How Did Hayes, Okunlola Perform in Colorado Debuts?

Colorado survived a scare against North Dakota State in its season opener last night, walking off the field at Folsom Field with a 31-26 win — thanks in large part to heroics from quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter.

It was a close call for the Buffaloes, but a season-opening win is in the books. And it came with two former Pitt Panthers in the starting lineup. Samuel Okunlola and Dayon Hayes started the season opener for the Buffaloes at the edge spots.

Hayes recorded five tackles (three solo) and a tackle for loss, and Okunlola wasn’t credited with any defensive statistics. The ESPN broadcast brought up the former Panthers in the third quarter.

“I’m a little bit surprised (Samuel) Okunlola and Dayon Hayes, two Pittsburgh transfers, haven’t gotten to the quarterback more,” the announce team said.

The Buffaloes managed just two sacks in the win.

Colorado picked up the former Panthers in the offseason, grabbing Okunlola out of the transfer portal in December and Hayes in April, and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders expressed his satisfaction — and “gratitude” to Pat Narduzzi — with the duo earlier this month.

“I want to digress a bit and thank the head coach from Pittsburgh for really preparing those young men for us,” Sanders told the media earlier this month. “He did a great job. I love those three young men, they’re really great players and they’re gonna be pros and I heard that someone took a shot at one of them verbally. So, Mr. Hayes just wanted me to make sure I add that in for him. But thank you Pittsburgh, I appreciate everything, God bless you.”

Pitt survived the losses on the defensive line, including Hayes and Okunlola, by supplementing via the transfer portal and the high school ranks.

The new-look Pitt defensive line unit, led by Nate Matlack on the outside and guys like Anthony Johnson, Nahki Johnson and Nick James, is looking to return to previous heights in the 2024-25 season — following a poor campaign last season.