Colorado Daily

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Colorado Daily – Postseason

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January 6th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU Signee Quentin Gibson named MaxPreps National Player of the Year

… Read full story here …

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Linebacker LaVonta Bentley declares for the NFL Draft 

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Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig declares for the NFL Draft

... Not a surprise … What would have been a surprise would have been Silmon-Craig, after a great senior season, playing a fifth year of college football … 

From msn.com … After two seasons with the Jackson State Tigers and another two with the Colorado Buffaloes, safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig has declared for the 2025 NFL draft.

The Birmingham, Alabama native played his final two high school football seasons at Trinity Christian School (Cedar Hill, Texas) under current Colorado linebackers coach Andre’ Hart. Silmon-Craig signed with Jackson State to play for head coach Deion Sanders and then followed Coach Prime to Boulder before the 2023 season.

During his two years at Colorado, Silmon-Craig accounted for 138 total tackles (12 for loss), five pass breakups, four interceptions and three sacks.

Often credited for his reliability and versatility in space and the run game, Silmon-Craig’s team-high 93 tackles were the most by a Buffs defensive back since Cha’pelle Brown had 96 in 2009. In September, he also tied for the second-longest fumble return in CU history, a 95-yard scoop and score against the UCF Knights.

Now, the vocal galvanizer of a much-improved Buffaloes defense is pursuing his NFL dreams.

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Daily Camera 2024 Report Card: CU’s Offense gets a “B”

From the Daily Camera … Naysayers will point to the negatives.

Colorado didn’t beat any ranked teams; got humbled by BYU in the Valero Alamo Bowl a week ago, 36-14; and didn’t win its conference.

That’s all true, but to judge the 2024 Colorado football season requires knowledge of where the program has been. And in the end, head coach Deion Sanders has done a remarkable job with the Buffaloes in his two seasons in Boulder.

… While the Buffs have already turned the page to building for 2025, BuffZone takes a look back at the 2024 campaign with a final report card and individual awards.

Grades

Offense: CU wound up averaging 32.9 points per game, which tied for fourth in the Big 12. That’s the best scoring averaging for the Buffs since the 2001 team averaged 33.0. Led by Big 12 offensive player of the year Shedeur Sanders at quarterback, the Buffs had the best passing attack in the conference, averaging 318.0 yards per game through the air. As dynamic as the passing attack was, though, the run game was often non-existent. CU was last in the country for the second year in a row with 65.2 rushing yards per game – even worse than last year’s 68.9. The lack of a run game cost the Buffs in some losses and prevents this grade from being an A. Grade: B.

Defense: First-year coordinator Robert Livingston and a host of seniors led a dramatic turnaround for the defense this season. Overall, the Buffs were sixth in the Big 12 in scoring defense (allowing 23.1 points per game) and eighth in total defense (allowing 351.9 yards per game). Those numbers don’t jump off the page, unless comparing them to last year (34.8, 453.3). This is the first time in CU history that total defense improved by at least 100 yards (101.4) and the 11.7-point improvement in the scoring defense is the best for a CU team in nearly 40 years (the 1985 team made a 19.1-point improvement). CU also led the Big 12 in sacks (39) and tackles for loss (93), finished second with 27 takeaways, and had the Big 12 defensive player of the year in Travis Hunter. Grade: B.

… Continue reading story here …

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January 4th

… CU in a few minutes … 

First look at CU’s 2025 wide receiver room

From the Daily Camera … Omarion Miller has flashed star potential in his two seasons with the Buffs.

Playing behind veterans as a true freshman in 2023, he caught 11 passes for 234 yards. That included a breakout game against USC, when he caught seven passes for 196 yards and a touchdown.

This season, he caught 10 passes for 216 yards and a touchdown, including eight catches for 145 yards against Kansas State on Oct. 12. He suffered a season-ending injury, though and didn’t play in the second half of the year.

Drelon Miller, meanwhile, flashed his potential as a true freshman this year. He wound up fifth on the team in catches (32) and receiving yards (277) and fourth in TD receptions (three).

He also has the ability to line up as a running back and started two games in the backfield.

Aside from that duo, the Buffs are excited about the potential of rising senior Terrell Timmons. Playing behind the veterans and battling a few injuries, he never got on track this year, finishing with four catches for 22 yards. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder has great potential, however.

Versatile Isaiah Hardge, who like Hunter can play cornerback and receiver, has exceptional talent as well, as he looks ahead to his redshirt sophomore season. True freshman Kam Mikell is another young talent who missed this season because of an injury.

CU has already added to the group, as well.

Former Tulsa receiver Joseph Williams has committed to the Buffs. As a true freshman this season, he caught 30 passes for 588 yards and five touchdowns was named the AAC freshman of the year.

Incoming freshmen Quanell Farrakhan Jr., Quentin Gibson and Adrian Wilson were all highly recruited players who chose the Buffs.

While the Buffs will miss their highly productive veterans, the pieces appear to be in place to be explosive again in 2025.

… Read full story here …

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January 2nd

… CU in a few minutes … 

Defensive lineman BJ Green declares for the NFL Draft

 … Green was a first-team all-Big 12 conference selection on defense after leading the Buffs with seven-and-a-half sacks in 2024 … Green transferred to CU last spring, coming to Boulder from Arizona State … 

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Practicing with Shedeur helpful to incoming freshman Ju Ju Lewis – “I think it’s very meaningful”

From the Daily Camera … On Sunday, incoming Colorado quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis posted a photo on social media of his locker at the Alamodome next to the locker of senior quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

“You left huge shoes to fill, but I promise to work to leave (CU football) even better than I found it,” Lewis wrote to Sanders.

The night before, CU’s season came to a disappointing finish with a 36-14 loss to BYU in the Alamo Bowl. But one of the positives from the bowl experience was the opportunity for Lewis and incoming transfer Kaidon Salter to spend time around Sanders.

“Tremendous,” CU head coach Deion Sanders said of the benefit of having the new QB recruits practice with CU before the bowl game. “Seeing first of all how (Shedeur) operates at practice and how he focuses as the game approaches, as well as how we move at practice; and the expectation, intensity and the passion for the purpose in practice. And how defined we are and the speed and how the competition level is.

“That was vital on them.”

Lewis, originally a class of 2026 recruit who chose to graduate high school a year and a half early, played in his final prep game just 10 days before the Alamo Bowl. After falling in a Georgia state title game, Lewis spent a week around the Buffs in San Antonio.

“I think it’s very meaningful,” CU offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said. “JuJu has a bright future. He was just playing in a high school championship game here a few days ago, but to be around … quarterbacks are always looking for perspective. They’re always trying to learn from other quarterbacks, how you think about things, how you see this. So any time JuJu can spend with Shedeur is time well spent.”

… Continue reading story here …

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January 1st

… CU in a few minutes … 

Ju Ju Lewis makes NIL deal to help lure recruits to play for CU

From Sports Illustrated … After a season-ending loss in the Alamo Bowl to BYU, the Colorado football program is officially kicking off their post-Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders era, as the star duo is expected to be among the top selections in the 2025 NFL draft.

The Buffaloes’ heir apparent to Sanders – 5-star recruit Julian “JuJu” Lewis – who already dressed for practice with the team ahead of the Alamo Bowl, has now made his first NIL move as Colorado’s next Heisman hopeful.

The record-setting signal caller from Carrollton High School (Carrollton, GA) signed with fan-driven NIL platform Fanstake, that directly involves fans in recruiting top players and retaining transfer targets.

Marking his first equity deal in the NIL space, Lewis becomes the inaugural athlete to partner with Fanstake, that allows fans to pledge financial support – or “stakes” – to athletes they want to join or stay with their college team.

“This is a chance to bring the fans in and really build something special here in Colorado,” Lewis said. “I’m all about winning, and with Fanstake, we can tap into the electric energy here in Boulder and give everyone a way to help us build a championship team.”

According to Fanstake, if the athlete commits to the school, the funds are used to finalize a NIL endorsement deal for them. However, if the athlete chooses a different path elsewhere, fans’ pledged funds are credited back to them.

“Our partnership with Julian really shows what we’re all about – supporting athletes and building strong teams while making sure every player gets the recognition they deserve,” said Greg Glass, CEO and Co-Founder of Fanstake. “What I admire about JuJu is that he gets that NIL is about influence, not just money. This isn’t just about him; it’s about using his NIL to lift up his teammates and help everyone know their worth. His ability to leverage his position to influence other recruits really highlights his strong leadership.”

… Continue reading story here …

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December 31st 

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU v. BYU the most watched Alamo Bowl ever

From the Daily Camera … The BYU/CU , with 8.0 million viewers, was an Alamo Bowl record, topping the Jan. 2, 2010 game between Michigan State and Texas Tech (7.829 million). It’s also the most-viewed non-CFP/NY6 bowl game since the Citrus Bowl between Alabama and Michigan on Jan. 1, 2020.

The Buffs have lost five consecutive bowl games, dating back to a victory against UTEP in the 2004 Houston Bowl. … Saturday’s attendance was 64,261, the 13th-best in Alamo Bowl history. It was second-best for a game with no Texas teams. … With a 48-yard missed field goal in the first half, Alejandro Mata saw a streak of 10 straight makes come to a close. He tied the school record with his streak. … The Buffs’ LaJohntay Wester closes his career with 326 receptions, the sixth-most in FBS history. … CU had two sacks on Saturday and finished the season with 39. That’s the sixth-best single-season total in program history and the most since the 1995 team had 40.

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December 30th

… CU in a few minutes … 

*Coach Prime Season 3 – Official Trailer*

Press release from Amazon Studios … Today, Prime Video released the official trailer and key art for Coach Prime Season 3. Premiering January 7 exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide, the Emmy-nominated series will once again take viewers inside the locker room and on the field during games and practices throughout the Buffalos remarkable 2024 season. This season all episodes of Coach Prime will release as a binge drop on January 7. Coach Prime Season 3 is the latest addition to the Prime membership. Prime Video members enjoy savings, convenience, and entertainment, all in a single membership.

In his second season as Colorado head coach, Deion Sanders leads the Buffaloes in their return to the Big 12. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman-winner Travis Hunter aim to live up to their great expectations with the attention of the nation upon them, as the Buffalos ascend the college football rankings.

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December 29th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Report: CU assistants Phil Loadholt and Vincent Darcy leaving for Mississippi State

From BuffStampede.com … According to GenesPage.com’s Steve Robertson and 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz, Buffaloes assistants Phil Loadholt and Vincent Dancy are both expected to join Mississippi State’s coaching staff. The news comes just a day after Colorado’s 2024 season concluded.

But Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders was expecting this.

“I’m pretty sure a couple of them are going to come in my office about elevation because people are going to want them on their staffs, and that’s what we’re here for,” Coach Prime told reporters moments after the Buffs’ loss to BYU in the Alamo Bowl. “We’re here to advance people. You either get terminated or elevated; it’s either going to be one of the two sooner or later.”

Is a move to Starkville really an elevation? Well, Loadholt has a strong relationship and long history with Bulldogs head coach Jeff Lebby. They spent time coaching together at Central Florida (2018-19), Ole Miss (2020-21) and Oklahoma (2022-23). And Dancy is a Mississippi native. Prior to his two-year stint on Colorado’s staff, he served as a coach at Mississippi Valley State for eight years, including five as its head coach.

Loadholt joined Colorado’s staff as its offensive line coach last winter, helping the unit improve in 2024. Still, the Buffs allowed 43 sacks, more than any other Big 12 program and more than all but five other FBS programs nationally. Sack numbers don’t tell the full story, but CU also struggled to get its ground game going for the second straight season. Loadholt’s starting line down the stretch included two true freshmen, with a walk-on rotating at right tackle, so it was a challenging coaching task. Loadholt was well-respected in Colorado’s program.

Dancy came to Boulder initially as a defensive quality control coach in 2023, then he was elevated to be the Buffaloes’ outside linebackers coach in 2024, working closely with Damione Lewis and Warren Sapp. Dancy’s edge group was among the most successful on the team this past season. Colorado racked up 39 sacks, ranking first in the Big 12 and 15th nationally. Arden Walker, Samuel Okunlola, Keaten Wade and Taje McCoy all showed improvement under Dancy’s watch.

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Pat Rooney: Alamo Bowl result doesn’t diminish 2024 accomplishments

From the Daily Camera … Colorado’s return to glory campaign ended with an emphatic thud at the Alamo Bowl, as Brigham Young dominated in all facets to end the Shedeur Sanders/Travis Hunter era with a 36-14 defeat on Saturday night.

There wasn’t much to applaud. Buff Nation brought the party to San Antonio, but the Buffs forgot to show up for the game. Even Ralphie set a tone of indifference with her half-hearted pregame walk (not run).

In the end, the things that plagued the Buffs in their relatively few low moments this season all piled up in one unsightly mess. The offensive line that improved all season reverted to early-season form. Same with the defensive front, which was dominated by the far more physical Cougars. CU’s nonexistent run game didn’t suddenly experience a postseason revival.

And the special teams. Yikes.

I’m not going to second-guess the decision to play made by Hunter and Sanders to play on Saturday when so many of their high-draft pick peers would have taken a knee. It was a refreshing reversal of the trend in college football. Yet Sanders might do the second-guessing himself as he begins his NFL prep by recovering from the beat down delivered by a BYU defense all too happy to take advantage of CU’s overmatched offensive line.

It was a sad way to go out for a pair of players who, along with head coach Deion Sanders, spearheaded the Buffs’ abrupt two-year turnaround. Hunter provided the few highlights of the night with a couple electric catch-and-runs. Beyond that, however, it wasn’t at all the show the duo expected to script in their collegiate finale.

Still, the ugly result — in a glorified exhibition, I’ll reiterate — shouldn’t diminish what the Buffs, led by Hunter and Shedeur, were able to achieve in just two seasons under coach Sanders. In 2022, CU was the worst power conference program in the nation. Two years later, CU became the home of a Heisman Trophy winner, the best quarterback in the nation and nine wins. The dramatic turnaround will forever be prominent in program lore.

… Continue reading story here …

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This post, about the Postseason game, from the 2024 Season, is filed under Article.
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