CU’S breakout candidates for 2024
Most of the leaders of the Colorado football team are obvious going into 2024.
First and foremost, head coach Deion Sanders needs his son, Shedeur Sanders, to be healthy and dominant at quarterback. He needs his other son, Shilo Sanders, to be a leader at safety.
Travis Hunter, Lavonta Bentley, Shane Cokes, Jimmy Horn Jr. and Trevor Woods are others that will be relied upon for leadership and to carry the Buffs if they want to improve on last year’s 4-8 record.
As is the case every year, though, the Buffs will need several players who didn’t make much of an impact last year to be impactful players this year. Here’s a look at some of the top breakout candidates:
OL Tyler Brown
His story was widely known last year, as the NCAA denied his waiver after transferring from Jackson State, so he has yet to see the field for the Buffs. He was an FCS All-american at JSU, though. CU brought in a lot of competition on the line, but Brown is a potential impact player at guard. He could also play center, but is more likely to compete for a starting spot at guard.
LB Brendan Gant
He’s still hoping for a medical hardship waiver. If he gets it and he can stay healthy, Gant could push for a starting job at linebacker. He recorded 113 tackles, mainly as a backup, during his four seasons at Florida State. Last year, he was limited to four games because of injury and played only 30 snaps on defense. He started once (at Arizona State) and made three tackles in 27 plays.
LB Demouy Kennedy
Like Gant, he is hoping for a healthy season so he can compete for a starting job — against 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, Millinerjones 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.