Fall Camp Notes

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Fall Camp Notes 

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August 27th

*OC Pat Shurmur Pregame Press Conference*

… We got a great deal of respect for North Dakota State … We feel good about our preparation for this game … A way different feel than pro football. Things change constantly with a no-huddle offense, and I want to be there to make the changes … There will be a script for plays – first 15 plays – but there are also things we can change depending on the situation … Our solid No. 2 is Ryan Staub … We love the depth that we have at wide receiver … I think we are night and day from where we were at this time last year … We started the year last year around the first of June … This year, from the turn of the year, we’ve been able to put a team together … Fortunately, we haven’t had a lot of injuries, so we’ve been able to put our offensive line together … 

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August 26th

*DC Robert Livingston Pregame Press Conference*

… The culture of North Dakota State doesn’t change with this new coach … We’re just concentrating on us … We’ll have to adjust and adapt during the game … Their offense makes you play 11-on-11 … We’ll have our hands full, and we’ll have to tackle well … I was these guys: My senior year at William & Mary, we played Virginia, and we won. It was our Super Bowl. That’s not lost on me … We’re going to get everybody’s best shot … We’re expecting a knock down, drag out fight …  

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OL Tyler Brown on year-long layoff: “I’m so fired up. I’m so ready to go”

From the Daily Camera … Tyler Brown doesn’t think he’d have any trouble squatting with 700 pounds on the bar.

Battling 300-pound defensive linemen for three hours on game day? No big deal.

Having to sit throughout an entire football season, through no fault of his own, however, was a different story.

“It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to go through,” the Colorado offensive lineman recently told BuffZone about his 2023 season with the Buffs.

This year, the 6-foot-3, 310-pound Brown, nicknamed “Roc” by head coach Deion Sanders, is cleared and ready to roll for the Buffs, who open their season Thursday at Folsom Field against North Dakota State (6 p.m., ESPN).

“I’m so fired up. I’m so ready to go,” he said. “I’m overwhelmed with just so many positive emotions.”

Brown was one of several players who transferred to CU from Jackson State after the 2022 season to follow Sanders to Boulder. As a second-time transfer, however, Brown needed a waiver from the NCAA to be eligible to play in games.

The NCAA has since changed the rule for second-time transfers, but a year ago, it was still intact. In late August of 2023, Brown’s waiver was denied.

… In addition to being a great teammate and person off the field, Brown is arguably the strongest player on the team. CU’s strength staff won’t let him max out, but he said his main goal is not weight lifting records.

“I just try to get better for the guys next to me,” he said. “I don’t ever want to let them down.”

That’s why he made the most of last season, taking his role on scout team seriously and understanding he would be needed this year.

“I got bigger, faster, stronger,” he said. “I got better going against the (starters) every single day; Derrick McLendon, people like that, going against them every single day. It made me better and they made me better. They helped me be able to be versatile and play a bunch of positions and learn new stuff, learn new techniques. And it was a great experience, for sure.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 24th 

Coach Prime: “Last year we understood that we did instill pretty much a lot of hope. It’s time for expectation”

From the Daily Camera … Less than a week before the 2024 season kicks off, another less-than-appealing headline regarding Colorado football hit the airwaves.

No one would’ve been able to tell from the festive atmosphere within the Indoor Practice Facility.

Colorado hosted its 35th annual Kickoff Luncheon on Friday, a joint production hosted by CU athletics and the Boulder Chamber.

The festivities unfolded amid the backdrop of a Sports Illustrated report detailing some of the circumstances around the recent departure of now-former assistant Trevor Reilly, the special teams coordinator who says he traveled to the Middle East last winter soliciting NIL funding for CU football in Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

Other than a quick quip from head coach Deion Sanders — “I’m a little exhausted right now because I just got off the plane from Saudi,” he said — the ceremony stayed on message in celebrating the much-anticipated start of the season, which for the Buffs is a Thursday night home date against FCS power North Dakota State (6 p.m., ESPN).

“Last year we understood that we did instill pretty much a lot of hope. And I think everyone had hope,” Sanders said from the stage. “We got our butts kicked twice and the rest of the games I think we were within a touchdown. Now that hope has elapsed. It’s time for expectation. And I hope you’re sitting there with expectation that when you pull into the stadium or you turn on the television, that we’re going to give you what you desire.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 23rd

Pitt D-line transfers Hayes and Okunlola ready to play: “He’s speed, I’m a little power”

From the Daily Camera … At Pittsburgh, Dayon Hayes took Samuel Okunlola under his wing.

It was Okunlola who blazed the trail to Colorado, however.

Together, the former Pitt edge rushers are looking forward to make a significant impact on the Buffaloes this season.

“Those guys, I have nothing but positive things for them,” CU defensive line coach Damione Lewis said, “and I see them possibly having a chance to go play on Sunday (in the NFL).”

Before a shot at the NFL comes along, Hayes and Okunlola are hoping to dominate for the Buffs and continue their growth as individuals.

Hayes spent four seasons at Pitt, playing in 39 games and posting 81 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. He was an 11-game starter in 2023, with 45 tackles, 10.5 TFLs and four sacks.

Okunlola was at Pitt for two years, playing in 15 games. He started two games last year and finished with 18 tackles, TFLs and five sacks, making his mark as a pass-rush specialist.

“That’s one of my reasons I came here; I wanted to play with him,” Hayes said. “At Pitt we played together, so we got that combination, one-two punch. He’s speed, I’m a little power. That’s my dawg.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 22nd

Does CU actually have depth at linebacker?

From the Daily Camera … It has taken a while for Jeremiah Brown to get comfortable within the defense at Colorado.

The senior is settling in, though, and could play a key role for the Buffaloes.

“I’m happy with his progress,” CU linebackers coach Andre Hart said. “He’s taken great notes, and he’s really locked in this year. His development has just been something remarkable to see. So when game day comes, I think you guys are going to be talking about him and what he can bring to our packages on defense.”

Colorado opens the season on Aug. 29 against North Dakota State at Folsom Field (6 p.m., ESPN) and the competition at linebacker is heating up.

Seniors LaVonta Bentley and Trevor Woods are the projected starters at inside linebacker, but the Buffs are deep at the position.

“Now Nikhai (Hill-Green) and Jeremiah Brown are making a really big push, and so we’ve been mixing these guys up,” Hart said. “I always talk about competition keeping them up at night, but now they’re keeping me up at night because I’m trying to think who’s going to be that guy for me.

“I’m excited to see who’s going to come out on top, but I feel good with any four of those guys going in.”

… Hart, meanwhile, is still trying to figure out where all of his guys fit in with the defense and said there might be some situational rotation.

“There’s some of that going on now, and it’s causing us to have some really good discussions in the coaches office on what we can do and what we can’t do,” Hart said of the depth. “And now you also can do multiple things.

“Do we have packages for guys? We do, but then we also can be multiple and keep a couple guys on the field and go through each one of those packages.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 21st 

OL Coach Phil Loadholt on line depth:  “I feel good about six, seven, maybe eight right now, and trying to get that to 10”

From CUBuffs.com … When Colorado opens the season at home against North Dakota State on Aug. 29 (6 p.m., ESPN), all eyes will be on the Buffaloes’ offensive line.

That’s no secret. After giving up 56 quarterback sacks a year ago, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders and his staff made the O-line a top priority in the offseason. They hired a new line coach, Phil Loadholt. They brought in a host of transfers and recruits.

Now, with the result being a line that will quite likely have five new starters, the question will finally be answered: can the Buffs give quarterback Shedeur Sanders some solid, consistent protection?

If so, CU’s offense — loaded at the skill positions — should be ready to put plenty of points on the board.

Loadholt, in his first year as a full-time position coach, knows what is expected of his group. He has spent the last six months mixing and matching combinations up front, trying to find the best group possible to protect QB Sanders and also add some punch to an anemic run game that only added to the pressure on Sanders last season.

With the clock now rapidly ticking down to the opener, Loadholt likes the progress his group has made.

“It’s been good,” Loadholt told the media after Tuesday’s practice. “It’s been good being able to get the pads on and see how guys can move people off the ball with pads and move their feet with pads. It’s been great. We’ve had  a lot of time to evaluate these guys, and so far, it’s been pretty good.”

Fans and media got a first-hand look at the group in a public practice last Friday in Denver. The takeaway by most observers was that the line has definitely improved from a year ago, but there was still more pressure on Sanders than coaches wanted to see.

That leaves the Buffs with roughly a week to iron out the kinks.

While the Buffs haven’t named a starting group yet — Coach Prime said a final depth chart probably won’t be settled until right before game day — CU followers still have a fairly good idea of who that group will likely include.

The list starts with highly touted true freshman Jordan Seaton at left tackle. Transfer Justin Mayers has been getting most of the work at left guard, sophomore Hank Zilinskas has been at center, Kahlil Benson has been working at right guard (although he sat out last Friday’s practice) and Tyler Brown — who was with the team last year but was deemed ineligible by the NCAA — has been the mainstay at right tackle.

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August 20th 

Andre Hart impressed with depth of his linebacker room 

From BuffStampede.com …

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August 19th

CU announces headset promotion contract with AFLAC

Press release from CUBuffs.com … Long known for his fashion sense, Coach Prime is no style rookie. This season, University of Colorado Athletics is teaming up with Aflac, the leading provider of supplemental health insurance in the U.S., to make sure the Colorado coaching staff has the best-looking headsets in college football.

Football fans will see Coach Prime and the rest of his coaching staff wear one-of-their-kind custom headsets each week starting when the Colorado Buffaloes open their season against the North Dakota State Bison on Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. on ESPN. Coach Prime will wear eight unique headsets throughout the season, designed to coordinate with his team’s helmets and prominently featuring the Aflac logo. Each headset was meticulously created to match the Buffaloes’ on-field uniform combination every week so Coach Prime’s game looks will be in sync with his players.

“Aflac has been a terrific partner of CU Athletics and we’re excited to work with them on this new opportunity to provide one-of-a-kind headsets to our coaching staff,” said University of Colorado Athletic Director Rick George. “Our team always looks great when it takes the field and to have specially designed headsets that match our helmets, I know will be a thrill for our coaches, players, and fans.”

As the Official Coaches Headset Partner of the Colorado Buffaloes, Aflac will receive additional brand exposure through official university athletics platforms, including in-stadium signage and an enhanced social media presence. The Aflac Duck will even join CU’s Family Weekend for the second year in a row the weekend of Oct. 24.

“Coach Prime is truly one-of-a-kind, and it shows in every aspect of his style,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Garth Knutson. “Enhancing the Colorado Buffaloes football staff’s look through custom headset designs felt like a seamless next step. Just as Aflac supplements health insurance for millions of Americans, we’re supplementing their game day fit.”

The multiyear expanded partnership between CU Athletics and Aflac is overseen by Buffalo Sports Properties, the locally based Learfield team dedicated solely to CU.

Tune in to ESPN on Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. to catch the debut of the new, one-of-its-kind headset and watch the Colorado Buffaloes in action on the field. Tickets to attend the game are also on sale now!

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August 18th

Position battles remaining before the opener

From the Daily Camera …  On the offense line, the Buffs didn’t have Kahlil Benson on Friday, as he’s still coming off an injury. In his place, Kareem Harden started at right guard. The rest of the group – tackles Jordan Seaton and Tyler Brown, left guard Justin Mayers and center Hank Zilinskas – was similar to what the Buffs have used throughout camp.

Overall, the line didn’t have a good night, though, and appears to still be a work in progress, as the defense posted several sacks.

Other position battles appear to be taking shape, such as:

• At running back, Charlie Offerdahl got the start, but Dallan Hayden also got a lot of reps with the first team as it appears they’ve separated themselves a bit. Both ran well, as did freshman Brandon Hood. Isaiah Augustave had some good runs, as well.

• At inside linebacker, LaVonta Bentley and Trevor Woods were with the starting unit, while others, such as Jeremiah Brown and Nikhai Hill-Green continue to push for time.

• On the defensive line, several players rotated in, as coaches have stated would happen this season. Shane Cokes and Chidozie Nwankwo were solid on the interior, while depth showed up on the edge, with BJ Green, Dayon Hayes and Samuel Okunlola, along with Taje McCoy, who had several sacks. McCoy may have been the MVP of the practice.

• Will Sheppard, a transfer from Vanderbilt, was exceptional at receiver. Sheppard, Jimmy Horn Jr. and LaJohntay Wester were all with the first team, as expected. With Travis Hunter out (getting rest), though, Terrell Timmons Jr. got reps with the first team and played well.

• With Hunter out, Preston Hodge played in the slot, while Colton Hood stepped up at corner and had a good night. DJ McKinney played well at the other corner spot. Isaiah Hardge also made a couple of plays with the second unit.

Although the opener is around the corner, Coach Prime said the Buffs won’t solidify their depth chart until “probably right before kickoff.”

“There’s too many things that happen,” he said. “You know, somebody may sustain an injury in practice. Somebody may not give the effort that you desire. That’s why you do little things like that. But you want to keep them safe.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 17th

Coach Prime: CU “cut down the playbook” at open practice; a “phenomenal” event

From CUBuffs.com … An energetic, enthusiastic crowd packed All-City Stadium on Friday as Colorado fans got their first glimpse of the 2024 Buffaloes in a public practice.

Vanilla? No doubt. Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders and his staff were by no means going to give future opponents any hint of what the Buffs will be running when they open the season Aug. 29 against North Dakota State at Folsom Field (6 p.m., ESPN).

But even vanilla was enough of a taste to create a buzz among fans as they saw the clear progress the Buffs have made heading into Year 2 of the Coach Prime Era.

“We could always do better — I’m never going to be 100% satisfied,” Sanders said after the workout. “I’m a former football player, not just a coach, so you’re never going to be 100 percent satisfied. But I’m happy with what we got accomplished today. You have to understand I handicapped the offense. We didn’t show any signals. We cut down the playbook tremendously. We didn’t want to show too much of our hand.”

Still, CU fans had the chance to see at least the basics of new coordinator Pat Shurmur‘s offense as well as the defensive approach of new coordinator Robert Livingston.

Overall, there were plenty of highlights and enough plays on both sides of the ball to whet the appetite of fans anxious for the season to start.

… Continue reading story here …

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From Brian Howell at the Daily Camera …

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August 16th

WR Will Sheppard: “We have just let his talent speak for itself”

From the Daily Camera … Vanderbilt hasn’t exactly been known for its high-powered offense, and it hasn’t won many games in recent years.

Yet even in the talent-rich SEC, which features many of the nation’s top teams and has produced 30 receivers taken in the NFL draft the last four years – including 10 first-rounders – Will Sheppard has managed to garner a little bit of attention.

Now that he’s at Colorado, Sheppard is continuing to shine.

“I’ve seen everything that we anticipated seeing when we brought him in here,” CU receivers coach Jason Phillips said.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Sheppard is CU’s biggest receiver, and one of its most accomplished.

Sheppard spent four years at Vandy, the last three as a major contributor. After catching just two passes as a freshman in 2020, he caught 150 passes for 2,037 yards and 21 touchdowns the last three years. He was Vandy’s top receiver the last two years.

“He has a level of physicality coming from the SEC that we desperately need in that room,” Phillips said. “And obviously his experience is the biggest thing. The guy has played a lot of football, so he has something to add to the room as far as knowledge and experience. So he’s been doing that role.

“He’s got very strong hands. So we’re just excited about him being here, and just put him in the mix with all the other guys that we have and just let his talent speak for itself.”

… Continue reading story here …

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TE Sam Hart happy to be back in Colorado: “It’s the perfect opportunity for me”

From the Daily Camera … As a sophomore at Cherokee Trail High School in Aurora in 2019, Sam Hart received a scholarship offer to play football at Colorado.

It was then-new head coach Mel Tucker who extended that offer. By the time Hart graduated from high school, Tucker was long gone and Hart didn’t find much appeal in the CU program.

When he went through the recruiting process again this spring, Hart found CU to be a bit more intriguing.

“Yeah, quite a bit more attractive now,” the Ohio State transfer said with a laugh. “I think there’s a lot more opportunity now than there was a couple years ago.”

Opportunity is what led Hart to Boulder this year, as he joins the Buffs to play for second-year head coach Deion Sanders.

“I’m so excited,” Hart said. “It’s an amazing experience that I got in front of me, and being able to come back home and have this great opportunity I couldn’t ask for much more. It’s exactly what I was looking for when I entered the portal and it’s the perfect opportunity for me. Super excited for this season.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 15th

Senior defensive lineman Chidozie Nwankwo: “I’m just ready to go, ready to go to war”

From the Daily Camera … The season opener can’t get here soon enough for Chidozie Nwankwo.

A senior defensive lineman who transferred to Colorado in January, Nwankwo’s smile became a bit brighter when talking about kickoff.

“I feel great. I’m ready to go,” he told BuffZone. “I’m not gonna lie to you, especially with everybody in D-line room, I’m just ready to go, ready to go to war.”

The 5-foot-11, 290-pound Nwankwo is one of the leaders of a re-tooled defensive line that CU is counting on this season, which opens Aug. 29 against North Dakota State at Folsom Field (6 p.m., ESPN).

“We’re just building depth and I want the guys to be nice and solid,” said Hall of Famer Warren Sapp, who is working with the line as a graduate assistant. “Because the one thing that I did see last year before I turned the TV off was we couldn’t stop the run, and that won’t happen with me here. We’re gonna earn our right to rush (the passer) by stopping the run.”

CU allowed 176.4 rushing yards per game last year, ranking 110th nationally, and Nwankwo is a key to the effort of changing that.

In four seasons at Houston, he played in 41 games with 32 starts. He had just five sacks, but was especially tough against the run, racking up 95 tackles and 13 tackles for loss. He had 25 tackles and five TFLs last season.

Nicknamed the “Block Bully” because of his role in trying to beat offensive linemen, Nwankwo is taking full advantage of learning from Sapp and first-year defensive line coach Damione Lewis, who was a 10-year NFL veteran.

“Already since January, I’ve learned tremendously – a tremendous amount from just being around them and seeing how they do things on and off the field, how they carry themselves,” Nwankwo said. “They’ve been a great help of showing me how things are, how things will be in the league, and stuff like that.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 14th

Phil Steele: CU has 13th-most difficult schedule in the nation

From FBSchedules … Phil Steele has published his 2024 college football strength of schedule rankings. The Florida Gators have the toughest schedule in 2024, while the Liberty Flames have the easiest, per Steele.

Last season, Phil Steele’s toughest and easiest schedule was also Florida’s and Liberty’s, respectively.

Steele arrives at his preseason toughest schedule ratings by combining his “9 sets of Power Ratings” with the amount of home and away games. This differs from the Win/Loss method, which is strictly based on the opponent winning percentage from the previous year.

The newly expanded Big Ten and SEC lead Phil Steele’s rankings this season with eight teams each in his Top 25 toughest schedules. They are followed by the Big 12 with five teams and ACC with four.

From the Big 12 …

5. Houston (2023 SOS rank: 33rd) – Houston’s non-conference slate in 2024 is respectable, with game against UNLV and Rice at home and No. 16 Oklahoma on the road. In Big 12 action, the Cougars get preseason No. 12 Utah and No. 18 Kansas State at home. Road tilts include No. 22 Kansas, No. 21 Arizona, Cincinnati, and TCU.

7. West Virginia (2023 SOS rank: 14th) – The Mountaineers open the 2024 season with a big non-conference contest at home against No. 8 Penn State. In Big 12 action, West Virginia hosts No. 22 Kansas and No. 18 Kansas State and travels to No. 17 Oklahoma State and No. 21 Arizona.

(13) Colorado
(19) Arizona State
(23) BYU
(29) Iowa State
(38) TCU
(42) Baylor
(44) Texas Tech
(46) Kansas State
(53) UCF
(54) Oklahoma State
(55) Cincinnati
(58) Kansas
(59) Utah
(66) Arizona

… Read full story here …

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August 13th 

Receivers coach Jason Phillips: Rotation 6-8 deep

From BuffStampede.com …

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August 12th 

Freshman running back Micah Welch: “I can do everything you want me to do”

From Brian Howell at the Daily Camera …

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August 11th 

Ryan Staub embracing role as Shedeur’s backup

From Brian Howell at the Daily Camera …

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August 10th

Coach Prime: “I feel so much better about the team”

From CUBuffs.com … The Buffaloes are better.

If Colorado’s annual media day provided any one overriding message, that proved to be the memorandum delivered by Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders.

The Buffs have better players, better coaches and perhaps most importantly, a better understanding of what Coach Prime and his staff expect.

One year ago, the nation wasn’t sure what to expect from Sanders’ first Colorado team. He had rebuilt the program virtually from the bottom up and college football observers were anxious to see the results.

The early returns were outstanding — three straight victories and a spot in the nation’s top 25.

But then injuries and a lack of depth took their toll. The Buffs struggled down the stretch and finished with a 4-8 record — still a vast improvement over the previous year’s 1-11 mark, but nowhere near Sanders’ high expectations.

Now, after another offseason of roster and coaching staff rebuilding, Sanders is confident that the Buffs are ready to take another big step as they move back to the Big 12.

“I feel so much better about the team, not only because of the young men that we’ve accumulated inside this locker room but also the staff, in how they’re working together,” Sanders said Friday (which also marked his 57th birthday). “The coordinators are phenomenal. The support staff is second to none. I think we all really have a cohesive bond that’s truly admirable.”

Sanders’ offseason improvements were once again significant, but in his second year, he could address specific needs.

… Continue reading story here …

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August 9th

Fall Camp Media Day Press Conference

… Coach Prime, Shedeur Sanders and Shilo Sanders … 

… Happy Birthday to Coach Prime, who got to celebrate with the birth of his first grandchild … Bonus: Watch Coach Prime refuse to take a question from the local CBS reporter … and get into it with CU hater Sean Keeler of the Denver Post (see below) …

Coach Prime presses Denver reporter/ Colorado hater , Sean Keeler😭😭

I’m so glad Prime called that goofy out pic.twitter.com/Vtp6PiAtuU

— GUCCE🦬🐦‍⬛ (@gucceCU) August 9, 2024

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August 8th

Dallan Hayden: “I’m very eager to show people I’m still the back that was playing my freshman year”

From the Daily Camera … As a true freshman in 2022, Dallan Hayden proved he could play and excel at a high level.

As a redshirt sophomore in 2024, Hayden is looking to prove he’s still capable of doing that.

The Ohio State transfer running back is one of the more intriguing newcomers for the Colorado Buffaloes this season as he fights for a starting role during preseason camp.

“Very eager,” he said after a recent CU practice. “That’s like a big point for me this year, to show people I’m still the back that was playing my freshman year at Ohio State.”

Coming out of Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, Tenn., in 2022, Hayden was a four-star recruit with 31 scholarship offers. After rushing for 3,967 yards and 54 touchdowns in his last two years of high school, Hayden picked Ohio State, which has been a running back factory over the years, over Notre Dame, Illinois and others.

During his first season with the Buckeyes, he rushed for 553 yards and five touchdowns, finishing third in rushing on a team that played in the College Football Playoff. Hayden, in fact, got the starting nod in OSU’s 42-41 semifinal loss to Georgia.

Hayden’s 2022 season included three 100-yard games, highlighted by 146 yards and three touchdowns at Maryland. Yet, last year, the Buckeyes chose to redshirt him because of their depth. Hayden played in three games, carrying the ball 19 times for 110 yards.

“Yeah, for sure, it was difficult,” he said. “I played a lot my freshman year, then I get redshirted the next year. Everything happens for a reason. Just trust in God’s plan and it’ll be alright.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 7th

*Video: Inside CU Practice – Mic’d up Warren Sapp*

From TheePregameShow …

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August 6th

*Video: Defensive end coach Vincent Darcy*

From BuffsTV …

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August 5th

*Video: OL Jordan Seaton and DL Shane Cokes*

From BuffStampede.com …

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August 4th

Fall Sports Media Day set for Friday

From CUBuffs.com …

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August 3rd 

*Video: Running back Dallan Hayden: “I’m an every down back”*

From BuffStampede.com …

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Coach Prime: No contact for Travis Hunter in practice

From 247 Sports … Colorado started fall camp this week, and head coach Deion Sanders had a special request for his team ahead of its first padded practice. He told the huddle to leave star two-way player Travis Hunter alone in contact drills, later insisting he’s not playing favorites. The do-not-touch rule also applied to the team’s quarterbacks, which includes his son Shedeur Sanders.

“We’re in pads. We’re having contact,” Sanders said this week. “Take care of your guys. Do not touch the receivers. Don’t get near the quarterback. Leave Travis alone. We got that? We understand that? I’m not playing favorites. I’m just being 100. It is what it is. When you get to the next level, every quarterback is worth $250 million. You think they are going to let you touch them? Let’s play like we’re at the next level. Let’s protect our quarterback.”

Hunter was one of college football’s brightest stars last season, his first at the Power Four level. The former five-star recruit racked up 50 tackles and three interceptions on defense and caught 57 balls for 721 yards and five touchdowns on offense, averaging a mind-boggling 116 snaps per game. His season was cut short at nine games after suffering multiple injuries, including a lacerated liver. Sanders has put him in proverbial bubble wrap this offseason.

“I know when to give Travis rest,” Sanders said in July. “I know how many days a week he needs off. I also know when he’s getting on my last nerve on the bench. So I need to put him out there so he can leave me alone by getting in the game.”

… Read full story here …

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August 2nd

*OC Pat Shurmur: “My message to the guys: It’s never going to get any better than this”*

“Practice has been competitive. Defense has been challenging everything … We’re really coming together as a team. It’s been fun … A more wide-open style of ball … We’re much better up front on defense, so it’s more challenging for the offensive line … My message to the guys: It’s never going to get any better than this … We need to be able to run the ball. We are going to run the ball. And we need to be better able to protect the passer  … When you get in the red area, you want to score touchdowns” …

From BuffStampede.com …

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July 31st 

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU defensive backs DJ McKinney and Preston Hodge meet with the media

From BuffStampede.com …

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Defensive coordinator Robert Livingston: “We’re champing at the bit. They still feel last year” 

… No comment on Shilo Sanders wearing a yellow jersey at practice … “We’ll go ten days at camp before making decisions. We want to see what players can do” … “We’ll put the best 11 on the field. It’s our job to get these guys ready to play” … “Who are the leaders? Show me” … “We’ve got a bunch of great guys” … “It’s all rainbow and butterflies this early, but I feel good about where we are” … 

From Brian Howell …

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July 29th

… CU in a few minutes … 

*Video: LB Trevor Woods: “I’ve gotten a lot bigger and a lot stronger”*

From BuffsTV …

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*Video: RB Coach Gary Harrell: “I feel good about our room. They have great chemistry”*

From BuffsTV … Harrell … “We have a great quarterback and we’re going to throw the ball. But we’re going to run the football because Prime’s main thing is  physicality and being able to run the football this year” …

Harrell also said he would like to have two backs as part of the regular rotation.

“In today’s game you got to have two,” Harrell said. “That’s the process we’re going through because we’re so deep in talent and those guys do a great job. We’re going to give them equal opportunity to show who are the best two guys. We’ll get to that point where those two guys have an opportunity to showcase themselves on Aug. 29 (the opening game vs. North Dakota State).”

“The expectation is now,” Harrell said. “We’re not waiting for year three to win. We’re not waiting for midseason for everything to be clear. It has to happen now.”

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Daily Camera: Storylines to watch during Fall Camp

From the Daily Camera …

Key position battles

1. Offensive line: The Buffs have a projected starting group that includes two returners (center Hank Zilinskas and guard Tyler Brown), two transfers (guard Justin Mayers and tackle Kahlil Benson) and one true freshman (tackle Jordan Seaton). However, the Buffs brought in eight transfers this offseason, six of which were full or part-time starters at their previous school, so there should be a lot of competition. How this group comes together could be the key to the whole season.

2. Defensive line: Shane Cokes and Amari McNeill combined for 13 starts last year with the Buffs, but they’re going to pushed heavily by six transfers. Rayyan Buell (Ohio), Taurean Carter (Arkansas), BJ Green (Arizona State) and Chidozie Nwankwo (Houston) have all been productive starting players in college.

3. Running back: Every scholarship running back from last year is gone and nobody in the room this year has ever been a starter in college, so the competition for carries should be intense. Former walk-on Charlie Offerdahl is a Coach Prime favorite, while transfers Isaiah Augustave and Dallan Hayden have the most experience. True freshmen Brandon Hood and Micah Welch are arguably the most talented of the bunch.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 28th

… CU in a few minutes … 

First Week of Fall Camp practice info

Press release from CUBuffs.com …

Colorado Football reported for camp Sunday and begins practice on Monday.

Media availability for the first week will be on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Monday, July 29

Safe Time: 10 AM

Location: Franklin Field

Who: Coach Gary “Flea” Harrell, Players

Wednesday, July 31

Safe Time: 10:15 AM

Location: Franklin Field or IPF

Who: Coach Robert Livingston, Players

Friday, August 2

Safe Time: 10 AM

Location: Franklin Field or IPF

Who: Coach Pat Shurmur, Players

Looking forward to Week 2, we will host our annual Fall Sports Media Day including a press conference with Coach Prime on Friday, August 9.

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