jones last month, ending his six-season era in New York. Sanders has put together an incredible final college season, leading the FBS in completion percentage (74.2%) and ranking top-three in touchdown passes (35) and passing yards (3,926). He is at his best delivering from the pocket, as he throws with natural touch and is extremely poised. Sanders has met big moment after big moment at Colorado, and that unflappability bodes well for his NFL future.

2. Las Vegas Raiders (2-11)

Cam Ward, QB, Miami

The Raiders also must find a true quarterback of the future this offseason, as Las Vegas missed out on all six of the top QBs in the 2024 class. Gardner Minshew (broken collarbone) and Aidan O’Connell (knee) have underwhelmed, and neither is healthy right now. It’s time for a big change. Ward, meanwhile, is an improvisational signal-caller with a hose of an arm and the capacity to throw from many arm angles. He leads the FBS with 36 touchdown passes and is second with 4,123 passing yards.

3. New England Patriots (3-10)

Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado*

The most electric player in the class and top-ranked prospect on my board, Hunter offers difference-making ability on both sides of the ball. He has rare acceleration and high-end playmaking traits as a receiver, but I also see lockdown cover skills — including elite ball skills and instincts — as a cornerback. Consider that he not only is sixth in receiving yards (1,152) and second in TD catches (14) on offense but also has four interceptions and 10 pass breakups on defense.

The Patriots have a significant need at left tackle, so targeting someone such as Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr. is at least a conversation. But once factoring in holes at receiver and the cornerback spot opposite of Christian Gonzalez, Hunter is too good to pass up.

… Continue reading story here …

–

—

Deon Figures becomes the 11th Buff to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame

From CUBuffs.com … University of Colorado All-American and Jim Thorpe Award winner in 1992, Deon Figures, became the 11th Buffalo along with 18 other players and three coaches to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame here this evening.

Figures, who lined up at 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds as a collegian, recorded 27 pass deflections, the second-most in CU history when he completed his career, and his 12 regular season interceptions were fourth.   In 44 career games (not including bowls), he was in on 176 tackles (128 solo), five for losses with 13 third down stops.  He also recovered two fumbles and forced one and added six more tackles on special teams.  The 176 tackles were the 11th-most by a defensive back at the time of his graduation, with the unassisted count seventh.  In four bowl games, he had 18 tackles, four passes broken up and the most interception in CU’s postseason history.

Several of his former teammates were present for his induction.

“To see the guys coming back, and this is the payoff here, being around them and talking football,” he said.  “It’s surreal.  I don’t think it will really hit me until I go back to my every day life.  You probably need to pinch me right now to wake me up, but hopefully I can stay in this dream a little while longer.

“And being up here with a lot of these guys I looked up to as a kid, like I said, it’s surreal,” he added.  “I really grew up in baseball – I love baseball – I got into football for the most part just as a hobby, but it took over.  It’s been a part of my life for a long, long time.  I love it that much.”

He also spoke about the current state of the CU program.

“We’ve been struggling for a while, so it’s good to see Deion Sanders up there and what he’s done for Boulder and to bring back the attention,” he said.  “My generation, this is what we were used to, minus the social media.  It’s done a lot for the entire community, and it’s given these students something they haven’t had for a long, long time.  It feels good with what he’s done, and we’re going bowling again.  We’re on the right track, I just hope it can continue.”

His career was bookended by winning the Lee Willard Award as CU’s outstanding freshman player (1988) and he concluded his collegiate time by playing in the 1993 Hula Bowl (1993).  He was a honorable mention all-conference performer as a true freshman and was a second-teamer his junior year.  The Buffaloes were 36-10-3 during his CU career, including a 22-4-2 record in Big Eight Conference games (not including the 1989 campaign that he sat out).  In addition to the ’90 national title, CU won the Big Eight Conference that season and shared the ’91 crown.  Despite not playing in 1989, he did have a vital role on CU’s scout teams that led to the Big Eight title and an 11-0 regular season record.

A consensus first-team All-American at cornerback as a senior in 1992, when he was selected by the Associated Press, United Press International, FWAA, Walter Camp, NEA, Football News and The Sporting News, he was the seventh recipient of the Jim Thorpe Award, presented to the nation’s top defensive back.  That season, he had six interceptions with eight passes broken up, and allowed only 12 pass completions overall in 404 opponent snaps when CU was in man coverage.  Along with making 38 tackles, he was selected as the Big Eight Conference’s defensive player of the year.

Perhaps the two biggest plays of his career came during his sophomore season, and without either one, CU may not have been national champions as he made two late game-saving interceptions.  In a 20-14 win over Washington in Boulder, UW had driven 70 yards for a first-and-goal at the CU 7.  After two incomplete passes, Figures broke up a pass on third down, and with 59 seconds left in the game, his pick in the end zone ended the Husky threat.  And in the 10-9 victory over Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl, the win that cemented CU’s consensus national title, he intercepted Irish quarterback Rick Mirer with eight seconds remaining and proceeded to run out the clock; had the pass been completed, it was very likely Notre Dame would have had its star kicker, Craig Hentrich, try a field goal in the neighborhood of 55 yards.

He was a first round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1993 National Football League Draft, the 23rd selection overall, and played in 93 career NFL games with Pittsburgh (1993-96) and Jacksonville (1997-98).  He had 260 career tackles (236 solo), with 58 pass deflections and nine interceptions.  In the league for six years with as many winning records (teams combined to go 64-32), he helped the Steelers to three AFC Central titles and one AFC championship and the Jaguars to a pair of divisional crowns.

Figures was inducted into CU’s Athletic Hall of Fame in the class of 2014, and actually finished 30th in the ’92 Heisman Trophy balloting.  He was also honored in 1992 with the Touchdown Club of Columbus’ Jack Tatum Trophy as the top defensive back.

The previous 10 Buffaloes inducted were Byron White (in 1952), Joe Romig (1984), Dick Anderson (1993), Bobby Anderson (2006), Alfred Williams (2010), John Wooten (2012), Coach Bill McCartney (2013), Herb Orvis (2016), Michael Westbrook (2020) and Rashaan Salaam (2022).  Figures is now the fourth player who was coached by McCartney to enter the Hall, joining Salaam, Westbrook and Williams who all played for him during his 13-year tenure as head coach from 1982-94.

More than 5.71 million people have played college football in more than 154 years, according to the NFF, but only 1,093 have been selected for the Hall (along with 233 coaches); that’s .02 percent of those who have played the game.  The most significant reason for this is that the Hall’s rules for selection include that a player must have, at minimum, been selected as a first-team All-American by those organizations it recognizes as long-time selectors.

–

—–

December 10th

… CU in a few minutes …

ESPN: Alamo Bowl storylines

From ESPN …

BYU
Season storyline: After winning their first nine games, including a 22-21 victory at rival Utah on Nov. 9, the Cougars were ranked No. 6 in the second edition of the CFP selection committee’s rankings. But then back-to-back losses to Kansas and Arizona State knocked BYU out of the CFP and the Big 12 title game. The Cougars rebounded to beat Houston 30-18 on Nov. 30, which gave them 10 victories in a season for the third time under coach Kalani Sitake. The Cougars have already doubled their win total from last season’s 5-7 campaign. On Saturday, BYU announced it had signed Sitake to a long-term contract extension.

Player to watch: Quarterback Jake Retzlaff excited BYU’s fan base with his strong play in his first season. A transfer from Riverside City College in California, Retzlaff completed 57.9% of his passes for 2,796 yards with 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. In his first start against FCS program Southern Illinois, he threw for 348 yards with three touchdowns. Retzlaff is one of only three Jewish students at BYU, according to The Associated Press, and once brought a kosher food truck to a team weight training.

Colorado
Season storyline: If Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders was indeed “keeping receipts,” the Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback will have a lot to crow about after his turnaround season. After losing eight of their last nine games to finish 4-8 in Sanders’ first season, the Buffaloes went 9-3 in 2024. They were on a four-game winning streak until a 37-21 loss at Kansas on Nov. 23 knocked them out of the Big 12 championship race. The Buffaloes are led by Travis Hunter, a two-way star and Heisman Trophy favorite, and quarterback Shedeur Sanders, a potential No. 1 pick in next year’s NFL draft. Sanders has completed 74.2% of his attempts for 3,926 yards with 35 touchdowns and eight interceptions. The Buffaloes did a better job of protecting Sanders this season; he was sacked 38 times after being dropped 52 times in 2023.

Player to watch: Deion Sanders said his son and Hunter will play in the bowl game. Hunter is the only player in the FBS to log over 150 snaps on both offense and defense. Hunter is the Buffaloes’ leading receiver with 92 catches for 1,152 yards with 14 touchdowns. As a cornerback, he has 31 tackles, 11 pass breakups, four interceptions and one forced fumble. Hunter had the fifth-highest offensive grade (86.2) among receivers in the FBS, according to Pro Football Focus, and the third-highest coverage grade (90.9) among cornerbacks.

ESPN BET early line: Colorado -1

… Read other bowl game storylines here …

–

—–

December 8th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU Press release: CU to face BYU in the Alamo Bowl 

Press Release from CUBuffs.com … The University of Colorado Buffaloes were selected to play in the 2024 Valero Alamo Bowl and will match-up against BYU on December 28 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

This will be the 31st bowl game in CU history but just the third in the past 17 years, as the Buffaloes also played in the Alamo Bowl in their last two bowl appearances in 2016 against Oklahoma State and 2020 against Texas.  Overall it’s the school’s fourth appearance in the Alamo Bowl, also playing Wisconsin in the 2002 game. This year, the Buffs will be joined on their bowl journey by CU superfan Peggy Coppom, who last month celebrated her 100th birthday.

“We’re excited to accept the invitation to play in the 2024 Valero Alamo Bowl,” said Colorado Athletic Director Rick George. “Playing in one of the premier bowls in the country is the perfect cap to what has been a great season and I know our team and fans will be looking forward to playing a terrific BYU program in San Antonio.”

“Last season was about HOPE,” said Colorado head coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders. “This season was about EXPECTATION, and the expectation this year was to get Ms. Peggy to a bowl game, and we did that. The Alamo bowl is the perfect home for not only our players, but for our AMAZING FAN BASE and most importantly Ms. Peggy. San Antonio WE COMING BABY!”

The Buffs are still part of the Pac-12 legacy selection for bowl games, which is why CU will face off against a fellow Big 12 opponent in the game.  The Alamo Bowl holds the first non-playoff selection for both the Big 12 and the former Pac-12 schools this season and next.

Colorado leads the overall series with BYU 8-3-1 and despite being conference partners, the two haven’t met since 1988.  This will be the second bowl match-up for the Buffs and Cougars, as BYU edged Colorado 20-17 in the 1988 Freedom Bowl in Anaheim, Calif.

The two were members of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and the Mountain States Conference from 1937-47.

“I’m thrilled that the University of Colorado Boulder is headed back to the Valero Alamo Bowl,” said CU Boulder Chancellor Justin Schwartz. “The Alamo Bowl has a rich tradition, and I’m proud that the Buffaloes have been and continue to be a part of it. The Buffs’ incredible momentum would not have been possible without the spirit and enthusiasm of the student-athletes, staff, and Coach Prime and the vision of Athletic Director Rick George. I look forward to a great game against BYU on December 28.”

Under Coach Prime, the Buffs have been rejuvenated in just two seasons. After inheriting a 1-11 team, Coach Prime led the Buffs to a 4-8 season last year, instilling hope for the future.  As hope turned to expectations in 2024, his team didn’t disappoint putting together one of the most dynamic seasons in school history.

CU won nine games overall and boasts a 7-2 Big 12 record, tying for first place in the league standings.  Behind Heisman candidates Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, the Buffs boast a dynamic offense that ranks in the top five for most passing categories and a defense that has been dominant by committee full of playmakers and leading the Big 12 in sacks and tackles for loss while having over 10 interceptions and forced fumbles on the season.

Tickets can be requested now. Fans are encouraged to submit applications for bowl tickets by Monday, December 9 at 4 p.m. Tickets will be allocated based on Buff Club priority point totals as of November 30.

—

Press Release from the Big 12 … The #17 BYU Cougars will face the #23 Colorado Buffaloes in the 32nd annual Valero Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28 at 6:30 p.m. CST in the Alamodome and broadcast live on ABC.

The Cougars enter the game with a 10-2 overall record and 7-2 in Big 12 play. Designated as the visiting team and occupying the west sideline, the Cougars are led by Head Coach Kalani Sitake, who currently boasts the ninth-best winning percentage among FBS coaches with a 44-18 (.710) record since 2020.

BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff threw for 2,796 yards and 20 touchdowns during the regular season. He also rushed for 388 yards with six additional scores.

Overall, 17 different players scored touchdowns for the Cougars, including being the only team in the nation to score four TDs on special teams (3 kickoff return TDs, 1 punt return TD), while the BYU defense featured 12 different players recording an FBS-best 20 interceptions on the season.

Colorado is 9-3 overall and 7-2 in Big 12 play. Designated as the home team and occupying the east sideline, the Buffaloes are led by Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, who is in his second season as CU’s head coach. Coach Prime has led the Buffaloes to their first bowl appearance since 2020 and hit the nine-win mark for Colorado for just the second time in the past 22 seasons.

Buffs quarterback Shedeur Sanders leads the nation in completion percentage (74.2%) and is the only quarterback in the top five of passing yards (3,926), touchdowns (35), completions per game (28.1) and quarterback rating (168.79).

The Buffs also boast Travis Hunter, one of the most dynamic two-way players in the last quarter century of college football.  He ranks in the top five of Power 4 and FBS players in receptions (92), yards (1,152), touchdowns (14), passes defended (15) and interceptions (4).  He is a candidate for the Heisman and finalist for the Walter Camp, Maxwell, Bednarik, Lott, Biletnikoff and Hornung Awards.

This will be the first time the two teams meet at the Valero Alamo Bowl. This marks BYU’s first trip to the Alamodome, while Colorado is returning for the fourth time in their history.

Colorado and BYU have played each other on 12 previous occasions. The all-time series is split 8-3-1 between the two teams in favor of Colorado. The two most recently met in 1988, with BYU winning 20-17.

–

—

CU remains at No. 20 in final regular season poll – seventh week in a row for Buffs in the AP poll

From ESPN … Georgia moved up to No. 2 behind Oregon in the Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday, Texas and Penn State remained in the top five after losing conference championship games, and Arizona State appeared in the top 10 for the first time in a decade.

Unbeaten Oregon, with its win over Penn State in the Big Ten title game, will go into the College Football Playoff as the No. 1 team for the eighth straight week and the unanimous choice for the sixth in a row. The poll was released shortly before the CFP rankings.

Georgia’s overtime win over Texas in the SEC championship game earned the Bulldogs a three-spot promotion. The Bulldogs, like Oregon, locked up a first-round bye in the playoff.

Arizona State’s win over Iowa State in the Big 12 title game gave the Sun Devils their first 11-win season since 1996 and their first top-10 ranking since they were No. 7 following an 8-1 start in 2014.

Associated Press poll … 

1. Oregon (62)
2. Georgia
3. Notre Dame
4. Texas
5. Penn State
6. Ohio State
7. Tennessee
8. Boise State
9. Indiana
10. Arizona State
11. Alabama
12. SMU
13. Clemson
14. South Carolina
15. Miami (Florida)
16. Ole Miss
17. BYU
18. Iowa State
19. Army
20. Colorado
21. Illinois
22. Syracuse
23. Missouri
24. UNLV
25. Memphis

Others receiving votes: Texas A&M 75, Louisville 37, Kansas State 9, Marshall 8, LSU 8, Florida 5, Ohio 2, Tulane 2, Baylor 2, Louisiana 1

–

—–

December 6th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Rick George: “I know who Deion is, and I believe he wants to be here for the long haul”

… Call it irony, or good timing – or that Rick reads CU at the Game – but my Essay posted Friday morning is entitled, “Tune out the Noise” …

From the Daily Camera … Two years ago, Colorado athletic director Rick George hired Deion Sanders in an effort to bring life back to the football program.

So far, it’s been an unquestioned success, to the point that national pundits often talk about Sanders being a great fit for jobs at other schools, or even the NFL.

George, however, is confident Sanders will be in Boulder for a while. Two years removed from a 1-11 season, CU (9-3, 7-2 Big 12) is ranked No. 23 in the College Football Playoff Top 25, No. 20 in the Associated Press Top 25, and awaiting Sunday’s bowl selections to find out where they’ll play next. CU is 13-11 in Sanders’ two seasons.

“Everybody talks about all these rumors and all these other things, and I kind of tune out that noise,” George said in an interview with BuffZone. “I know who Deion is, and I know what he represents and I believe he wants to be here for the long haul. We’ve supported all the initiatives that he’s embraced and we’ll continue to do that. My expectation is that he’ll be here and he can write some of our record books moving forward.”

How long Sanders coaches in Boulder isn’t known, of course. He still has three years remaining on the five-year, $29.5-million contract he signed two years ago and there have been discussions about an extension.

“Coach and I have talked about this three different times and we’ll continue to have discussions about it and that’s kind of where I’m at,” George said, while adding that Sanders doesn’t want to be distracted with contract talks until after the season.

… Continue reading story here …

–

—–

December 5th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Jeremy Bloom named the new CEO of the X Games

From the Associated Press … Jeremy Bloom is off to the X Games — not to compete for the first time, of course, but to become the organization’s new CEO.

The ex-Olympic freestyle skier and Colorado football player will step into the executive role, the company announced Thursday, and lead the annual summer and winter events as it transitions into a new, team-friendly format beginning in 2026 in addition to individual awards.

Over his career, the 42-year-old Bloom never got the chance to go for gold at X Games simply because the competition didn’t offer his signature event, moguls.

This, though, feels like another sort of win.

“The opportunity to lead the X Games is more than just a professional milestone — it’s a deeply personal honor,” Bloom said in a statement, with the winter X Games set to be held in Aspen, Colorado, next month. “Returning to my roots in sports and action sports, in particular, feels like coming home. The X Games is an iconic brand, and I have immense admiration and respect for our athletes, who are truly the best in the world.”

Well-versed in the world of business ventures and philanthropy, Bloom brings an athlete’s perspective to X Games, a sports franchise that MSP Sports Capital bought a majority interest from ESPN two years ago.

Bloom was a dual-sport standout, pursuing his Olympic dreams on the mogul-filled slopes and his NFL aspirations on the football field at Colorado. Bloom got caught in the NCAA crosshairs for wanting to play both sports and to have sponsors in skiing so he could fund his Olympic dreams. The NCAA denied his reinstatement to play football and still ski professionally after receiving endorsement money to fuel his Olympic dreams.

… Continue reading story here …

–

—

All Big 12 Awards: Shedeur Offensive POY; Travis Defensive POY; 13 Buffs in all honored

Press release from CUBuffs.com … Travis Hunter, BJ Green II, and Shedeur Sanders all took home Player of the Year awards and were a part of 13 Colorado Buffaloes given Big 12 honors by the league’s head coaches, it was announced Thursday.

Travis Hunter continues to add awards and honors to his collection with Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year becoming Colorado’s first Conference DPOY since Jordon Dizon in 2007. Hunter was also named a Unanimous First Team selection at defensive back one of only two players to earn the distinction this season. On the offensive side of the ball, Hunter was named All-Big 12 First Team as a wide receiver and was an Honorable Mention for Offensive Player of the Year.

All of these come after he put up a staggering 31 tackles, 11 pass breakups tied for first in the Big 12, four interceptions tied for second in the Big 12, 15 passes defended ranked first in the Big 12, and a game-winning forced fumble on defense. Offensively he recorded 92 receptions and ranked first in the Big 12 and fifth in the NCAA, with 1,152 receiving yards which is second in the Big 12 and fifth in the country, 14 receiving touchdowns to lead the conference and is second in the NCAA, and 21 receiving plays of 20 yards or more which leads the entire country.

Shedeur Sanders took home the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and All-Big 12 First Team Quarterback spot after rewriting the Colorado record book this season. Sanders ranked first in the country in completions percentage at 74.2%, second in completions with 367, third in passing yards, and second in the NCAA with 35 passing touchdowns.

Sanders finished the regular season going 338-of-454, 74.4%, for 3,936 yards, 35 TDs, 8 INT, and QBR 169.2. A few of the records he has broken this season:
•    He set the new CU record for passing yards, having already held the record for yards in a regular season, surpassing Koy Detmer’s record of 3,527 set in 1996.
•    He set a new CU record for completions in a season, surpassing Sefo Liufau’s total of 325 in 2014.
•    He extended his CU record for passing touchdowns to 35 and touchdowns responsible for to 39.
•    His completion percentage of 74.4 is on pace to break his own record of 69.3 set last season.
•    His QB rating of 169.2 is on pace to break his own school record of 152.7 set last season.

With Hunter and Sanders taking home both the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, this marks only the third time in school history claiming both. The other two times were in back-to-back years in 1989 and 1990 when Darian Hagan and Alfred Williams took them home in 1989 and Eric Bieniemy and Alfred Williams in 1990.

BJ Green II in his first season at Colorado took home the Defensive Newcomer of the Year. After spending his first three seasons of college at Arizona State, Green transferred in and made an immediate impact on the defensive line. Finishing with 30 tackles, 19 unassisted tackles, 12 tackles for loss, seven-and-a-half sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.

He finished the regular season second in the Big 12 and 29th in the country. After not recording a sack in the first four games of the season, he finished seven of the last eight games with at least half a sack. In addition to his sacks, he ended the season ranked third in the Big 12 with 12 tackles for loss. Green is the first player to win Defensive Newcomer of the Year since Jordon Dizon in 2004.

With three players taking home a Conference Player of the Year Award, this ties the school record for most in a single season done in 1990.

Nikhai Hill-Green was named All-Big 12 Second Team at linebacker after finishing the season with 82 tackles, 53 unassisted tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, two interceptions, and two sacks. He ranked 13th in the conference in tackles, 5th in solo tackles, and fourth in tackles for loss.

Nine other players were named to the All-Big 12 Honorable Mention this season.

Preston Hodge recorded 33 tackles, 21 unassisted tackles, seven pass breakups, and two interceptions. His seven pass breakups are tied for ninth in the Big 12 despite missing the final three games of the season.

Alejandro Mata scored a career-high 89 points making all 53 of his extra points. He finished the season going 12-14 on field goals making 10 consecutive to end the regular season.

Taje McCoy in his first season seeing consistent playing time made some big plays for Colorado. He ended the season with 20 tackles, three sacks, three tackles for loss, and two quarterback hurries. All three of his sacks came on third downs to force teams to punt the ball.

DJ McKinney finished the regular season leading the Big 12 cornerbacks with 60 tackles. He also added 11 passes defended ranked sixth in the conference, nine pass breakups tied for fourth in the Big 12, three tackles for loss, two interceptions, one fumble recovery, and one forced fumble. In the last game against Oklahoma State, he recorded his first career pick-six against his former team.

Chidozie Nwankwo was a staple in the middle of the defense this season, ending with 25 tackles, 16 unassisted, three tackles for loss, one-and-a-half sacks, and one fumble recovery. The numbers don’t tell the whole story, playing inside he made everyone’s job easier behind him by holding down the middle and taking on blocks which is why he was not only an Honorable Mention at Defensive Line, but also for Defensive Lineman of the Year.

Jordan Seaton came to Colorado with a lot of hype and attention, and he has lived up to the hype. He was an Honorable Mention for Offensive Freshman of the Year after playing a team-leading 767 snaps on the offensive line only giving up three sacks and four quarterback hits on 578 pass blocking snaps. He did not give up a sack in the last seven games of the season according to PFF.

Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig was often described as the heartbeat of the defense, and he delivered every week. He was the team-leading tackler with 88, 64 unassisted tackles, eight-and-a-half tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, two sacks, and two fumble recoveries including his 95-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown against UCF which is tied for the second-longest fumble return in CU history.

Mark Vassett averaged 43. 8 yards per punt on 49 attempts.  He finished the season with 19 inside the 20, only two touchbacks, and a NET average of 37.7 yards per punt.

LaJohntay Wester in his first and only season at Colorado made his mark finishing the season with 70 receptions for 880 yards and 10 touchdowns receiving and a punt return touchdown. He is now in the record books for this season as his 70 receptions are ninth all-time at CU, his 880 yards rank 15th and 10 touchdowns rank fourth. His 322 career catches rank tied for sixth in FBS history.  He was an Honorable Mention for Offensive Newcomer of the Year.

Along with all the Big 12 honors, Sanders was named a finalist for the Manning Award, sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The winner will be announced after the College Football Playoff National Championship in January.

–

—

Press release from the Big 12 …  The All-Big 12 Conference football teams and individual award winners have been announced. Selections are made by the league’s head coaches, who are not permitted to vote for their own players.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado, QB, Sr.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Travis Hunter, Colorado, DB, Jr.

OFFENSIVE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Jordyn Tyson (former Buff), Arizona State, WR, R-So.

DEFENSIVE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
BJ Green II, Colorado, DE, Sr.

OFFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Sam Leavitt, Arizona State, QB

DEFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Josiah Trotter, West Virginia, LB

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Will Ferrin, BYU, K, R-Jr.
Jaylin Noel, Iowa State, PR/KR, Sr.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR
Wyatt Milum, West Virginia, Sr.

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR
Brendan Mott, Kansas State, DE, Sr.

CHUCK NEINAS COACH OF THE YEAR
Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State, 2nd season

SCHOLAR-ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech, RB, Sr.
Jalon Daniels, Kansas, QB, R-Jr.

Shedeur Sanders was selected as the Offensive Player of the Year following a banner season ranked in the top 10 nationally in completion percentage, passing yards and touchdowns while breaking school records for passing touchdowns, passing yards, consecutive games with a touchdown pass, quarterback rating and completion percentage.

With four interceptions, 11 pass breakups and a record-breaking season on both sides of the ball, Travis Hunter became CU’s first Conference Defensive Player of the Year since Jordon Dizon in 2007. The defensive back also became the first player in Big 12 history to tally multiple games with an interception and an offensive touchdown.

Jordyn Tyson was selected as the Offensive Newcomer of the Year after tallying 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns. The wideout elevated his play during the final three games of the regular season, recording 29 catches for 444 yards and three touchdowns. Tyson also finished the season second in the Big 12 in touchdown catches (10) and third in receiving yards (1,101).

BJ Green II, the Big 12’s Newcomer of the Year on the defensive side, spearheaded a disruptive CU defensive unit with seven-and-a-half sacks that tied for the second most among all Big 12 players. He played a pivotal role in the Colorado pass rush finishing the regular season with a Big 12-best 37 sacks, which ranks 11th nationally.

–

—–

December 3rd

… CU in a few minutes …

CU Press Release to Heisman and All-American voters 

• The two have been an integral part of Colorado’s turnaround, from 1-11 in 2022 to 4-8 last season and 9-3 this year, CU’s second nine-win season in the last 22 years.  A few indications of just how dramatic of a turnaround it has been here in Boulder.
  • In 2022 CU ranked 117th in passing offense and in 2024 ranks fourth.
  • In 2022 CU ranked 112th in passing defense and in 2024 ranks 45th.
  • In 2022 CU ranked 126th scoring 15.4 points per game on offense and in 2024 ranks 24th scoring 34.5 points per game.
  • In 2022 CU ranked 130th allowing 44.5 points per game on defense and in 2024 ranks 37th allowing 22.0 points per game.

• Finalist for the Walter Camp, Maxwell, Bednarik, Lott IMPACT, Hornung and Biletnikoff awards.
• Has 688 defensive and 672 offensive snaps and is the only FBS player with 150-plus snaps on both offense and defense and the only Power 4 conference player with 30-plus snaps on both sides.
• CU record and Power 4 leading 14 receiving TDs while his 92 catches ranks second in the Power 4 and second in CU history and his 1,152 yards ranks second in the Power 4 and is the fifth most in school history.
• Has 92 receptions and allowed just 22 receptions, 14 receiving touchdowns and allowed just 1, and has 53 first downs and allowed just six.
• Has been targeted 39 times, third fewest in the Power 4 and his six first downs allowed is the best mark in the FBS.  Has an interception every 10.3 targets, tied for the best mark in the Power 4 and third best in the FBS.
• PFF grades of …
  • 89.4 receiving, top among all players with 450-plus receiving snaps
  • 88.2 offense, 3rd  WR in P4 with 500 snaps
  • 87.7 coverage, 6th in P4 with 300 coverage snaps
  • 85.5 defense, 7th CB with minimum of 500 snaps
  • 82.0 run defense, 3rd CB in P4 with minimum 300 snaps
• Ranks 2nd in the P4/5th in FBS in receptions per game, 3rd in P4/6th in FBS in receiving yards per game, 1st in P4/2nd in FBS in receiving touchdowns
• Ranks 3rd in P4/8th in FBS in passes defended (15, 11 PBU, 4 INT) and 5th in P4/15th in FBS in interceptions.
• Bookended the regular season with three receiving touchdown games vs. North Dakota State and Oklahoma State, matching the CU record.
• First FBS player in the last quarter century with three touchdowns and an interception in a game and he has two of the four instances of multiple touchdowns and an interception since 1996 in the FBS.
• First player in the last quarter century in the FBS with nine receptions and an interception in a game, he has three such games this season and four in his career.
• First FBS player in at least a quarter century with 10 receptions, 100 yards, 2 TDs and an interception (vs. Colorado State).
• First FBS player and just one of two FBS/NFL players with 50 receiving yards, a rushing touchdown and interception (vs. Utah), joining Champ Bailey who did it in the NFL.
• First known FBS player with 150 receiving yards and 4 pass breakups in the same game (both career highs vs. Cincinnati)
• First FBS player to be named Power 4/5 conference offensive and defensive player of the week in the same season.
• First known FBS player to be a midseason All-American on both sides of the ball by the same publication (AP, CBS).

• Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Winner, Finalist for Davey O’Brien and Semifinalist for the Manning Award (finalists named this week).
• Only FBS player in the top five for completion percentage (1st, 74.2%), completions per game (2nd, 28.1), passing touchdowns (2nd, 35), passing yards per game (3rd, 327.2) and pass efficiency (5th, 168.8).
  • Only the fifth player in the last nine seasons to accomplish that feat along with Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins (2018 Heisman finalist), LSU’s Joe Burrow (2019 Heisman winner), Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud (2021 Heisman finalist) and Oregon’s Bo Nix (2023 Heisman finalist).
• Leads the FBS and is responsible for 82.0 percent of Colorado’s offense in 2024, a CU and Big 12 record and the third-highest total in the FBS since at least 1996.
• Has thrown a touchdown in 48 straight games, the longest streak in NCAA Division I (FBS & FCS) history (more than either division’s record, though not a record for either).  It’s the second longest streak in NCAA history at any division and would be the fourth longest streak in NFL history.
• Became the 16th player in FBS & FCS history to throw for 14,000 career yards and among those 16 players, ranks first for fewest career interceptions and is one of just two that has completed over 70 percent of their career passes (Colt Brennan, Hawaii).
• Holds over 90 school records including season records for passing yards, touchdowns, completions, completion percentage, QB rating, 250-yard games, 300-yard games, games with 2-plus TDs, 3-plus TDs and 4-plus TDs, games completing 60%, 70% and 80% of passes.
• In two seasons, ranks fourth in CU history in passing yards, third in passing touchdowns, just one behind the record, and is on pace to shatter the completion percentage and QB ratings records.
• In 2024, he has completed 60 percent of his passes in all 12 games, 70-plus percent in eight games and 80-plus percent four times.
• In four games in November, he completed 117-of-154 passes, 76.0%, for 1,335 yards 14 TDs and 2 interceptions for a QB rating of 176.2.  His 14 touchdowns in November is the top mark in the FBS and his QBR is the top for QBs with 100-plus completions while he ranked third for yards per game and completion percentage in the month.

–

—–

December 2nd

… CU in a few minutes … 

Save the Date! Upcoming Dates to Remember

… Important dates in the next few months which will be significant for CU and the Buff Nation … 

— Wednesday, December 4th … Signing Day … Rise and shine! “The Ticker” will return to CU at the Game at 6:00 a.m., MT, Wednesday, go give you up-to-the-minute updates on signees. The CU at the Game Podcast will be up Wednesday night with a discussion of the new Class.

A little different this year … After a 60-year run as a binding agreement between prospective athletes and college programs, the national letter of intent (NLI) is no longer at the Division 1 level. But signing periods still exist. Instead of an NLI, prospects will sign athletics aid paperwork. Once a student-athlete signs a written offer of athletic aid, other schools are prohibited from communicating with them. The early signing period for 2025 high school and Junior College recruits begins this Wednesday and runs through Friday. The Buffaloes currently have 15 verbal commitments on board, all from the high school ranks.

— Sunday, December 8th … Bowl matchups will be announced … The leader in the clubhouse would be the Alamo Bowl, with CU likely to face either BYU or Iowa State … but you never know.

— Monday, December 9th … Transfer Portal opens … Graduate students can enter the Transfer Portal at any time, but undergraduates can’t put their names officially into the Portal until next Monday. Colorado, and other FBS programs, will have two weeks to host potential transfers on a visit before a recruiting dead period around the Christmas and New Year’s Holidays. Buff fans will be excited about the possibilities of new transfers, but be ready to see some current Buffs leave the team as well.

— Saturday, December 14th … Heisman Trophy ceremony … Next Monday, the 9th, invitees will be announced, with the only question there being whether Shedeur Sanders will be invited alongside his teammate, Travis Hunter, to the ceremony in New York (6:00 p.m., MT, ESPN). Hunter is expected to be the second Heisman Trophy winner in CU history, joining the late Rashaan Salaam. Other major awards will be announced on Thursday, December 12th (7:00 p.m., MT, ESPN)

— Saturday, December 28th … Transfer portal closes to non-graduates … At this point, it becomes clear to college programs across the country which players are bought in and ready to return for 2025. There will be more attrition after spring ball, but this will give Colorado fans a clearer picture of what the roster will look like during those 15 practices.

— Monday, January 13th … Spring semester begins at CU … The start of the winter strength and conditioning session coincides with the start of the spring semester at CU. Players will be given some time off following the bowl game to head home, but will be back before this date. The Buffs will also welcome in new players at this time.

— Wednesday, February 5th … Signing Day, II … What used to be the most important date on the recruiting calendar, the first Wednesday in February has been reduced to second-tier status, but any freshmen who didn’t sign with a school in December will have their day in the sun in February.

–

—–

November 30th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Coach Prime confirms stars will play in bowl game: “We’re not going to tap out, because that throws off the structure of next season”

From CUBuffs.com … After coaching his sons since they were youngsters, Colorado’s Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders marked the last time he will coach his sons at Folsom Field.

They went out in style, each playing a key role in the Buffaloes’ 52-0 win over Oklahoma State in the regular season finale. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw for 438 yards and five touchdowns. Safety Shilo Sanders notched his second fumble recovery of the season, leading to a CU touchdown.

Sanders and all three of his sons — Deion Jr., (who now heads a prominent social media company focused on his father’s team), Shilo and Shedeur — shared a moment together on the field.

“I didn’t really think about it until watching the last seconds tick off the clock like, ‘Dang, this is it,'” an emotional Coach Prime said. “You know how long this journey’s been with me and my kids. It’s been a lot of ups and downs and in and outs and things you guys don’t know about that we’ve overcome in a lot of adverse situations. A lot of highlights. It’s been unbelievable to think that that’s the conclusion of the matter. Just here, that’s tough. That’s tough.”

Of course, the Buffs’ season isn’t over. CU still has hopes of playing in next weekend’s Big 12 championship game — and even if they don’t earn that berth, they will still play in a bowl game.

Coach Prime made it clear he expects all his players, including Shedeur and Travis Hunter, to play in the bowl game. It has become more and more common in recent years for players expected to be taken high in the NFL Draft to skip bowl games.

“Our kids are going to play in our bowl game, because that’s what we signed up to do,” Coach Prime said. “We’re going to finish. We’re not going to tap out, because that throws off the structure of next season. It’s a couple teams, you take note, they laid an egg in the bowl game and they haven’t recovered. We don’t plan on doing that. We plan on going out there fighting just like we fought today, regardless of where we are.”

… Continue reading story here …

–

—

Travis Hunter wins Buffalo Heart Award

From the Daily Camera … In two years at Colorado, Travis Hunter have proven to be one of the greatest players to ever suit up for the Buffaloes.

He also proved to be a tough, win-first player who endeared himself to the fans. And, on Friday, Hunter was honored with the Buffalo Heart Award, awarded by fans each year and created by CU fans Pat Grimes, Craig Augustin and Ashley and Thaddeus Cernac in 1998.

Perhaps two weeks away from becoming just the second Heisman Trophy winner in CU history, Hunter capped his time at Folsom Field with 10 catches for 116 yards and three touchdowns on offense, along with an interception and two pass breakups on defense in a 52-0 win against Oklahoma State on Friday.

“Just getting invited (to the Heisman ceremony on Dec. 14), that’s a win for sure because how many players go into the off season doing the same regimen, workout?” CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders said of Hunter as a Heisman candidate, as well as what he’s meant to the Buffs. “Everything is just what difference are you gonna make when the lights get on? And Travis proved that week after week, throughout injuries and throughout everything. He’s the life of our team.”

… Continue reading story here …

–

—–

November 28th

… CU in a few minutes …

Neill Woelk’s Keys to the Oklahoma State game

From CUBuffs.com … If there’s anything that’s been proven this year in the Big 12, it is that nothing is certain — and the Cowboys would like nothing better than to avoid becoming the only winless team in Big 12 conference play while also throwing a wrench in CU’s plans as a bonus.

OSU did provide a glimmer of hope last week by scoring 48 points against Texas Tech. The only problem was the Cowboys gave up 56.

In short, the situation appears to be a golden opportunity for CU’s offense to put up some big numbers, which leads us to our weekly Fast Five:

1. Attack the OSU secondary. The Cowboys are giving up more than 260 yards per game in the air and have yielded 21 passing touchdowns this season.

Those are the kinds of numbers that should have Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders and his wide receivers salivating. If the Buffs offensive line gives Sanders some time to throw, CU’s receivers will be running free in the OSU secondary and Colorado should put plenty of points on the board.

2. Start fast. This is an opportunity for the Buffs to deliver a knockout punch in a hurry.

The Cowboys had to travel on Thanksgiving. They have lost eight in a row and have almost nothing to gain — other than not becoming the only team in the Big 12 not to win a conference game this year.

Colorado needs to erase any motivation OSU might have early. If the Buffs can put a couple of quick scores on the board, it could be the kind of haymaker that puts the Cowboys out of their misery and allows CU to celebrate Senior Day in style.

3. Play with an edge. Coach Prime didn’t mince words last week when he said too many Buffs might have become intoxicated with success.

Now it’s time for Colorado to return to playing with that chip on their shoulder. The Buffs are at their best when they play like they have something to prove.

They have plenty to prove against the Cowboys.

… Continue reading story here …

–

—

November 27th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Coach Gary “Flea” Harrell talks about running back rotation for OSU

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com …

–

—–

November 26th

… CU in a few minutes … 

*Coach Prime’s Weekly Press Conference*

… “A tough week, of course, but we plan to respond accordingly … We plan to get our swagger back … Mike Gundy is real, honest, and hilarious … We know they will want to run the ball … Both teams still have a great deal to play for … Hope has been replaced by expectation, which is why our fans our frustrated, and I can appreciate that … Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders finalists for several awards … Travis not a finalist for the Thorpe Award (given to to the nation’s best defensive back) … You can have my Thorpe award. I’m going to give mine to Travis … How could he not be a finalist for the Thorpe Award? … We have to do a better job of getting these guys prepared … This week, we’re coming to win and to dominate … Will Shedeur and Travis play in a bowl? Yes … These seniors have done a great job of getting us to this point, and we’ll want to end this thing on the right note … Whatever bowl game we go to, you’re going to see everything you’ve seen throughout the season … We’re going back to the drawing board, and let’s get it on. We can’t harbor on the last game … I’m not going to wish for other teams to lose … I’m not going to watch the games on Saturday – we had our chance … Defensive lineman Shane Cokes will be back in the lineup Friday … Running back Isaiah Augustave will also be back this week … Defensive lineman Amari McNeill and right tackle Phillip Houston are out … An “outside shot” that Jimmy Horn will be able to play …

… Also … Wide receiver Will Sheppard …

–

—–

November 25th

… CU in a few minutes …

OSU game unlikely to sell out

Tweet from Brian Howell at the Daily Camera … As of this afternoon (Monday), Colorado has about 4,000 tickets available for Friday’s game against Oklahoma State. Most of those are unclaimed student tickets, with many students heading home for Thanksgiving break.

–

—

Coach Prime grateful for the short week: “You gotta flush it and get it on and let’s go to the next window”

From the Daily Camera … Following a humbling defeat on Saturday in Kansas City, Colorado doesn’t have much time to regroup, and that suits head coach Deion Sanders just fine.

Sanders and his 23rd-ranked Buffaloes (8-3, 6-2 Big 12) will face Oklahoma State (3-8, 0-8) in the regular season finale at Folsom Field on Friday (10 a.m., ABC). The Buffs will be looking to rebound from a 37-21 loss to Kansas that ended their four-game winning streak and dented their chances of reaching the Big 12 title game.

“We’re thankful that we have one less day, pretty much,” Sanders said after the game. “We’re thankful because now you just, you gotta flush it and get it on and let’s go to the next window.”

Although CU has been playing well most of the season, there’s a lot to fix going into Friday’s game.

Defensively, the Buffs had their worst performance of the season, giving up a season-high 520 yards in offense, including 331 rushing yards — the most allowed by a CU defense since the 2022 finale.

… Continue reading story here …

–

—-

November 24th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Big 12 Press release: Title game tie-breakers

… The math is simple for Colorado … The Buffs need to win, and have two of the other Big 12 6-2 teams lose (there is a few three-way ties in which the Buffs qualify – see the Big 12 release, below – but it would require a significant dominos to fall, starting with BYU having to lose to Houston).

CU plays Oklahoma State (Friday, 10:00 a.m., MT, ABC). Other games involving Big 12 6-2 teams:

• No. 14 Arizona State at Arizona … Saturday, 1:30 p.m., MT, Fox
• Kansas State at No. 17 Iowa State … Saturday, 5:30 p.m., MT, Fox
• Houston at No. 19 BYU … Saturday, 8:15 p.m., MT, ESPN

Standings: 

• No. 14 Arizona State … 6-2; 9-2
• No. 17 Iowa State … 6-2; 9-2
• No. 19 BYU … 6-2; 9-2
• No. 23 Colorado … 6-2; 8-3
• Kansas State … 5-3; 8-3
• Baylor … 5-3; 7-4
• TCU … 5-3; 7-4
• West Virginia … 5-3; 6-5
• Kansas … 4-4; 5-6
• Cincinnati … 3-5; 5-6
• Houston … 3-5; 4-7
• UCF … 2-6; 4-7
• Arizona … 2-6; 4-7
• Utah … 1-7; 4-7
• Oklahoma State … 0-8; 3-8

Press release from the Big 12 … Entering Week 14, nine teams are still in contention for the Dr Pepper Big 12 Football Championship. The following details tiebreaking scenarios for ties among teams with 7-2 Big 12 records:

• Two-team tie scenarios:
  • The two tied teams at 7-2 will be the Championship game participants.
• Three-team tie scenarios:
  • Colorado loss: Arizona State vs. Iowa State
  • Arizona State loss: Iowa State vs. BYU
  • Iowa State loss: Arizona State vs. BYU
  • BYU loss:
    • If Texas Tech defeats West Virginia, then
      • If Baylor beats Kansas and Cincinnati beats TCU: Colorado vs. Iowa State
      • Otherwise: Colorado vs. Arizona State
    • If West Virginia defeats Texas Tech: Arizona State vs. Iowa State
• Four-team tie scenario:
  • Arizona State vs. Iowa State
• For teams who are 5-3 entering the week, they must win and see at least three of the four 6-2 teams take a loss

–

—

Coach Prime: “We controlled our own destiny, and we fumbled it”

From the Daily Camera … Shedeur Sanders (266 passing yards, three touchdowns) and Travis Hunter (eight catches for 125 yards, two touchdowns) put up some big numbers for the CU offense, but this was a costly defeat the Buffs, who could have taken over sole possession of first place in the Big 12 with one week to play.

Instead, the Buffs go into next week’s finale in a multi-team tie atop the standings and likely needing some help to get into the Big 12 title game. The Buffs’ goals are still in front of them, but the path isn’t so clear.

“I already did (relay that message to the team),” Coach Prime said. “Trust me, we just did. When you’re in control of your own destiny, it’s a phenomenal thing. I don’t just think about football, I think about life. So the message to these young men, if God were to grant you every darn thing you needed in life: all the ability, the thought process, the connections, the visuals, and you don’t do nothing with it, that’s on you, and that’s where we are. We controlled our own destiny, and we fumbled it.”

Why the Buffs fumbled goes back to the week leading up to the game, Coach Prime said. The recent four-game win streak and leap in the rankings had the nation heaping praise on the Buffs.

“We started smelling ourselves a little bit,” Coach Prime said. “That’s what I just told our team. We got intoxicated with success, we got intoxicated with the multitude of articles and the assumption that we’re this and assumption that we’re that, and we did not play CU football. Therefore we got our butts kicked. It is what it is.”

As he always does, Coach Prime brought plenty of confidence into the game, but he also tried guarding against this type of effort.

“Well, we tried to handle it in the meetings,” he said. “Some folks you can’t put behind microphones, and you can’t give them podcasts. You can’t do that because they get intoxicated with the success and you know who that is, so you try your best to eliminate that, but they can’t stop reading the stuff about who we are.

“That’s a little tough, so you try to humble everything around you, including yourself. You try your best to do such, because you know what you have in the locker room. I know my kids, man, I know all of them.”

The only other time CU got manhandled like this was in Week 2 at Nebraska. CU responded by routing Colorado State the next week to kickstart a three-game win streak.

Coach Prime and Shedeur hope the Buffs can do the same thing this time around as they prep to host Oklahoma State (3-8, 0-8) on Friday (10 a.m., ABC).

“It’s 24 hours, wins and losses, the same thing,” Shedeur said of getting past this loss. “You don’t change the recipe based off the result. Do the same thing week in and week out, and this week it didn’t go our way. So we just have to go 24 hours, look at it, see what went wrong, and head into next week and be ready for next game.”

… Read full story here …

–

—–

Tags: Travis Hunter
This post, about the Alamo Bowl - BYU game, from the 2024 Season, is filed under Article.
You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment.