Colorado's Defense Sends Strong Message Without Travis Hunter and Others

Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes have received unparalleled media attention over the past two years. With the Buffaloes under constant scrutiny, both positive and negative aspects of their performance are magnified. Colorado is renowned for its offense, led by quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who orchestrated a remarkable campaign last year. The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner utilized a diverse array of offensive weapons.

However, the defensive strength of the Buffaloes has been a subject of debate, with some critics asserting that they've fallen short in comparison to their offense. Notably, Colorado’s defense conceded an average of 383.2 yards per game in their first year back in the Big 12, prompting Coach Prime and his staff to prioritize certain defensive aspects. In recent years, Colorado has prioritized recruiting depth for Robert Livingston and his unit, and it appears that this strategic shift is yielding results.

The defensive line serves as the primary focus of defense, responsible for both stopping the run and rushing the quarterback. Last year, they demonstrated significant improvement, recording 43 sacks collectively. BJ Green led the team with 7.5 sacks, while several returning defensive linemen also contributed to the team’s success. Arden Walker stands out among defensive ends, having recorded four sacks last season and consistently being a presence on the defensive line. 

In the interior, Amari McNeil and Samuel Okunlola formed a decent front, accumulating 6.5 sacks last year. The defensive line’s growth has been remarkable since Coach Prime’s first year, and it is expected to continue its success as the players develop. Having been part of the original effort, it's been a night and day difference. The talent is more stout with a much better rotation.

The linebacker core is and has always been known as the leaders of the defense. In this day and age, the need to be able to play sideline-to-sideline, covering running backs and receivers out of the backfield and in the slot, as well as be proficient in tracking the football and making tackles. Linebackers have a plethora of responsibilities and it seems Coach Prime has recruited the position with a willingness to take on a 'do everything' role. 

During this recruiting cycle, Sanders brought in five linebackers, with four being transfers. Reginald Hughes, Jacksonville State transfer, has been impressive during summer workouts. He comes in after a very productive year, having 83 total tackles with 4.5 sacks in 2024.

Finally, we come to what could be the deciding factor for a lot of football games this upcoming season, which is the secondary. With many of the defensive backs from last year being drafted and/or signed to professional teams, there is a gaping hole that the new recruits will have to fill. Travis Hunter and Camron-Silmon Craig were extremely successful during their tenure at Colorado, and replacing them will not be easy. 

But Sanders and his staff have begun to put the pieces together. This recruiting cycle, he brought in eight defensive backs, with seven being transfers. Tawfiq Byard, a 6-foot-1 transfer from USF, has also been impressive during summer workouts. He had 54 total tackles and 2 sacks last year, as well as an interception. Although it is still early, time will tell which defensive backs will show they have the mentality to stand next to star DB DJ McKinney in that Buffs secondary.

With the defense being such a huge emphasis for Colorado, they have shown they can find talent anywhere, and are actively pursuing those they know will make a difference in the program.