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CU’s Top Ten Incoming Transfers
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Coach Prime and the Buffs officially turn the page to the 2025 season in just a few weeks, with the first practices of the spring coming on March 11th.
In the first Transfer Portal window, CU signed 17 new players. If this number sounds low, it is. In the purge of Coach Prime’s first season, 52 transfers joined the team. Last season, there were 43 transfers. While there will be a second Transfer Portal window the end of April, it seems likely that Season Three of the Coach Prime era will begin with more roster stability than ever before.
[As an aside … five Big 12 schools – all not named Colorado – are in the top ten in the nation in transfers this off-season, led by West Virginia with 31 to date, followed by UCF (27), Arizona (25), Oklahoma State (23) and Kansas (22). Overall, retread West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez has 59 new players on the roster … so far … with none of the national attention paid to the purge as when Coach Prime rebuilt his roster in a similar fashion two springs ago].
As the Buffs gear up for the 2025 football season, the coaching staff has strategically bolstered its roster through the Transfer Portal. Here are my top ten transfer players who have joined the team to date …
1. Jehiem Oatis – Defensive Lineman
Formerly with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Oatis has the ability to become a formidable presence on the defensive line. At 6’5″, 320-pounds, Oatis brings significant size and experience to Colorado’s defense. Oatis had a .9300 transfer rating from 247 Sports and was ranked as the No. 14 overall player in the transfer portal, listed the No. 1 defensive lineman transferring, and the No. 1 defensive player overall. Oatis is expected to be a cornerstone of a CU defensive line which may be not only one of the best in the Big 12, but perhaps one of the best in the nation.
2. Kaidon Salter – Quarterback
Kaidon Salter, a dynamic quarterback transfer from Liberty, may be the most important transfer pickup overall this offseason. With CU signing five-star prospect Julian Lewis, trying to find a quality transfer quarterback with starting experience – and yet one not afraid to face the possibility of not starting – was a fine needle to thread, but the Buffs may have found the perfect fit in Kaidon Salter. Salter led Liberty to an impressive 13-0 regular season in 2023 and their first New Year’s Six bowl appearance. With one season of eligibility remaining, his dual-threat capabilities are anticipated to bring versatility and leadership to the Buffaloes’ offense. Ju Ju Lewis may be the future face of the CU program, but Salter may be the present.
3. Reginald Hughes – Linebacker
The Buffs need help at linebacker, and Hughes could be one of the answers. After limited time playing for two years under Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss, Hughes transferred last season to Jacksonville State. Hughes had a break out season playing for Rich Rodriguez, with 83 tackles, nine-and-a-half tackles, four-and-a-half sacks, and six quarterback hurries. For his efforts, Hughes was names first-team All-Conference USA.
4. Makari Vickers – Defensive Back
Transferring from Oklahoma, Makari Vickers is a talented defensive back poised to strengthen Colorado’s secondary. With the departure of key players like Travis Hunter, Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig, and Shilo Sanders, Vickers’ role becomes even more critical. In the 2023 season, he recorded eight tackles and four pass break-ups, showcasing his potential to be a defensive playmaker for the Buffaloes. A consensus four-star recruit out of high school, Vickers has three years of eligibility remaining (Vickers redshirted in 2024), which makes him a good candidate to learn and get some quality backup time behind CU’s established veterans DJ McKinney and Colton Hood.
5. Martavius French – Linebacker
Martavius French, formerly with UTSA, is a linebacker known for his agility and tackling prowess. At 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, French has the right size and speed to be the replacement for Nikhai Hill-Green. In 2024, he played in all 13 games and started 11, finishing with a team-leading 80 tackles and 17 tackles for loss. Only seven players had more tackles for loss nationally last season.
6. Zy Crisler – Interior Offensive Lineman
Transferring from Illinois, Zy Crisler brings his substantial size and experience from the Big Ten Conference. In three seasons with the Fighting Illini, Crisler started in 30 games and has been one of the best offensive linemen in the Big Ten. In 2023, Crisler was named to the All-Big Ten honorable mention at offensive lineman. The 6-foot-7, 350-pound lineman instantly becomes one of the largest Buffaloes on the team and is a force to be reckoned with. Crisler has demonstrated his ability to shift between tackle and guard during his time with Illinois, with his versatility making him a huge asset on Colorado’s restructured offensive line. Crisler will come to Boulder as a frontrunner to start at right tackle for the Buffs in 2025.
7. Kylan Salter – Linebacker
Don’t overlook this addition to the roster as being just an add-on to the signing of quarterback Kaidon Salter, Kylan’s brother. Coming to Boulder from TCU, Salter stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 225 pounds, and will have three years to play in Boulder. His commitment to Colorado brings additional strength to the defensive lineup for perhaps the weakest unit on the team. Salter’s experience in the Big 12 Conference is anticipated to be invaluable as he integrates into the Buffaloes’ defensive schemes.
8. Zarian McGill – Offensive Lineman
Transferring from Louisiana Tech, Zarian McGill is a 6-foot-2, 308-pound offensive lineman. His commitment to Colorado aims to bolster the depth and performance of the offensive line, especially at the center position. At Louisiana Tech last fall, McGill played in all 12 games with three starts at center. He played 429 snaps in 2024 and was the highest-graded offensive lineman on PFF. The battle with returning starter Cash Cleveland should be an interesting position competition to watch this spring.
9. Akinola “Aki” Ogunbiyi – Offensive Lineman
Transferring from Texas A&M, Akinola Ogunbiyi is an interior offensive lineman with a rating of 89.28. A former consensus four-star recruit, Ogunbiyi’s experience in the SEC brings a high level of competition the offensive line. Ogunbiyi only has one year of eligibility remaining, so he is coming to Boulder to make a name for himself. Overall, Ogunbiyi appeared in 23 games at Texas A&M, including eight starts, playing a total of 654 snaps in an injury-filled career with the Aggies.
10. Buck Buchanan (K) / Damon Greaves (P)
Cheating a little bit here, with two players for the final slot, but Buff fans shouldn’t underestimate the value of the two special team additions to the 2025 roster. Greaves was the starting punter for Kansas last season, and while he was not All Big 12 caliber, he will provide a quality replacement for Mark Vassett. Buchanan may only see the field on kickoffs, but that in and of itself will be a benefit to CU. Last season, the Buffs allowed 51 kickoff returns, while having only 14 such opportunities themselves. Last season, at Louisiana Tech, Buchanan recorded 51 touchbacks on 56 kickoffs. He also had two field goals over 50 yards, and four over 40 yards, adding another dimension to the CU kicking game.
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There will be additions – and subtractions – from the roster come April. CU will be in the market to add at least another dozen transfers, with offensive line and linebackers the most sought after commodities.
The thing is … even with only the 75 players currently on the roster, Coach Prime has a team which can compete in the Big 12. The next step will be retaining the players they have, and then finding a handful of potential starters to round out a title contending team.
It should be a fun spring …
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2 Replies to “CU’s Top Ten Incoming Transfers”
“The thing is … even with only the 75 players currently on the roster, Coach Prime has a team which can compete in the Big 12.”
One could argue that in today’s pay to play via NIL, transfer portal era that 75 is the new 85; you don’t have to develop all of your future players anymore. CU brought in a nice class of high school players, but not a full class compared to classes prior to the portal/NIL. In fact it’s Prime largest since coming to CU, so they feel that they have what they need to compete, with just a few holes to fill and can bring in quality over quantity while bringing in high caliber HS talent.
But at only 75 players, CU isn’t paying those 10 players that probably wouldn’t see playing time anyways. That’s ten players “salaries” and scholarship monies, housing & training table & etc. that can go towards those 75 players. Baring a major number of injuries, how many players actually will play more than the redshirt rules allow?
The NFL makes do with about 20 less than that, but have a practice squad to pull from if needed, so 75 is a good number. Some schools are loading up their roster with as much talent as they can sign, in some cases just to keep that talent from the competition. But, how happy will those players not playing be? How much monies are being spent to have 100 players on your roster just to keep them from your competition? How much money on developing a player just to have him leave when he’s ready to play?
Trimming ten players from the 85, not only lowers your operating costs and allows more spent per player, it frees up resources, coaching time & reps and… That’s ten players who are not unhappy about the lack of playing time, ten player who you wasted resources on just to have them transfer out. Next portal, Prime will replace the ones graduating or going pro with players already developed or proven in one way or another, but also with more maturity and life experience. And the caliber of HS players will continue to go up as he continues to improve and build the program.
I’d say 75 is the new 85.
Can’t wait for the pundiot articles criticizing CU and Prime for NOT utilizing the portal enough. I’m sure they’re coming. I recently saw an interview with Tom Luginbill (CBS Sports?) by Dan Dakich claiming that if Shedeur’s last name was Smith, he would not even be considered a top QB prospect. Insanity truly. There are many that suffer from PDS – Prime Derangement Syndrome and its close relative SDS – Sanders….