At BuffsBlog we’ve tried different formats to find the best (and most entertaining) way to get you news and information. Today’s post is example #38 of a different format. Hey, we’re experimenting. So, today, we’re going to look at 14 things we’ve learned / that we know after fall camp. Why 14? Because we don’t have 15 things.
We’ll conclude with some stories that you should read if you want to be a smarter fan.
Let’s jump right in.
14 Things We Think We Know
#1: Quarterback Update
The biggest question going into fall camp for the Buffs was who is going to succeed Shedeur Sanders as QB?
The answer — Kaidon Salter. While JuJu Lewis and Salter split time with the 1s at the beginning of fall camp, Salter received more and more reps with the 1s as camp progressed, and his ability to improvise on broken plays by tucking the ball and running has given the defense fits.
We think the most likely situation where we see JuJu Lewis on Friday night is if the offense has stalled out over 3 or 4 consecutive series and needs a spark. It’s also possible Deion Sanders and Pat Shurmur decide to play Lewis for a series each half. While Lewis has shown promise that justifies his 5-star hype, this will be Salter’s team this fall. It wouldn’t shock if Salter ends up CU’s leading rusher this fall (he rushed for over 1,000 yards 2 seasons ago.)
#2: Running Back Depth
CU may have running back depth issues. Colorado RB Dallan Hayden has a hand injury that will cause him to miss “a couple of weeks” per coaches. In any case, he’s unlikely to play Week 1 vs. Georgia Tech. We expect Micah Welch to start, but DeKalon Taylor and Simeon Price will both play. Having only 4 RBs on scholarship is a potential issue, particularly since CU wants to run more 2-back sets this fall.
If there are any more injuries at the position, it wouldn’t surprise to see Drelon Miller or Isaiah Hardge lining up at RB. Some of you may remember Hardge playing running back in the Spring Game two years ago because of a lack of scholarship running backs.
Somewhat relatedly, CU will run plays with Drelon Miller lined up as H-back occasionally regardless of depth issues.
#3: Run, TrackHawk, Run
DeKalon Taylor is electric. Here’s one prediction for Georgia Tech — DeKalon Taylor is going to break a 40+ yard play. Just remember BuffsBlog when it happens. And if it doesn’t happen, remember that this was a prediction made by BuffStampede.com.
#4: We Sincerely Called This One
Remember when we said (over and over) that Sincere Brown would be catching passes in the NFL next year? Well, if BuffsBlog are the conductors on the Brown Hype Train, others have jumped on the train. One analyst has now come out and said he thinks Brown could be the CU player picked highest in the NFL draft next year. 👀 👀👀
This is a particularly hot take because Dane Brugler’s Big Board came out last week and he had DJ McKinney ranked #32 on his board. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6549329/2025/08/21/nfl-draft-2026-rankings-arch-manning-caleb-downs/ ($)
Do we think Brown will be a 1st round pick? No. But it wouldn’t surprise if he’s picked higher than LaJohntay Wester or Jimmy Horn Jr. from last year’s draft.
#5: BuffsBlog Suggestion Adopted by Athletic Department
The Athletic Department listened to us! Early this winter, we wrote a piece that recommended that CU adopt a program similar to the University of Iowa’s “round up for NIL” campaign where fans can round their concession purchases up to the next dollar, with the extra proceeds going to the school’s NIL fund. Check our recommendation out at:
Lo and behold, CU has adopted a similar program that is launching this fall. Rick George announced that a new “round up” purchase option will be available with proceeds supporting CU student-athlete scholarships. Well done, Rick!
George also announced that CU will have a military flyover for Friday night’s game against Georgia Tech as well as the November 1 against Arizona, and that there will be a special drone show on September 27th vs. BYU.
Get to the stadium early on Friday so that you don’t miss the fly over! Also, it’s a stripe out Friday night. Here’s the details:
#6: Stop Sleeping on Isaiah Hardge
BuffsBlog has been sleeping on Isaiah Hardge for too long. Commander Ace Hunter (our newest columnist and a real insider – check out his work!) has told us that he’s going to have a big impact on this team, and I’m starting to become a believer. He’s going to have a bigger impact than I thought.
#7: Starters for Georgia Tech
The players getting the most run with the 1s right now in practice are:
Offense: OT Jordan Seaton – OG Xavier Hill – C Zarian McGill – G Kareem Harden OR Zy Crisler – T Larry Johnson III – TE Zach Adkins RB – Michah Welch WR – Omarrion Miller WR – Drelon Miller WR –Sincere Brown QB – Kaidon Salter
Defense: Edge Arden Walker – DT Amari McNeill – DT Anquin Barnes – Edge Sam Okunlola OR Quincey Wiggins – LB Martavius French LB – Reginald Hughes OR Jeremiah Brown – CB – DJ McKinney – CB: RJ Johnson OR Teon Parks – Slot: Preston Hodge – S Carter Stoutmire – S Tawfiq Byard.
CU will rotate a lot of players. CU is a deeper team than it has been in the past, particularly up front on the offensive and defensive lines.
We expect the first defensive subs off the bench to include Jeremiah Brown, Keaton Wade, Tavian Coleman, Gavriel Lightfoot and Ben Finneseth.
Offensively, we expect the first subs to include DeKalon Taylor, Isaiah Hardge, and Sav’ell Smalls.
Returning punts will be DeKalon Taylor or Quentin Gibson.
#8: BDS and Lightfoot
Other names that are continuing to draw praise from coaches are Brandon Davis-Swain (see our note on him from last week’s story, after which several other CU analysts praised his play — yes, we’re bragging) and Gavriel Lightfoot. Right now they are both playing in front Alabama transfer (and CU’s #1 off-season transfer per rankings) Jaheim Oatis.
#9: DJ McKinney Dominant
DJ McKinney had about as dominant a practice as a defensive back can have on Thursday, with 2 picks and a couple of pass breakups on long throws. This is great news for DJ, but potentially bad news for Salter and Lewis.
#10: Offensive Line Depth
CU’s depth at offensive line should pay dividends over the 2nd half of the season.
Coach Gunnar White has yet to publicly name a starting five. In fact, he said at his presser that “[w]e won’t have a solid five offensive linemen until game day just because of the competition in the room.” Later in the same interview, however, when asked about Larry Johnson III, White responded, “Johnson is a mauler. And the goal is to run the ball so we gotta have bodies like that. And with him, Kareem (Harden), and Zy (Crisler) and Xavier (Hill) and Jordan (Seaton), you name it, we’re in a pretty good spot.”
It sounds like he just named 4/5ths of week 1’s starters to us. [We expect Zarian McGill to start at center.]
#11: The State of Position Battles
We’ve heard Zarian McGill has pulled ahead of Cooper Lovelace in the race for the #1 center spot. We’ve also heard Teon Parks has pulled ahead of RJ Johnson at corner, but it’s close. Quincey Wiggins vs. Sam Okunlola is still too close to call at this point.
In all cases, the “loser” of the battle will still play material minutes.
#12: Come again?
Wide receivers coach Jason Phillips thinks CU may have as many as 11 (!) WRs that can play this fall. “I envision everybody in the room [playing]. Right now I feel real comfortable with probably 8-11 guys.”
My initial thought — CU has 11 wide receivers on its roster?!?!!
#13: Deion Sanders’ Biggest Mistake?
One of Deion Sanders’ mistakes when he arrived at CU was not keeping WR Jordyn Tyson around. Tyson has been projected to be a top 15 draft pick at Arizona State, and has publicly said that he wanted to stay in Boulder but felt unwanted after meeting with Sanders and other coaches. See https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6549329/2025/08/21/nfl-draft-2026-rankings-arch-manning-caleb-downs/ for more on his draft prospects.
While CU has a lot of talent and depth at WR, it sure would be nice to watch Tyson trot onto the field for the Buffs this fall.
14: Travis Hunter Back on Campus (sort of)
A Couple of Things You Should Know
→ Ross Dellenger (Yahoo). The SEC is moving to 9 games – what does that mean for college football? BuffsBlog thinks this is a precursor to the CFP expansion to 16 teams with the 5-11 format. It also means fewer Big 12 vs. SEC matchups in the future. Also, did you know that Ole Miss doesn’t have a non-conference game against a P4 team scheduled until 2032? Yahoo Sports
→ Pete Thamel (ESPN). Big 10 floating 24 or 28 teams for the College Football Playoff. BuffsBlog thinks this is the dumbest thing we’ve read since we stumbled onto HuskerMax.com last month. Dumb Corndogs. ESPN.com
→ Heather Dinich (ESPN): CFP selection committee to use enhanced metrics that includes strength of schedule. BuffsBlog now understands why the SEC agreed to move to 9 games. The Big 12’s lack of “kingmaker” teams means this change probably hurts CU when it comes to at-large spots. ESPN.com
→Pat Forde & Bryan Fischer (Sports Illustrated): CFP predictions with eight experimental scenarios for 2025. A fun read on how the 12-team bracket could break. Check out the “Revenge of the Pac 12” and the “Six Degrees of Saban” brackets. SI
→Kyle Bonagura/Mark Schlabach (ESPN): Preseason CFP & bowl projections. CU penciled in to the LA Bowl vs. UNLV. ESPN.com
Two More Things
First, BuffsBlog is looking for someone to write a weekly recap of the prior day’s CU game. If you are an aspiring (or established) journalist/writer, and — critically — are really good at writing, reach out to us at [email protected] (it’s the email address that explains that it’s an email address). Email address redundant much? The idea is that the recap would be posted the day after the game.
Second, If you’d like to stay in the loop with the BuffsBlog Blogosphere, may we recommend you grab a nice can of Dale’s Pale Ale and read the following preview of the Georgia Tech game?
Go Buffs!
Great stuff. Can’t wait til Friday!!!!
Also, you’ve set the bar pretty high for anyone to come in and write a weekly recap. Just saying.
Thanks. But I don’t think we’re quite Hemingway. Well, maybe George Hemingway but not Ernest Hemingway.
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If things go even halfway to plan, Juju won’t see the field Friday.
RJ will start at CB over Park.
J. Brown will not start at LB.
Finnseth is a ST guy unless someone gets hurt. Even then I would expect Hodge to shift to a more Safety-like role and T. Davis to slide into Hodge’s position.
Thanks Commander for the scoop!