AHEAD OF CU BUFFS’ FALL CAMP, 35 THOUGHTS ON THE TEAM’S DEFENSIVE PLAYERS

BuffsBlog is back from a trip to Alaska (Glacier Bay is one of those few places in the world that will literally take your breath away), and we’re back to our coverage of the Buffs!

CU begins their third fall camp under head Deion Sanders tomorrow, the first steps toward a season that comes questions after the loss of Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.

Ahead of camp, wee have compiled one thought (or series of thoughts) for each of the Buffs’ 35 scholarship defensive players on the current roster. A companion piece on the team’s offensive players ran earlier – check it out at https://buffsblog.com/ahead-of-cu-buffs-fall-camp-38-thoughts-on-the-teams-offensive-players/.

Let’s jump right into the list, which is arranged by position group to give readers a sense as to depth at various positions.  

CB RJ Johnson. Johnson (6’2″, 185 pounds) played every game in 2024 but mostly played 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. He had a 66.8 PFF grade last year, which is slightly above average.  However, sources have indicated that he’s taken a leap this off-season and is one of the most improved players on the roster this spring. He will compete with Teon Parks and Tyrecus Davis for the 2^nd corner job, but all 3 will play starter minutes given CU’s propensity to play (and routinely rotate) 5 DBs on almost every defensive snap.  

CB DJ McKinney.  The best player on the team.  McKinney, a transfer from Oklahoma State, 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.

CB Makari Vickers.  Vickers underwent heart surgery earlier this year but is expected back for fall camp.  Vickers spent his first 2 seasons at Oklahoma before transferring to CU last year.  While at Oklahoma, Vickers appeared in 12 games over 2 seasons but missed time due to injury.  Vickers can play outside as a corner, he can play safety, and he can play slot.  If healthy, he could find playing time in the secondary but just seeing him on the football practice field this season will be a win.

CB Teon Parks. Parks was a PFF darling at Illinois State – 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). 

CB Preston Hodge.  Hodge, at 5’11″, 195 pounds, 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 to 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 in the slot.

CB Tyrecus Davis.  A 5’9″ Wyoming grad transfer, Davis is very 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 playing time at both the #2 corner spot and in the slot behind Preston Hodge.  

S Tawfiq Byard.  Byard (6’1″, 195 pounds) arrives from South Florida and is a projected starter at safety. 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 of scrimmage 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 (in box) safety. The plan, per CU coaches, is for Byard and Stoutmire to both be able to play strong and free safety. 

S Noah King.  The true freshman transfer (he was an early enrollee at Kansas State and smartly transferred out of Manhattan after spring practice / as quickly as he could) is a 6’2″ 200 pound cornerback. King was the #218 player nationally and the #26 ranked cornerback per 247 Sports. He committed to Kansas State out of high school over offers from the Corndogs, West Virginia, Kentucky and 9 other schools. He was the 2nd highest rated commit in Kansas State’s 2024 class. King hit 22.10 miles per hour this spring with the Wildcats, so he has very good top-end speed. 

S John Slaughter.  Slaughter is a 6’2″ Tennessee grad transfer with a fantastic name. 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.  We expect that he’ll be the third safety and provide key depth to the safety room.  

S Terrance Love.  Love was a 4-star player coming out of high school and was ranked among the top 300 players in the country. He committed to Auburn over offers from Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame and more. Love spent 2 seasons at Auburn but didn’t crack the lineup outside of special teams and only had 8 tackles in his career. While Love was ranked the #1 safety in the transfer portal, it’s hard to project him into a meaningful role this upcoming season given his lack of previous playing time at safety. However, he is a great athlete and has tremendous size for the position. 

S TJ “Antonio” Branch.  If the spring game was any indication, TJ Branch Jr. might be the most underrated true freshman on the roster. BuffsBlog’s staff graded him out as the second-best defensive back in the Spring Game, which speaks volumes for a newcomer. His instincts and range were evident; he always seemed to be around the ball.  At 6’3” but only ~175 lbs, his main needs are adding muscle and learning the complexities of college defenses. The Buffs’ defensive backfield has plenty of bodies – multiple safeties with starting experience and some veteran transfers are in the mix.  However, Branch has already inserted himself into the conversation for material playing time this fall. 

S Carter Stoutmire.  Stoutmire is one of the projected starters, along with Tawfiq Byard, at safety for CU.  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 had a 72.4 rating on PFF last year, which grades him out as a “plus starter.”  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. 

S Ben Finneseth.  Finneseth is a fan favorite due to his quirky personality on Well Off’s YouTube channel as well as his “Original Buff” background.  During his time in Boulder, Finneseth has seen limited action on defense, primarily contributing on special teams.  We expect him to be a very good special teams player and to add depth to the safety room.  

LB Martavius French.  French (6’2″, 225 pounds) is a UTSA transfer who led the Roadrunners in tackles in 2024. French piled up 80 tackles and 17 TFL at UTSA (80 tackles would’ve led the Big 12 if he’d been on a Big 12 roster). French had a significantly higher Pro Football Focus grade than LaVonta Bentley and Hill-Green did in 2024, highlighting his coverage and tackling prowess. He’s an aggressive downhill hitter.  CU needs to make sure he stays out of trouble – French 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.” French was BuffBlog’s highest-graded defender in the spring game (with 4 solo stops and a TFL). He’ll be the team’s best LB if he can stay on the field. 

LB Mantrez Walker.  The 6’1”, 230-pound inside linebacker from Georgia powerhouse Buford was one of Deion Sanders’ earliest 2025 commits (he decommitted from Michigan to join CU). His commitment video to Michigan is an all-time commitment video as he commits while getting his haircut. Walker is a thumper who was first-team all-region three years in a row at Buford and helped lead his team to the state semifinals (where they lost to Julian Lewis’s Carrollton squad). In limited spring game action, Walker flashed a glimpse of his ability with a nice open-field tackle in 7-on-7 drills, showing he can track sideline to sideline. With several veterans ahead of him, Walker may not play a lot this season (absent injuries) but he’s a name to watch in the future.  

LB Kylan Salter.  Kylan 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.

LB Jeremiah Brown.  Brown entered the transfer portal briefly this off-season before returning to Boulder. He has played for Deion Sanders since 2021 when the two were together at Jackson State. In two years at Colorado, he has seen most of his action on special teams.   Brown had 4 tackles last year but is pushing for more playing time and has had a “good spring,” per a source. We expect Brown to be a great special teams player for CU this fall.

LB Shaun Myers.  Myers is a gritty linebacker transfer from North Alabama. He committed to CU after 3 seasons in the FCS with the Lions, where he served as team captain.  At 6’1” 220 pounds, Myers isn’t the most physically imposing player but he’s an intelligent player that can diagnose plays quickly. In all likelihood, absent real injury problems, Myers will be a special teams player for the Buffs.  

LB Reginald Hughes.  Hughes (6’1″, 230 pounds) is the other likely inside linebacker starter in addition to French. 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 (his 83 tackles would’ve led the Big 12 if Hughes was on a Big 12 roster).  In limited action at Ole Miss (2022–23) he had 9 tackles total.  Hughes looked good in the spring game.

DE London Merritt.  Merritt comes to Boulder as one of Deion Sanders’ highest-rated defensive recruits. He was ESPN’s No. 5 defensive end prospect in the nation for 2025 and flipped to Colorado after initially pledging to Ohio State. At 6’3” 255 lbs, Merritt is a powerful edge rusher who will eventually terrorize Big 12 quarterbacks. The challenge for Merritt isn’t talent; it’s depth at his position. Colorado’s defensive line, especially at defensive end, is loaded with experience. Both starting edge defenders return: Arden Walker and Sam Okunlola are back after strong 2024 seasons, and there are several upperclassmen in the two-deep. Still, Merritt will play in 2025.  

DE Arden Walker.  PFF metrics show that Arden Walker (6’2″ 250 pounds) played the 6th-most pass-rush snaps on the team last year but was 2nd in QB hurries and led the Big 12 with the highest percentage pass rush “win rate.” 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 easily beat Jordan Seaton around the edge and sacked JuJu Lewis.  Walker didn’t play much in the spring game after his sack — he proved he was ready for the fall.  

DE Samuel Okunlola.  Okunlola (6’4″ 250 pounds) started 10 games in 2024 for Colorado 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 and had a 68.5 score on PFF for the year, which is above average. Okunlola struggled with injuries last year but he is healthy now. He and Walker form a really strong 1-2 punch off the edges. 

DE Nikhil Webb Walker.  Walker missed most of last season dealing with lymphoma.  He officially rejoined the team for summer workouts in early June, a welcome site for CU players and fans.  His return could be a defining moment for a team that rallied around him and now welcomes him back as both a contributor but, more importantly, as a symbol of resilience.  

DE Keaton Wade.  Wade is an athletic freak, having been timed at 4.45 seconds in the 40 yard dash despite being 6’4” 240 pounds.  After 2 seasons at Kentucky, where he played in 26 games and recorded 51 tackles and 2.5 sacks, Wade played for CU last season.  He rolled up a 74.1 PFF score in limited snaps.  Like Arden Walker, it’s fair to expect much larger contributions from Wade this fall as his snap count goes up. We expect Wade to be the top backup edge and to play a lot of minutes as the #3 edge.  

DE Alexander McPherson.  McPherson is a 6’6”, 240-lb defensive end from IMG Academy. He was a late flip to CU (decommitting from Oklahoma State) and only a three-star by rankings, but he might end up as a steal. McPherson led the powerhouse IMG squad in sacks (9) and tackles for loss (14) in his senior year, showcasing a quick first step and great length off the edge. In spring practices, he showed a relentless motor in pass-rush drills, earning occasional mentions from coaches for his effort. Physically, McPherson still needs to fill out his lanky frame to battle college offensive tackles, but you can’t teach his frame. He’s 2nd/3rd on the depth chart right now.  Still, McPherson’s trajectory is promising and McPherson has the tools to be a force down the line.

DE Brandon Davis-Swain.  Davis-Swain played in 2 games last season (his true freshman year).  Davis-Swain has gained 45 pounds in his time at CU, moving from a 245 pound edge to a 290 pound 3-technique.  In limited snaps last year, he had a PFF score of 64, which is slightly above average.  Unfortunately for Davis-Swain, CU doesn’t play a scheme that uses a lot of 3-tech DEs. Davis-Swain will continue to grow and add strength this season, and will be a candidate for more playing time next year but probably at defensive tackle. Coming out of West Bloomfield High School, he was ranked the #233 nationally by 247 and the #101 player nationally by rivals. 

DE 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. While he started the spring game, our expectation is that he is the #4 edge this fall.

DT Anquin Barnes Jr.  At 340 lbs. — up 25 pounds from last year — Barnes Jr. 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 this fall.  In the spring, Barnes Jr. was running ahead of Alabama transfer Jehiem Oatis. We expect that Oatis and Barnes battle for the starting defensive tackle/nose guard spot opposite Amari McNeill. CU’s defensive line could be very, very good folks.  

DT Tavian Coleman.  Coleman, a 6’1″ 300-pound tackle, started 26 games for Texas State over the last 2 seasons.  We believe Coleman will play regularly, allowing CU to continually rotate fresh bodies in on the defensive line.  Coleman registered a 72.4 PFF score last year, putting him in the “plus-starter” category and he is a particularly strong run defender.  Coleman would be a slam dunk starter at CU most years — the fact that he’ll be coming off the bench speaks volumes about CU’s depth on the defensive line.

DT Tawfiq Thomas.  Thomas is a 6’4” 300-pound defensive tackle that played in all 13 games last year for the Buffs.  He finished with 18 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack.  He transferred to CU from Louisville, where he played 22 games across his 2 seasons.  Thomas plays for probably the deepest position group at CU, but will see some action this fall.  

DT Christian Hudson.  At 6’1” 300 pounds, Hudson is a stout defensive tackle from Mainland High in Daytona Beach. He was a three-star who flipped to Colorado from UCF and was a 2025 early enrollee. Hudson put up eye-popping numbers for a D-lineman – he had 27 tackles for loss in both his junior and senior seasons, consistently blowing up run plays in the backfield. He’s strong at the point of attack and, thanks to a strong high school wrestling background, plays with good leverage. However, the defensive tackle spot may be the deepest on the team so Hudson may be a redshirt candidate. 

DT Amari McNeill.  McNeill (6’4″ 300 pounds) 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 2nd day NFL draft pick next year. Folks have slept on McNeill for a while now — it’s time to realize he’s a difference maker on the defensive line.  

DT Taurean Carter II.  Carter is a 6’3” 303-pound tackle that played in the first 2 games last year before missing the rest of the 2024 season due to injury.  He is a transfer from Arkansas, where he played in 33 games and made 5 starts. At Arkansas, Carter had a 57 PFF score his final season.  If Carter is healthy this year, he can contribute on the defensive line and give CU even more depth to a loaded position group. 

DT Jehiem Oatis.  Also playing starters’ minutes at DT with McNeill and Barnes Jr. will be Alabama transfer Jaheim Oatis. Oatis had 52 career tackles at Alabama and he started 13 games for the Crimson Tide. The 6’5″ 325-pound tackle could (along with McNeill and Barnes Jr.) be a day 2 NFL draft pick. Oatis was ranked the #1 defensive player in the transfer portal this past off-season, and has 2 years of eligibility remaining. While Oatis only had a PFF score of 54 last year, which was below average, in 2022 and 2023 his scores were 65.4 and 75.4, respectively, both above average. While we think ranking Oatis the #1 defensive player in the portal might be…..a little generous, he’s a good player that will give CU significant talent and ability up front.

DT Gavriel Lightfoot.  Lightfoot, a 6’3” 310-pound senior, started 28 games for Fresno State.   Lightfoot had a PFF grade of 56.9, putting him slightly below average as a starter.  Lightfoot will push for playing time with the 2^nd group (with Coleman, Carter, Thomas and the freshmen), 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.