GIANT Transfer Portal Update: Colonoscopies and the Transfer Portal

The universe sometimes has a sick sense of humor.

On Monday night, while I was preparing for my colonoscopy the next morning, I learned that Jordan Seaton – Colorado’s crown jewel offensive tackle that started the minute he walked onto the field in Boulder – announced that he was entering the transfer portal.

I realized in that moment that the transfer portal is just a colonoscopy for programs: uncomfortable, invasive, and mostly about discovering surprises you didn’t ask for. 

Pass me some more clear liquids, please.  

Seaton’s departure is further proof that college football today is professional football.  Players that profess to love a school and its coaches will come and go every single year based not on loyalty but on money and opportunity.  Furthermore, players don’t actually go to school because much, if not all, of the college coursework is done online.  The days of really knowing the players and having shared campus experiences is largely over.

And college football is worse off because of this.  I sometimes like to read message boards across the country.  Never have I seen fanbases more discouraged or dismayed than right now. 

 Now, for some truth about CU football.

Jordan Seaton was overrated.  This isn’t sour grapes – I’ve written many times that Zarian McGill was CU’s best offensive lineman last year.  Kareem Harden was as good, if not better, than Seaton.  PFF grades bear this out —  Seaton’s PFF grade last year was 65.8, slightly above average but materially behind McGill (72.6 PFF grade) and Harden (69 PFF grade).  He was a very strong pass blocker but a below average run blocker.

He’s not worth $2.5m+ in today’s economic environment.

But it still sucks to lose him.  He was, along with Juju Lewis, the face of CU’s football program.  He was a player that was entering his 3^rd year with the program.  He was an unquestioned leader.  

And now Seaton is gone.  

Thankfully, my colonoscopy came with anesthesia.   In contrast, the transfer portal makes you feel everything.

“New” Incoming Transfers – Those Committing Since Friday’s Update

Tenneessee safety Boo Carter could be a difference maker in CU’s secondary.

“New” Defensive Transfers

S Randon Fontenette (Vanderbilt)

Fontenette had 52 tackles and 1 interception last season for the Commodores, where he was a team captain. In the 2024 season, he had 73 tackles.  He finished the season with a slightly above average 67.9 PFF grade, good for 13^th among Vandy defenders that played more than 100 snaps.  

The 6’2” 220-pound Fontenette will play linebacker for CU on passing downs as he has a lot of positional flexibility.  Prior to his time at Vandy, Fontenette spent 1 year at TCU.  

S Boo Carter (Tennessee)

Carter was a member of the 2024 SEC All-Freshman Team selection as a defensive back and return specialist, but was dismissed from the program in November after several run-ins with coaches. Carter is now heading to CU, the team that was involved in his recruitment out of high school and linked to him through his rocky relationship with Tennessee.  When properly motivated, Carter is an above average safety and could be one of the most dangerous punt returners in college football.  In 2024, Carter averaged 16.5 yards on 12 punt returns with six returns of 20+ yards.  

Carter finished the 2025 season with a 64.7 PFF grade, good for 14^th among Tennessee defenders that played more than 100 snaps.  

DL Ezra Christensen (New Mexico State)

The 6’2” 280-pound Christensen will bring explosiveness to CU’s interior defense.  Christensen finished this past season with an 87 PFF grade, the third highest grade for interior defenders this past season.  He is a superior inside pass rusher, finishing the season with 42 tackles, 28 QB hurries, 6 QB sacks, and 6 additional QB hits.  

Christensen was named a 1^st Team All-American by PFSN and was 1^st Team All Conference USA.  He committed to CU over offers by Notre Dame and Washington, among other schools.   

DL Sedrick Smith (Maryland)

The 6’4” 320-pound Smith will bring some much needed size to CU’s defensive front.  CU will be Smith’s 4^th college, after stints at South Carolina State, Alabama A&M and Maryland.  Last fall for the Terrapins, Smith appeared in all 12 games, mostly on special teams. He accumulated seven tackles in contests against Michigan, Wisconsin, UCLA, Rutgers and Northern Illinois.

Smith had a below-average 56.5 PFF grade last season at Maryland.  He has 2 years of eligibility remaining.  

DL Vili Taufatofua (San Jose State)

Taufatofua finished the 2025 season with 34 tackles and 3 sacks, earning All-Mountain West Honorable Mention recognition.  Prior to his season at San Jose State, he spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons at Utah where he didn’t play very much. 

The 6’3” 260-pounder had a 71.7 PFF grade last year.  

DB Emory Floyd (Appalachian State)

Floyd, a 6’1 195-pound cornerback, had 35 tackles and 1 interception last year for App State.  Prior to the 2025 season at App State, he spent 3 years at South Carolina where he played in a total of 7 contests.  

He finished the season with a 69.5 PFF grade, good for 12^th among App State’s defenders that played more than 100 snaps last year.  Floyd was honorable mention All-Sun Belt this past year.  

“New” Offensive Transfers

Sacramento State guard Jose Soto will add depth and size to CU’s interior offensive line.

WR DeAndre Moore Jr.

Moore immediately will inject big plays into CU’s offense.  The 4-star transfer had 38 catches for 532 yards last year for the Longhorns.  In 2024, he had 39 catches for 456 yards.  Moore runs a 4.42 40-yard dash and he was ranked the 15^th best WR in college football last season by NFL Draft Buzz.  

Moore had the 6^th highest PFF grade among Texas’ offensive players with a 71.1 grade. 

OL Bo Hughley (Georgia)

Hughley played in 20 games for Georgia over the past 2 seasons and CU fans should expect him to start in place of Jordan Seaton.  The 6’7” 300-pounder started 2 games for Georgia this past season and was the primary backup swing tackle for the Bulldogs.  He had a 62.1 PFF grade last season, ranking 16^th among Georgia offensive players that played more than 100 snaps.  

OL Jose Soto (Sacramento State)

The 6’3” 320-pound Soto started 11 games last season for Sacramento State at guard.  Soto had a 66 PFF grade last season for the Hornets, the 2^nd highest among Sacramento State’s offensive linemen.  Soto has 2 years of eligibility remaining.  

OL Demetrius Hunter (Houston)

Hunter is a 6’2” 320-pound center that has started 16 games for Houston over the last 2 seasons.  Hunter has 2 years of eligibility remaining and will be the likely starter at center for Colorado.  Hunter had a below average 59.7 PFF grade last season for the Cougars.  

TE Fischer Clements (Northern Colorado)

The 6’7” 265 pound Fischer Clements saw action in 9 games this past season for the Bears, finishing with 4 catches for 27 yards on the season.  He has one year of eligibility remaining.  Clements had an awful 42.7 PFF grade last season for the Bears.  

QB Kaneal Sweetwyne

Kaneal Sweetwyne is a member of the class of 2026 – so he’s not technically a transfer but see the next sentence — and he committed to CU over offers from NC State, BYU and Utah State. The 6’3” Sweetwyne had initially signed with NC State but was released from his letter of intent this past week.

The dual-threat quarterback seems like a good fit for new offensive coordinator Brennan Marion’s Go-Go offense. The Lehi, Utah native is ranked as the No. 75 quarterback in the class of 2026 and the No. 21 recruit from Utah.

The Broken Record Rant #3,129

Colorado has somehow backed itself into the absurd position of needing to add a total of 48-50 players from the transfer portal this off-season. This is all the predictable result of punting on high school recruiting, misfiring on last year’s transfer evaluations, and bleeding guys out of the program (whether they arrived from high school or the portal). I’m going to ask this again – how do you create a team culture every year when 70% of the roster is comprised of new players to the program?!

….and /scene.

“Old” Transfers (Those That Committed Before Last Friday)

“Old” Special Teams Transfers

K Josh McCormick (Grambling)

McCormick kicked last season for Grambling, where he was 6-10 on FG attempts and 7 of 8 on extra points.  McCormick hit a 44-yard field goal to beat Jackson State this past season.  He has a long of 52 yards, so thankfully he can kick further than Mata. 

“Old” Defense Transfers

Linebacker Gideon ESPN Lampron is projected to start at linebacker. Yes, ESPN is his middle name.

DL Santana Hopper (Tulane)

Hopper finished last season with 39 tackles and 4 sacks, earning all-conference honors for the Green Wave. Hopper is a dynamic pass rusher — he had 23 QB hurries last year. He graded out with an 80.5 PFF grade for the season (!). The 6’2″ 265 pounder previously earned all-conference honors at Appalachian State. He was ranked the #16 defensive lineman in the transfer portal by 247.

DL Tyler Moore (Coastal Carolina)

Tyler Moore is a 6′ 297-pound defensive tackle that was a part-time starter for Coastal Carolina this past season. He appeared in 6 games, recording niine tackles. His PFF grade showed that he arguably should have played more last season, as he finished last sason with a 72.3 PFF grade. Moore is a stronger run defender than he is a pass rusher. 

DL Toby Anene (North Dakota State)

Anene was arguably North Dakota State’s best player last season. He had 38 tackles and 7 sacks last season, finishing with an 83.7 PFF grade. Arguably one of the top pass rushers in his class, he had a 90.1 PFF pass rushing grade last year.  247 ranked Anene as the #205 overall transfer prospect in this year’s class and the 28th ranked edge. The 6’4″ 260 pound Anene will immediately become one of CU’s best defensive linemen. 

DL/LB Immanuel Ezeogu (James Madison)

The 6’2″ 240 pound Ezeogu had 8 tackles last season for the Dukes. He has 3 years of eligibility remaining. He finished the season with a 65.3 PFF grade. He is a physical speciem and there is a lot of physical talent here — his speed coming around the edge jumps off the film. 

DL Lamont Lester Jr. (Monmouth)

The 6’2” 230-pound Lester Jr. dominated at Monmouth, where he had 9.5 sacks and 11.5 TFLs over the last two seasons. His PFF ranking of 91.4 is among the highest PFF rankings of the season. He did struggle a bit against better teams (he had a season low 65.2 PFF grade against Delaware State) but the 6’2″ 230-pound edge is a nice addition for the Buffs.  

Lester Jr. was an FCS freshman All-American in 2025.  He has three years of eligibility remaining.

DL Yamil Talib (Charlotte)

Last year with the Charlotte 49ers, the 6’2” 240 pound Talib tallied 28 total tackles, four TFLs, 1.5 sacks, a pick and a forced fumble. 

Talib had a PFF score of 79 last season for Charlotte, the highest PFF ranking on the team’s defense. 

He started his college career in the Big 12 at Oklahoma State and has three years of eligibility remaining.

DL Dylan Manuel (Appalachian State)

Manuel is a 6’1″ 300 pounder that had 37 tackles, 3 sacks and 12 QB hurries last year for Appalachian State. Finished the season with a 73 PFF grade, ranking him 7^th among Appalachian State defenders that had at least 100 snaps on the season.

Manuel has 2 seasons of eligibility remaining. 

DL Balansama Kamara (Albany)

The 6-foot-3, 257-pound defensive end initially played two years at Temple, then he spent time at Hutchinson Community College, before enrolling at Albany. While at Albany, he graded out as their best player on either side of the ball, with a PFF grade of 83.6. He had 67 tackles and 7.5 sacks last year for Albany, and Phil Steele named him as a third-team All-American in the FCS ranks. 

Has two years of eligibility remaining.

LB Liona Lefau (Texas)

The 6’1” 227 pound Lefau had 68 tackles, 3 TFLs and a fumble return for a touchdown for the Longhorns last season.  He has played in 41 games in his career with the Longhorns, and  is coming off of  23 consecutive starts.  I talked to a Texas football expert and he told me it’s a “sure thing” that he’ll be an NFL linebacker. He is a very strong run defender, finishing with a 76.4 PFF grade against the run last year and a a 61.7 PFF overall grade last year.  In the 2024-25 season he finished with a 64.6 PFF grade.  He immediately gives CU a high-level, quality starting LB. CU’s linebacker trio of Gideon Lampron, Liona Lefau and Tyler Martinez will make up the best linebacker room in Boulder since Deion Sanders’ arrival.  

LB Tyler Martinez (New Mexico State)

Martinez was 2nd team Conference USA member and a team captain for the Aggies. He posted 145 tackles, 3.5 TFLS and an interception over the last 2 years. Last season he had a PFF grade of 66.2, which is slightly better than average. CU will need the 6’2″ 225 pound Martinez, who has one year of eligibity remaining, to be a solid starting linebacker this upcoming season. 

LB Gideon Lampron (Bowling Green)

Lampron is a stud and will be an All-American candidate for the Buffs. He finished last season with 95 tackles and 9 QB hurries from his linebacker position, where he was a team captain and first team All-MAC. He had an 86.4 PFF grade last season (!) while earning honorable mention All-American honors from Phil Steele. Prior to his time at Bowling Green, Lampron was an FCS All-American linebacker for the Dayton Flyers. It’s fair to expect that the 6″ 220-pound Lampron will immediately become one of the best players on CU’s roster.

DB Cree Thomas (Notre Dame)

The 6’3” 189-pound Thomas played 30 snaps for Notre Dame this past season, his true freshman season.  Coming out of high school, Thomas was ranked a top 500 player nationally and committed to Notre Dame over offers from Oregon, Arizona, Arizona State, Wisconsin and more.  

Cree had a 65.7 PFF grade during his limited playing time last season.  Cree should provide depth and is a developmental corner prospect.  He has the size and tools to become a valuable contributor during his time in Boulder. 

DB Justin Eaglin (James Madison)

Eaglin was named first team all-conference at James Madison, where he had 35 tackles, 8 PBUs and 5 interceptions last year, including one in the college football playoff vs. Oregon. Eaglin is a very strong run defender from his cornerback position. The 6’1″ 175-pound Eaglin finished the season with a very strong 75.1 PFF grade and he will immediately become a starting cornerback for the Buffs. 

DB Naeten Mitchell (New Mexico State)

Mitchell led NM State with 58 tackles last season. The 5’10” safety prospect had a 67.8 PFF grade last year. He has 2 years of eligibility remaining.  

One of Mitchell’s best games last season was against Tennessee, where he had 10 tackles, 2 pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

“Old” Offense Transfers

Taj White will compete for a starting job at tackle this upcoming season.

QB Isaac Wilson (Utah)

Wilson, the younger brother of former Denver Bronco QB Zach Wilson, has completed 127 of 225 attempts with 10 TDs and 11 interceptions in his last 2 seasons at Utah.  He provides much needed depth behind JuJu Lewis.

Lewis is 6’ and 210 pounds.  He was a 4-star QB in the 2024 class, raniked the #18 QB nationally and committing to Utah over offers from BYU, Oregon, Miami (yes, at Miami), UCLA, Minnesota, Arizona and more. 

WR Ernest Campbell (Sacramento State)

The third Hornet to commit to CU this off-season, Campbell was Sacramento State’s leading WR in all 3 major receiving categories.  He has 3 years of eligibility remaining, and immediately becomes the fastest player on CU’s team and the 2^nd fastest player in CU football history.  See above for more info on Campbell.  

WR Danny Scudero (San Jose State)

Scudero, a 5’9” 174-pound WR, led the NCAAs with 88 receptions for 1,291 yards while playing on a bad San Jose State team.  Scudero was a 2^nd Team AP and Walter Camp All-American.  

Overall, Scudero had a 74 PFF grade last year, ranking as the #126 WR nationally.  He runs a 4.38 40-yard dash and has a 4.28 shuttle run.  [Regarding his shuttle time, at the NFL Combine most WRs aim for a sub-4.20 second shuttle.]  This is the 2^nd year that San Jose State has had the NCAA’s leading WR – last year Nick Nash led the NCAA in receiving yards.  Nash was not drafted in the NFL draft last year.  

Scudero transferred to San Jose State after spending time at Sacramento State, meaning that 3 of CU’s offensive portal additions thus far have spent time in the Cow Town.  Scudero has 2 years of eligibility remaining.

If nothing else, it will be fun to shout “THE SCUD MISSILE” while watching CU play next season.

WR Kam Perry (Miami (no, not that Miami))

Last year Perry had 43 receptions for 976 yards and 6 touchdowns.  The 5’9, 168-pound Perry will, along with the SCUD MISSILE and diminutive WR Quentin Gibson, give CU the ability to run the “Smurf” offense.

Perry had a 78.1 PFF grade last season, ranking #62 among all WRs.   The previous year, however, he had a PFF grade of 54.8.  

Internet reports say that Perry runs a 4.45 40-yard dash.  Perry has one year of eligibility remaining.

RB Jaquail “NyQuil” Smith (Sacramento State)

The 5’11” 170-pound Smith is an elusive back that had 76 carries for 511 yards and 5 TDs at Sacramento State last season, finishing third on the Hornets in rushing yards. 

Smith had a 81.4 PFF grade last season.  He is considered a strong WR out of the backfield and is considered a strong blocker despite his size.

Smith had 3 years of eligibility remaining. 

Like the SCUD MISSILE, “NyQuil” will make another fun nickname to shout during CU games this fall. 

RB Damian Henderson II (Sacramento State)

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, offering a nice contrast to NyQuil Smith.  

Henderson had a 73.4 PFF grade last season.  He has 2 years of eligibility remaining.

OL Jayven Richardson (Missouri)

The 6’6” 313-pound Richardson started two games for the Tigers in 2025, finishing with a 61.4 PFF grade. The No. 4 Junior College offensive tackle prospect in the 2024 cycle, Richardson also spent time at Hutchinson Community College.  Richardson will provide depth on the offensive line, and has two years of eligibility remaining.  

OL Taj White (Rutgers)

White started 11 games last year for the Scarlet Knights at right tackle, missing one game with an injury. White is a better run blocker than a pass blocker. He had a 66 PFF grade, making him a slightly above average lineman in the Big 10. White would add some much needed depth to the CU frontline and will probably compete with Larry Johnson for a starting role at right tackle. At worst, White will probably be the team’s backup swing tackle.

White is 6’5″ 329 pounds.  

Remaining Portal Targets

Offense

Texas OT Nick Brooks.  Brooks is a 6’7” 350 pounder and he appeared in 5 games for Texas this past season.  He visited Boulder for the 2024 Spring Game, and was ranked as a 4-star in the 2024 class.  He has 4 years of eligibility remaining.   CU is trending.  

Texas RB Christian Clark.  Clark rushed 55 times for 236 yards and 2 TDs this past season for the Longhorns,  He had a breakout game vs. Michigan in the Citrus Bowl, where he rushed for 105 yards.  South Carolina is trending but CU is trying to get him on campus for a visit.  

Louisiana Monroe OL Que McBroom.  “Tank” McBroom is a 6’5” 325-pound tackle that started 12 games this past season for Louisiana Monroe.  He has a 7’4” wingspan and owns a 71.3 pass blocking grade by PFF.  He has been offered by much of the SEC so getting him out of the south may be a chore for CU.  

Cal Poly OL Racin Delgatty.  The 6’3” 300-pound Delgatty is an interior lineman with 2 years of eligibility remaining.  He has already visited Baylor and Oklahoma State, although one source told me that Aabama or Michigan is probably the most likely choice at this point.  Delgatty had a 66.9 PFF grade last season and primarily lined up at center for Cal Poly.  He has visited CU but CU will need to beat out national powers for his signature.  

Ohio State OL Jayvon McFaddle. McFaddle, the cousin of current CU tackle Jordan Seaton, is a 6’3” 300-pound interior lineman.  McFaddle saw action in one game last season, and he retains four years of eligibility.  He was ranked a 4-star lineman coming out of high school in Upper Marlboro, Maryland and committed to Ohio State over offers from Georgia, Florida, Oregon, Tennessee, Penn State, Michigan and many more.  CU was trending here before the Seaton decommit – now it seems like a long shot.  

Western Carolina OG Manasseh Ripert. The 6’4″ 300-pound Ripert has an 82″ wingspan and finished the season with a 70 PFF pass blocking grade (but only a 59 PFF grade overall). Ripert has 2 years of eligibility remaining.  Visited CU but not clear if he is currently a “take” for CU – also visiting Marshall and UTSA.  

Defense

Oregon DL Blake Purchase.  A Cherry Creek product, Purchase has 2 years of eligibility remaining.  The 6’3” 245 pounder had 32 tackles and 2 sacks on the season for the Ducks.   CU is trending.  

Oklahoma DB Jayden Hardy. The 5’10 180-pound Hardy is a safety and had 13 tackles last season (his sophomore season) for Oklahoma.  Hardy was a top 200 player nationally coming out of Lewisville High School in Texas.  CU is trending.  

Boston College DL Edwin Kolenge. The 6’3″, 252 pound Kolege had 17 tackles and 1 sack last year for Boston College. He had a 66 PFF ranking this past season, ranking him 12th among BC’s defensive players with more than 100 snaps on the season.  Visited 1/5. 

UMass DL David Onuohu. Onouhu had 42 tackles last season for the Minutemen. The 6’1″ 235-pounder had a 75.6 PFF grade last season for the 0-12 Umass football team. Visiting this week but Texas Tech and Tulsa are pushing.

Georgia Southern DL MJ Stroud. The 6’2″ 235 pound edge earned first team All-Sun Belt this past season and finished with 15.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. Had a 73.7 PFF grade for the season, the 2nd highest on Georgia Southern’s team last year.  Visited CU but West Virginia is pushing. 

Sacramento State DL Jayland McGlothen. The 6’2″ 292-pound McGlothen earned 2nd team All-Big-Sky this past season, finishing the season with 31 tackles, 9.5 TFLs and sacks. McGlothen has 2 years of eligibility remaining.  CU and Utah State are trending. 

Where the Roster Stands – January 14th Edition

Quarterback

Needs to add: 1

Current Roster: Julian Lewis, transfer Isaac Wilson, freshman/transfer Kaneal Sweetwyne

Running Back

Needs to add: at least 1

Current Roster: DeKalon Taylor, Micah Welch, Simeon Price, transfer Jaquail Smith, transfer Damian Henderson II. 

Wide Receiver

Needs to add: 0-1

Current Roster: Joseph Williams, Quanell Farrakhan Jr., Quentin Gibson, Hykeem Williams, true freshman Alexander Ward, true freshman Xavier McDonald, transfer Danny Scudero, transfer Kam Perry, transfer Ernest Campbell, transfer DeAndre Moore Jr. 

Tight End

 Needs to add: at least 2

Current Roster: Zach Atkins, Corbin Laisure, Zayne DeSouza, transfer Fischer Clements

Offensive Line

Needs to add: at least 3

Current Roster: Chauncey Gooden (G), Yahya Attia (G), Andre Roye Jr. (T), Larry Johnson (T), true freshman Ben Gula (C), true freshman Xavier Payne (LT), true freshman Josiah Manu (T), transfer Jayven Richardson (T), transfer Taj White (T), transfer Bo Hughley (T), transfer Jose Soto (G), transfer Demetrius Hunter (C)

Defensive Line

Needs to add: 0-1

Current Roster: Quency Wiggins, true freshman Joseph Peko, junior college transfer Domato Peko Jr., transfer Lamont Lester Jr., transfer Yamil Talib, transfer Dylan Manuel, transfer Balansama Kamara, transfer Toby Anene, transfer Immanuel Ezeogu, transfer Santana Hopper, transfer Tyler Moore, transfer Ezra Christensen, transfer Sedrick Smith, transfer Vili Taufatofua

Linebacker

Needs to add: at least 1

Current Roster: Kylan Salter, true freshman Carson Crawford, true freshman Rodney Colton Jr., true freshman Colby Johnson, transfer Gideon Lampron, transfer Tyler Martinez, transfer Liona Lefau

Defensive Back

Needs to add: at least 2

Corner: Isaiah Hardge, Makari Vickers, RJ Johnson, true freshman Maurice Williams, true freshman Preston Ashley, transfer Justin Eaglin, transfer Cree Thomas, transfer Emory Floyd

Safety:  Ben Finneseth, Carter Stoutmire, true freshman Alexander Ward, true freshman Braylon Edwards,  transfer Naeten Mitchell, transfer Randon Fontenette, transfer Boo Carter

Phew. I’m exhausted putting this together. If you want to read something else from BuffsBlog, what about a story detailing a current CU football player’s WWE tryout this week….check it out at:

CU Football Player Undergoing WWE Tryout