Sanders, Buffs Staff Take Aim At Improving Depth Via Portal

BOULDER — Colorado's Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders and his staff are currently engaged in a process that is consuming nearly every other college football coaching staff in the nation:

Improving depth.

But the process that once took years to achieve can now be addressed in a matter of days via the transfer portal. The challenge for every coaching staff is that of being able to attract players who can not only immediately improve depth but also challenge for a starting spot or significant playing time when fall camp rolls around in August.

The Buffs have made news in recent days with the departure of roughly a dozen players from the current roster. But, as Sanders pointed out in a Thursday press conference, the vast majority of those players electing to leave Colorado were reserves.

Now Sanders and his staff have the opportunity to actually make upgrades at those positions while also increasing the level of competition up and down the roster heading into the summer.

"Everybody's fighting for depth," Coach Prime said. "That's what you're fighting for.  You're fighting to really get those ones that are pro minded and they have that capability of going to the league and producing here, but then you want those guys right behind that are waiting their turn that cannot wait."

Sanders rebuilt CU's roster last year immediately after his arrival. He took a Colorado program that finished 1-11 in 2022 to a 4-8 finish in 2023, with five more games coming down to one-score finishes.

 But as the season wore on, it became clear that the Buffs didn't have the depth necessary to deal with in-season injuries and attrition. That lack of depth made a difference in those one-score losses.

Now the Buffs have again improved the starting lineup on both sides of the ball. The critical task over the next few weeks will be finding players who can either crack the starting lineup or become key reserves who can give the Buffs quality production as the season unfolds.

"You don't want that guy to be a three (third-teamer)," Sanders said. "You want that guy to be kind of a one and a half and not truly a two. Right now, the changes you see in the portal, a lot of (second-teamers). I'm not saying that about us, but that's what usually transfers in the portal from place to place."

But while the majority of players entering the portal are backups looking for a new opportunity, there are a handful of starters that could come in and have an immediate impact.

If the Buffs can land some of those players, it will be a net gain in terms of depth and competition for starting spots.

"I don't know how many starters have really transferred around the country," Sanders said. "We have some coming in for visits pretty soon, maybe even this weekend. We can attract those types of players but I don't think we're losing those types of players."

RB IMPROVEMENT: One of the more consistent and impressive players thus far in spring ball has been true freshman running back Micah Welch. The 5-foot-9, 205-pounder from Milledgeville, Ga., has made himself a contender for a starting spot.

"The kid has a low sense of gravity," Sanders said. "You know that in his size and stature and what he brings to the table. He studies his butt off. I'm happy that he came as an early enrollee and is able to contribute this spring, get an understanding of the offense, the flow and the speed of the game, the physicality of it. The kid brings a lot to the table. He should see touches."

Also having a solid spring is returning running back Dylan Edwards. The sophomore had a huge start last season — four touchdowns in the opening win over TCU — but saw his productivity slide as the season progressed.

Now, new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur is finding the best way to utilize Edwards' speed and play-making ability, lining him up more often in the slot instead of only as a true running back.

"Dylan is a tremendous asset," Sanders said. "We're going to try to get the ball to Dylan in all forms or facets. We have some pretty good receivers but he has developed to be able to take a receiver off the field to put a running back out there. Just splitting him out at times and seeing him in front of a linebacker out wide is a scary thought. Pat is going to do a great job of getting him the ball where he needs to get the ball on the go."

Edwards is also making strides running inside the tackles.

"He's developing running the ball inside as well," Sanders said. "He could get outside and he changed speeds, change of pace, in his burst and his mental and physical toughness is above par. We're proud of him."

O-LINE PROGRESS: Sanders also likes what he's seeing from CU's revamped offensive line under the direction of new assistant coach Phil Loadholt.

All five starters up front will be new this season. Sanders had special praise for guard Tyler Brown, who followed Coach Prime to Boulder last season before being forced to sit out a season by the NCAA.

"These guys are a tremendous group and a tremendous family," Sanders said. "You rarely see one without the other. You rarely see one of those guys anywhere, you see three or four of them together at all times. Tyler Brown is killing it. He's probably grading higher than the other guys on a daily basis. You talk about physicality and being able to run the ball, we should be able to do that."

Sanders said Loadholt, in his first year as an on-field coach, is making an immediate impact. The former NFL standout has quickly connected with his group.

"Phil is really good at what he does," Sanders said. "He's been there, he's done that, they respect that, they admire that, they try to embody that and emulate that. And his communication skills are impeccable."

TOP 100: Two Colorado players were recently listed in the CBS Sports Top 100 college players of 2024.

No. 1 on the list was CU two-way star Travis Hunter, the winner of last season's Paul Hornung Award. CBS writer Blake Brockermeyer called Hunter a "generational player."

No. 4 on the list is quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who Brockermeyer predicts could be the first overall player taken in the 2025 NFL Draft.

WR COMPETITION: Sanders also noted that CU's wide receiver room continues to excel. Along with returning regulars Jimmy Horn Jr. and Hunter, newcomer LaJohntay Wester and returnee Omarion Miller are making plays regularly.