Spring check list: Buff kickers struggled from outside the 40-yard line, and kickoffs were short (when they weren’t going out-of-bounds) … Is Mark Vassett a first-team All-Big 12 punter? … Will LaJohntay Wester make a name for himself as a returner this spring? …

Robert Livingston may not have been Coach Prime’s first choice at defensive coordinator, but is he the best choice? … Is the influx of talent along the defensive line enough to make the line Big 12 worthy? …. Have the holes at linebacker been filled? … Will the CU secondary be the most talented in the Big 12? … Let’s find out …

CU was 124th in the nation in pass defense last season, which belies the talent on the roster … Will the coaching staff be able to piece together a strong defensive backfield, even if that means playing four (count ’em, four) Jackson State transfers? …

LaVonta Bentley and Trevor Woods were second and third on the team in tackles, but the numbers produced were the lowest totals in school history … Will transfer Jaylen Wester be the answer, or will CU be shopping for help again come April? …

CU has a room full of transfers at the position, not to mention a new position coach, Vincent Dancy, who has never before been a Power Five assistant … CU’s defensive success will depend on getting to opposing Big 12 quarterbacks – Will this group be up to the task? …

The defensive line wasn’t the sole reason for CU’s poor defensive numbers in 2023, but the numbers weren’t pretty … Will the two returning contributors beat out the SEC transfers? … Will incoming freshmen be forced into duty? … Let’s find out …

There will be plenty of fluff pieces during CU’s closed spring practices (starting March 18th) … Which are the stories which will be “must read” for Buff fans, and which will be “save for later”? … Let’s find out …

CU’s offensive line in 2023 was historically bad, leading to a fresh infusion of FBS transfer starters, and one five-star phenom … Will new OL coach Phil Loadholt (with no assistant coaching jobs on his resume) be able to mold a Big 12-worthy unit? …

The CU wide receiver room is one of the deepest in the roster … Will transfers LaJohntay Wester and Terrell Timmons, Jr., make an immediate impression? … Which of the underclassmen will step up? … Will CU actually throw to a tight end this fall? …

CU was dead last in rushing last fall (130th), and taking a huge number of sacks isn’t the sole reason … Dylan Edwards had five scores in ’23 – four in Game One … Is Alton McCaskill finally healthy enough to show the 2021 season wasn’t a fluke? … Will freshman Micah Welch make an impression? … Let’s find out …

CU has a QB on the roster who is not only likely to be drafted, but probably will be a first round pick … But … What will a Shurmur offense look like? … Who will emerge as the primary backup? … Is CU done in the Transfer Portal? …