CU’S PROJECTED 2025 DEFENSIVE STARTERS: IS CU’S DEFENSIVE LINE CU’S BEST IN LAST 20 YEARS? WHAT ABOUT LINEBACKERS? CAN SECONDARY BE BETTER WITHOUT TRAVIS HUNTER?

The BuffsBlog team has been busy talking to sources, watching YouTube videos of practice, and reading the tea leaves in preparation for today’s post about the projected starters for the 2025 season. But before we dive in, it’s important for Buff fans to know that that over 56% of the team’s players this fall will be players that are new to the program since last fall. This means that the majority of players that will play for Colorado this upcoming season have never played at Folsom Field before, never run behind Ralphie, and never seen CU fans pelt opposing fans with piss bombs and batteries. (That’s a joke for all the Corndog fans out there that actually know how to read). 

First, CU will run primarily a  4-2 nickel scheme – four down linemen, two linebackers, and five defensive backs — to combat the Big 12’s pass-heavy attacks. In this system, coach Robert Livingston’s staff will flip between an even front and an over front. In an even front, both defensive tackles line up as 3-techniques (on the outside shoulder of a guard) and each end plays on the outside shoulder of a tackle. In an over front, one tackle heads up the center or weak-side A-gap (“nose”), the other stays as a 3-tech, the strong-side end covers the tight end, and the weak-side end holds the outside shoulder of the tackle. Switching betwen alignments keeps offenses guessing. 

The nickel (5th DB) will be in nearly every snap as opponents go three-wide, slotting the base 4‑2 into what is essentially a 4-2-5 look for almost all of the game.

Projected Defensive Starters (4-2-5 Base)

• DE: Arden Walker (R-Senior), Sam Okunlola (Junior)
• DT: Amari McNeill (Senior), Anquin Barnes (Senior)
• LB: Martavius French (Graduate), Reginald Hughes (Senior)
• CB: DJ McKinney (Junior), Keon “Teon” Parks (Graduate)
• Slot: Preston Hodge (R- Senior) – uses fifth year (Pavia ruling)
• S: Carter Stoutmire (Junior), Tawfiq Byard (Sophomore)

Defensive Line

Amari McNeill was CU’s best defender in the front seven last year.

Colorado’s D-line is huge. BuffBlog staff noted during spring that the starters on the line (including Oatis as he’ll play starter minuets) average 6’4″, 315 lbs., something CU hasn’t had in years. And more bodies are rotating in to keep them fresh: FAU transfer Tavian Coleman (315 lbs.) and Fresno State vet Gavriel Lightfoot (310 lbs.) will spell them, along with Taurean Carter II (280 lbs.) and Tawfiq Thomas (300 lbs.). 

Defensive Ends: Arden Walker and Sam Okunlola will lead the pass rush. 

PFF metrics show that Arden Walker (6’2″ 250) played the 6th-most pass-rush snaps on the team last year but was 2nd in QB hurries. In the win at Arizona, Walker had three tackles, a sack, and an 86.5 PFF grade on just 21 snaps. Now as a full-time starter, he’s expected to blossom – we’ll be surprised if he doesn’t hit double-digit sacks this fall. In the first series of the spring game in April, Walker beat Jordan Seaton around the edge and sacked JuJu Lewis.  Walker didn’t play much in the spring game after his sack.

Sam Okunlola (6’4″ 250) started 10 games in 2024 and had 30 tackles, 7 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. He was a member of the CFN Big 12 Defensive Line of the Year. Okunlola struggled with injuries last year but he is healthy now. He and Walker form a strong 1-2 punch off the edges. 

Also playing a lot at defensive end will be Quincey Wiggins. The 6’5″ 265-pound LSU transfer started the spring game, and Deion Sanders has said that he’s taking a personal interest in Wiggins’ development because he believes he can be a high NFL draft pick.  Wiggins is a player with off-the-charts potential who needs to put the work in this off-season with the playbook to be able to play fast this fall.

Keaton Wade and true freshman London Merritt and Alexander McPherson will also play. In the spring game, while Merritt didn’t have a tackle, he didn’t look out of place (he almost nabbed Kaidon Salter for a sack) and in fact ran with the 1s for a period in the 2nd half. Alexander McPherson was all over the field on his snaps, and he finished with 3 tackles on the day. 

While losing Taje McCoy to Oklahoma State is not “good attrition,” but it’s not nearly as painful as it could have been without these two dynamic freshmen defensive ends. Also, we had concerns about McPherson only weighing 240 pounds. His play at the Spring Game alleviated some of those concerns.

Defensive Tackles: The interior is the strength of the unit.  

Amari McNeill (6’4″ 300) was CU’s best player on defense down the stretch last season outside of Travis Hunter. McNeill had 6.5 TFLs and was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week vs Texas Tech (9 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and Co-Defensive Player of the Week vs. Utah (3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss). McNeill, with a strong season, could be a 2^nd or 3^rd round NFL draft pick next year. 

While McNeill will draw a number of double-teams this season, enter Anquin Barnes Jr. (6’5″ 340). At 340 lbs. — up 25 pounds from last year — Barnes is very stout against the run and sources say he’s learned to push the pocket on pass plays. He had 13 tackles (8 solo) last year and even snagged the first DT INT for Colorado since 2008. Insiders have told BuffsBlog that Barnes may be the most improved player on CU’s roster. 

Also playing starters’ minutes will be Alabama Transfer Jaheim Oatis. Oatis had 52 career tackles at Alabama. The 6’5″ 325-pound tackle could also be a day 2 NFL draft pick. Gavriel Lightfoot and Tavian Coleman both would be starters most years for CU. Lightfoot started 28 games for Fresno State and is 6’3 310 pounds while Coleman started 26 games for Texas State and is 6’1″ 300 pounds.   We believe Coleman and Lightfoot both will play regularly, allowing CU to continually rotate fresh bodies in on the defensive line.  This is an advantage that typically only the “big boys” of college football (Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, LSU) have had.  

The one issue that CU will have to deal with on the defensive line is limited minutes. There are only so many minutes to be allocated among a group that should be the best defensive line at CU in many years. There were moments in the spring game that Oatis was visibly pissed off at the coaches that he wasn’t playing with the 1s.  This is something to watch.  

Linebackers

Martavius French will lead the linebacker room.

Colorado’s 4-2 front only calls for two off-ball inside linebackers, but they’ll need to be playmakers. We’ve been outspoken that we believe CU’s linebackers last year were below average Big 12 linebackers, primarily due to a complete inability to cover tight ends and running backs in the passing game. It’s an open question as to whether this year’s linebackers will be better, although we strongly believe Martavius French has a chance to be a high caliber starter if he stays healthy. 

Martavius French (ILB): French (6’2″, 225) is a UTSA transfer who led the Roadrunners in tackles in 2024. French piled up 80 tackles and 17 TFL at UTSA, earning second-team All-AAC recognition. French’s 80-tackle figure led UTSA (and would’ve led the Big 12 if he’d been on a Big 12 roster). French had significantly higher Pro Football Focus grades than LaVonta Bentley and Hill-Green did in 2024, highlighting his coverage and tackling prowess. He’s an aggressive downhill hitter. 

There is reason to be concerned, however. In spring camp, French punched teammate Tyler Brown during practice. More concerningly, however, he was suspended at Tennessee in 2021 for a campus drug incident (marijuana possession) and missed about 3 weeks at UTSA last year for “personal misconduct”. Colorado needs French to stay out of trouble and on the field.   On the upside, he was BuffBlog’s highest-graded defender in the spring game (with 4 solo stops and a TFL). He’ll be a leader on the defense if he is on the field.

Reginald Hughes (ILB): Hughes (6’1″, 230 lbs.) is the other inside linebacker, a transfer from Jacksonville State (C-USA) and Ole Miss. A true football nomad, he started at Northwest Mississippi CC (where he was the #1 JUCO LB in the nation) before playing at Ole Miss and then JSU. At Jax State in 2024 he became a force: 83 tackles and 4.5 sacks, first-team All-CUSA.  In limited action at Ole Miss (2022–23) he had 9 tackles total. A former JUCO pass rusher turned ILB, Hughes brings instincts and upside.

Colorado will rotate Highes with TCU transfer Kylan Salter to keep fresh legs. Kylan Salter is the younger brother of QB Kaidon Salter and the first guy to get off the bus for away games (Kylan hasn’t missed many arm days in the gym).  Kylan is a transfer who spent last year at TCU. Salter showed up at the spring game full of fight: he logged 4 tackles, 1 TFL and a QB sack. (He also had one missed tackle on third-and-20 that led to a first down catch by Zach Atkins, but we’ll chalk that up to growing pains.) With three years of eligibility left, Salter is a high-upside player who will get run in nickel/dime packages or if a starter goes down. If French or Hughes limp, expect Salter to be the next man up.

Secondary

DJ McKinney is the next high draft choice from CU.

The secondary will have to rebuild some star power after losing Travis Hunter and Shilo Sanders (to the NFL) and Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig (eligibility). But there’s talent: redshirt-junior DJ McKinney is the top cornerback now, and CU added a few plus-level transfers at corner and safety. The projected starters at CB are DJ McKinney and Teon Parks, with Preston Hodge in the nickel/slot role. At safety the starters are Carter Stoutmire and Tawfiq Byard, with veteran RJ Johnson (Arkansas transfer) able to slide into any spot in the secondary as needed. Johnson will play a lot this fall. 

Cornerbacks and Slot

DJ McKinney (CB) is the superstar of this group. McKinney, a transfer from Oklahoma State, quietly emerged in 2024: he had 62 tackles, 3 interceptions, 9 PBUs, and 3 TFL last season. He played the most defensive snaps of any Buff (840) and PFF gave him a 75.3 coverage grade. Opposing QBs had a paltry 58.1 passer rating against him. Now that Hunter is gone, McKinney is the #1 CB. NFL Draft chatter already has him as a first-round pick in 2026; NFL.com had him going 15th overall in an early mock. At 6’2″ with long arms and speed, he checks every box. Expect an All-American season from McKinney.

Keon Parks (CB) is a big addition to the secondary from Illinois State. Parks was a PFF darling at ISU – graded as their top defender in 2024 – and for good reason. On 729 coverage snaps, opposing QBs completed only 37.8% of throws targeted to him. He led the Missouri Valley with 11 pass breakups and added 60 total tackles in 2024. Parks (6’1″, 180) has ball skills and length, and he’ll compete for the outside CB job (sources have said he, Tyrecus Davis and RJ Johnson will all play material minutes at the 2^nd corner position). Parks instantly makes CU’s corner group a strong group, one that is even stronger with recent Wyoming transfer Tyrecus Davis. 

Preston Hodge (Slot CB) returns to Boulder for a rare sixth year thanks to the NCAA Deigo Pavia junior college eligibility ruling (the same ruling that allowed Wyoming tranfser Tyecrus Davis, Hodge’s teammate in junior college, an extra year of eligibility). He was a plus-graded boundary CB last year, but his natural position is slot/nickel – where superstar Travis Hunter often lined up. Hodge, at 5’11″, 195 lbs., is a natural slot corner.  Sports Illustrated recently noted that Hodge could have been a late round NFL draft pick last year if he’d left for the NFL, but Hodge is returning the try to further boost his draft stock. DC Rob Livingston calls Hodge “the straw that stirs the drink” of CU’s defense. Given Livingston’s praise and Hodge’s decision to come back to show that he can be an NFL caliber slot corner, expect an all-Big 12 caliber season from him.

Other Cornerbacks:  RJ Johnson (6’2″, 185) played every game in 2024 but mostly on special teams. He had 9 total tackles (5 solo) last year, but more impressively he led the team with 212 special-teams snaps – the classic “Jack-of-all-trades” hybrid. Johnson can slide into safety or corner if needed and was said to be one of the most improved players on the roster this spring. Also in the mix is Tyrecus Davis, a 5’9″ Wyoming grad transfer. Davis is scrappy: in two years as a Cowboy he had 60 tackles, 2 INT, 15 PBUs, 3 FF, and even a blocked field goal. Per PFF he was Wyoming’s top graded corner in 2023 and second-best in 2024. He typically drew the opponent’s #1 receiver. With that veteran resume, expect Davis to push for nickel snaps and sub packages. 

Safeties

Carter Stoutmire (S): Stoutmire started 7 games in 2024 (three at safety, four at nickel) and had 42 tackles, 7 PBUs, two 3rd-down stops and even a forced fumble. Stoutmire was especially sure-handed in coverage – 7 pass breakups is near the top of the team. Colorado’s coaches appreciate his ball skills and flexibility. In addition, he played 167 special-teams snaps last year, so he’s battle-tested. Now full-time at safety, Stoutmire’s corner experience gives CU flexibility (he can roam or cover depending on the look). He projects as a future NFL draft pick. 

Tawfiq Byard (S): Byard (6’1″, 195) arrives from South Florida to round out the safety tandem. He’s a ballhawk safety with a downhill style. In two years at USF, he played 16 games (10 starts) and piled up 59 tackles, 8 TFL, 2 INT, and 1 forced fumble. He’s not literally Troy Polamalu, but BuffBlog likes to compare his hitting style to a young Polamalu – flying up to the line or to the sideline to meet ballcarriers. Byard’s athleticism (a former track standout) helps him run with tight ends and RBs. Byard is penciled in as the strong safety (in box), giving support against the run. The plan is for Byard and Stoutmire to form a switch-hitting pair at safety. 

Other Safeties: The most notable newcomer is John Slaughter, a 6’2″ Tennessee grad transfer. Slaughter was a backup at Tennessee (23 games) but made a splash last year: in 2024 he had 56 defensive snaps, 6 tackles and 1 interception, and earned a 66.5 PFF grade (above average for his limited role). He brings size and special-teams grit. CU also has freshman TJ Branch (Miami Northwestern product). Branch (6’3″, 170) had a terrific spring game with 2 tackles and an interception, earning BuffBlog’s second-highest secondary grade in the scrimmage. He’s currently light and raw, but his length and speed intrigue coaches. If injuries pile up, Branch could be a surprise contributor. 

How the Pieces Fit Together

CU’s projected starters are a blend of experience, talent, and analytics-backed production. Arden Walker’s pass-rush prowess and Sam Okunlola’s veteran presence will lead the edges. The big interior trio (McNeill, Barnes, Oatis) could be the strongest front in years; BuffsBlog has written extensively on the size of CU’s team, but we can’t remember any CU team having the size and depth at defensive line that this year’s team will have. French and Hughes are still a question mark — while they’ve had success at lower levels, the question is whether they can prove their mettle at a Big 12 level. The secondary looks strong – McKinney’s All-American-grade coverage (75.3 PFF), Parks’ lockdown IRL (37.8% completion allowed), plus Hodge and the safeties all bode well. Losing Colton Hood is not a positive, but getting Parks and Davis to transfer in late in the spring portal was a great development. 

Overall, CU should have one of the best defenses that we’ve seen in Boulder in many years.  It remains to be seen whether the offense can be nearly as prolific as last year’s offense, but the defense should take a big step forward.