Three Colorado Football Offensive Players to Watch for 2025 Season

The Colorado Buffaloes‘ offense is missing some big pieces after a highly productive 2024 season.   

Here was how the Colorado offense ranked last season in FBS:

Points per game: 32.9 (No. 31)

Rushing yards per game: 65.2 (No. 133)

Passing yards per game: 318.0 (No. 6)

Total yards per game: 383.2 (No. 69).

With quarterback Shedeur Sanders and wide receiver Travis Hunter in the NFL, it’s a whole new world for coach Deion Sanders and his club.

Here are three offensive players to keep an eye on for the Colorado Buffaloes.

QB Kaidon Salter

The Buffs may have chosen wisely by luring Salter from Liberty in the transfer portal. He was one of the more accomplished quarterbacks on the market this offseason, and he should benefit from the partnership with offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. Salter likely wants a pro career, and Shurmur can help set him up.

During his four seasons at Liberty, he threw for 5,887 passing yards and 56 touchdowns to go along with 2,063 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns. He led the Flames to an undefeated season, a New Year’s Six bowl berth, and 2023 Conference USA Player of the Year honors.

He should help the moribund running game from last season. But where he likely hopes to develop further is in the passing game. If he takes a step there, the Buffs won’t see much difference from the offense led by Sanders.

RB Micah Welch

Colorado’s ground game was, well, bad. Like, really bad. It was almost to the point of being ignored. It was ranked No. 133 out of 136 FBS teams.

Can Welch change that? He was part of the offense a year ago, as he played in nine games as a true freshman and started in three. His numbers? He rushed for 186 yards on 43 carries with four rushing touchdowns. His four rushing touchdowns were tied for the team lead. Again, bad run offense.

It might be too much to ask for Welch to be the bell cow. He’s 5-foot-9, 215 pounds, and may be better suited for a change-of-pace role. But in an offense that will have to move on without Hunter, their Heisman Trophy winner, Welch must pitch in. He should have far more opportunities than a season ago.

LT Jordan Seaton

One of the biggest gets for the Buffs in their 2024 recruiting class, he’s a foundational piece for at least the next two seasons when he is NFL Draft eligible. He’s one of two returning starters, along with right tackle Phillip Houston, so the edges are covered for Salter’s pass protection.

He already looks NFL-ready in some areas. He was a freshman all-America pick by three different outlets, along with all-Big 12 honorable mention as both a player and as freshman of the year.

He should be even better this year as he shoots for all-Big 12 and all-America first-team honors as a sophomore. He has the talent to accomplish it.