CU football
Colorado safety Jaden Milliner-jones, right, lines up opposite Washington State receiver Carlos Hernandez on Nov. 17 in Pullman, Wash.
Gant. Kennedy, a former Alabama transfer, is one of the fastest players on the team. Didn’t play much at talent-rich Alabama, then a knee injury cut his 2022 season short and impacted his training for last year. With the Buffs, he played in 10 games, mostly on special teams. He saw just 82 snaps on defense, but posted 13 tackles and two tackles for loss.
RB Alton Mccaskill IV
Back in 2021, Mccaskill burst onto the scene as a true freshman at Houston. He rushed for 961 yards and 16 touchdowns and was named the American Conference rookie of the year. He then missed the 2022 season with an injury, transferred to CU and was never fully healthy last year. He carried the ball 14 times for 59 yards in four games in his first season with the Buffs. He’s now healthy and he could be one of the best backs in the Big 12 and push for a 1,000-yard season.
CB Cormani Mcclain
A high-profile, five-star recruit as a true freshman last year, Mcclain played in nine games, with four starts. He posted 13 tackles and two pass breakups and flashed his talent at times. Quite often, he played like a freshman, though, which is understandable. A late arrival last summer, Mcclain is now hoping to have a full offseason of training with the Buffs’ staff and that could allow him to make a significant leap forward.
WR Omarion Miller
Prior to the Sept. 30 game against USC, he hadn’t caught a pass. Then he caught seven passes for 196 yards and a touchdown — all in the second half — of a 48-41 loss to the Trojans. He caught just four passes for 38 yards the rest of the season, but that USC game put his potential on display. The Buffs are loaded with veteran receivers, but Miller has the
talent to be a key part of the rotation.
S Jaden Millinerjones
Given the veteran talent ahead of him, Milliner-jones may have a hard time earning a starting job, but he has star potential and it may be tough to keep him off the field. He played 182 snaps last year on defense, with 112 of those in the final two games. He finished with 25 tackles and three pass breakups in those limited snaps.
S Myles Slusher
He made the gamesealing tackle in the dramatic season-opening win against TCU last year. It capped a six-tackle day for Slusher, who got the start that game. Injuries limited him to just three more games and 11 more tackles the rest of the year, though. As a safety or nickel, Slusher, a former part-time starter at Arkansas, could be on the field a lot this year if he’s healthy.
TE Sav’ell Smalls
A five-star recruit as an edge rusher coming out of high school in 2020, Smalls didn’t play much in his three seasons at Washington. He didn’t play much last year at CU, either, with 38 snaps on defense. This offseason, he moved to tight end, which gives him a fresh start and CU a 6-foot-3, 260-pound option at a position of need. He played tight end a bit in high school and has potential. If nothing else, he’s one of the most intriguing players to watch this spring.
OLB Arden Walker
The Missouri transfer and former Cherry Creek High School star had a couple of big plays last year, recovering a fumble against Nebraska and recording a sack against Arizona State. He played only 199 snaps, though, as he was behind some veterans. Walker is primed for a breakout season as he pushes for a starting role. He could be one of the leaders of the edge group.