Colorado head coach Deion Sanders has tapped former Vikings offensive lineman Phil Loadholt to help turn around the struggling Buffaloes offensive line.
Loadholt spent six years as the Vikings right tackle after being drafted in the second round of the 2009 draft out of Oklahoma. The 6-foot-8 tackle tore his Achilles tendon in the first preseason game of the 2015 season and Loadholt retired the following offseason.
The 37-year-old most recently spent two seasons as an offensive line analyst for his alma mater Oklahoma after two years in the same role for Ole Miss. Coming out of high school in Colorado, Loadholt had originally committed to Colorado but ended up doing two years of junior college ahead of his time as a Sooner.
Anchoring the right side of the Vikings offensive line in 2009, Loadholt was named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team.
Colorado allowed 56 sacks this season, the second most in the FBS behind Old Dominion's 61. Overall, the Buffaloes had a 59.1 run blocking grade (78th in the country) and a 66.9 pass blocking grade (71st in the country), according to Pro Football Focus.
Loadholt will be coaching the top-ranked tackle in the 2024 recruiting class, Jordan Seaton, who committed to Colorado over Tennessee, Florida, Oregon and Ohio State.
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