We’re coming up on the one-year mark of BuffsBlog, and I wanted to say a quick thank you. What started as something to tinker with while I was working on a novel — and after 25 years in corporate law — has turned into a project I genuinely enjoy (and don’t worry, we’ll get to the CU football transfer talk momentarily — including a discussion of Sacramento State DT DeSean Watts, pictured here!)
Over the last year, a few national outlets have reached out and asked if I’d write for them. I’m grateful for that, but I like writing here. I like the freedom (writing a post like the story on the Coloardo Mesa vs. South Dakota Mines D2 football game, which elicited a call from Colorado Mesa’s President and the post being distributed to all of CMU’s students and faculty, is one example of the freedom I have here). Primarily, though, I like talking Colorado football and CU sports and doing so in hopefully a smart and nuanced way.
BuffsBlog has always aimed to provide honest analysis with a little humor. This is not the place for hot takes. We love the Buffs, but we try to keep our heads on straight. We’re also fully independent — no CU media ties, no paywalls, no sponsored messaging. We are not part of the CU Sponsored State Media. We’re a site for fans who want something that is hopefully a bit smarter than the usual noise.
If you enjoy the site, the best way to help it grow is easy. Share posts, comment when you feel like it, and pass it along to other CU fans. I’d also like to hear what you want more of — recruiting notes, film breakdowns, a message board (gulp), additional writers? Please let me know.
On that note, we’re looking to add a few contributors. If you’re interested in writing about CU sports – and you’re a really good writer – shoot me an email at [email protected] (yes, it’s an email address that explains that it’s an email address.
Thank you for reading, supporting and being part of BuffsBlog’s first year. I’m excited to see where the next year takes us.
If you like the site, here are a few easy ways to support it:
- Share posts with other CU fans
- Join the conversation in the comments
- Tell us what features you’d like to see next
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Some of the best stuff I’ve read this week:
–Dan Wetzel at EPSN hit the nail on the head regarding the problem with private equity in college sports. As someone that has worked with and against private equity shops for 25 years, this is the smartest and most intelligent take on the issue that non-profit universities will have when dealing with private equity groups. [As an aside, I strongly suspect that Otro Capital offered CU the same kind of deal they offered Utah. My guess is that Rick George decided to pass on the offer for now, knowing that CU’s next AD should be the one making these kinds of decisions.]
–The Athletic’s football staff put together a list of the 5 toughest jobs in college football. Spoiler alert: Colorado isn’t listed. But it’s an interesting look at schools that have had a difficult time adjusting to the new realities of college football. ($)
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6840051/2025/12/11/college-football-toughest-coaching-jobs-vacancies/?source=user_shared_article
The Wall Street Journal takes a fascinating look at how Ukraine’s “Operation Spiderweb” attack on Russia was pulled off. The high-tech gadgets and good luck required to pull off the operation is straight out of a Mission: Impossible movie. ($)
Potential Incoming Transfers:
Sacramento State WR Ernest Campbell combines world class track speed with a detailed knowledge of Brennan Marion’s Go-Go Offense.
OK, let’s get to what you’re probably most interested in.
I’ve been on the phone for the last two days asking sources about potential incoming transfers for CU.
The short answer is that Colorado is in plenty of conversations with potential transfers, but nothing is guaranteed until a player actually signs. NIL has made that reality even sharper. We saw it in the last recruiting cycle — players often commit, then back out when a bigger NIL offer shows up somewhere else.
And just to be clear, this isn’t unique to CU. Every program in college football is dealing with the same thing. CU has even flipped a few recruits of its own by coming in with a better NIL offer after those players had told other coaches they were headed somewhere else.
Despite this dynamic, however, there are several names that I’ve heard have a good chance of landing at CU. They’re all former Sacramento State players that presumably would follow Brennan Marion to Boulder. Here’s a quick rundown on those players, each of whom has already entered the transfer portal:
—Sacramento State RB Damian Henderson. The junior-to-be Henderson has Colorado ties, having transferred from CSU to Sacramento State last year. At Sacramento State this past season, Henderson rushed for 565 yards and 5 TDs, averaging 6+ yards per carry.
Henderson is a power back at 6’2” 215 pounds. Henderson’s PFF grade of 73.5 last season was materially above average (CU’s highest graded running back last was Simeon Price, who had a 69.3 PFF grade). BuffsBlog expects Price to return next season FWIW.
—Sacramento State DL DeSean Watts. The 6’2”, 318 pound Watts has the 4th highest PFF grade among all Division 1 interior linemen this year (including both FCS and FBS players) at 89.0. Watts, a junior-to-be, is a fantastic run stuffer and could help transform CU’s defensive line.
This past season, he had 36 tackles and 2 sacks. His best game was probably against Nevada, where he had 7 solo tackles (a huge number for an interior defensive linemen.)
Prior to his time at Sacramento State, Watts played one year at Fresno City JC.
—Sacramento State CB Jason Oliver. This is a funny one – the senior-to-be Jason Oliver transferred away from CU after the Deion Sanders “Louis Vitton” meeting, ending up at Sacramento State. While playing in the Big Sky, however, Oliver blossomed.
This past season, the 6’ 175-pound Oliver had 36 tackles and 2 interceptions this year and earned First Team All-Big Sky honors. He recorded an 81.4 PFF grade and held WRs to a 41.9% catch rate. [As a point of reference, last year’s best defensive back for the Buffs, Tawfiq Byard, had a 74.9 PFF grade.]
—Sacramento State WR Ernest Campbell. If Campbell joins CU’s team, he’ll probably become the 2nd fastest player in CU football history (behind Cliff Branch, who ran a 10.0 second 100-meter dash in 1972.)
The 5’9, 145 pound Campbell ran track at Texas A&M during his freshman year and ran a 10.02 100-meter dash at the NCAA West First Round meet. That is world class track speed, and he was named an All-American in track.
At Sacramento State last year, the jitterbug Campbell had 37 catches for 755 yards and 8 TDs (an average of over 20 yards per catch). In Brennan Marion’s Go-Go offense, where the wide receivers are often trying to take the top off the defense, a player with Campbell’s speed would create headaches for defenses.
Campbell had the 2nd highest PFF grade last season among offensive regulars for the Hornets (with an overall grade of 84.1). His pass catching PFF grade of 89.6 is elite. Campbell was named to the FCS Football Central Freshman All-American Team this year.
If you’d like to read more from BuffsBlog, check out these:
What does the Go-Go offense look like with a non-running QB?
Want to read about CU’s defensive recruiting class that just signed? Check out:
Long time commenter — I just wanted to say thank you for this site. It’s fantastic. I’d love to see a message board that follows the same “no hot takes” style of this board, but I don’t know if that’s possible. Anyway, thanks for all of your work over the last year!
Thanks Erich – I appreciate you!
Send a blast reading through the articles over the past year. You have done a great job! Best of luck in year 2!!
Thanks Vince! Hope you’re well!