A closer look at the Buffs’ biggest needs going forward

For the 2024 Colorado football team, Monday is a big day.

Monday marks the one-year anniversary of Deion Sanders’ introduction as CU’S head coach, but that’s not why it’s a big day.

There are graduate students and players from teams whose coaches were fired already going into the transfer portal, but Monday is the day when it’s open to everybody. And for Sanders and his staff, that’s when the real fun begins.

Sanders’ first season as CU head coach ended with his team limping into the offseason on a six-game losing streak. At 4-8 (1-8 Pac-12), there’s a lot of work to be done this offseason if the 2024 campaign is going to be better, especially as the Buffs jump from the Pac-12 to the Big 12.

The task in front of Sanders this winter is much different than what he and his staff faced a year ago when they were first hired.

“Last season, you had to fill a void of everything,” he said. “This year, you’re more directed. You know what you have, you know what you don’t have. You’ve seen how we react under pressure, you’ve seen how we don’t and you know what you need. So now it’s more focused on let’s go fulfill the need.”

A year ago at this time, Colorado was coming off a 1-11 season and Sanders, as has been well documented, overhauled the entire roster. Only eight scholarship players from 2022 were with the Buffs this year and one of them (tight end Louis Passarello) missed the entire year because of injury. Only five played meaningful snaps.

There won’t be the same type of overhaul this year, as there are several core pieces already in place. Most notably, quarterback Shedeur Sanders and

receiver Travis Hunter are slated to return and they should be two of the best players in the country.

Exactly how many players will return isn’t known yet, because there could be some Buffs hitting the portal. But, Coach Prime believes there is at least a foundation set within the program that wasn’t yet built a year ago.

“(The foundation is) understanding what we’re capable of and what does what it takes to get to that level of consistency, of practice habits, of study habits, of holding one another accountable,” he said after Saturday’s 23-17 loss at Utah in the finale. “Me not having to do all the yelling; the coaches taking a part in that, as well.

“We established some things that are foundational that when these new young men come in here it’s established in stone and they’ve just got to proceed with caution, so to speak, because the guys that are here, they understand this is how it is, this is how it’s gonna be. And we’re gonna make sure the standard is the standard.”

That standard and foundation are important, of course, but the Buffs need better players, too.

“Everybody knows what we need,” he said. “You know darn well what we need, so we’re gonna get it.”

It starts with offensive line. The Buffs gave up a school-record 56 sacks this season, with Shedeur absorbing 52 of those (13 more than any other QB in a single season in CU history). Eight linemen played at least 140 snaps this season and seven of them could return (starting guard Landon Bebee is the only one who has exhausted his eligibility). And, they’ll get Tyler Brown back after he had to sit out the season because of his transfer from Jackson State. But it’s a good bet that CU will be very active in pursuing experienced linemen through the transfer portal in the next few weeks.

Tight end would figure to be an area of emphasis, as well. Michael Harrison had a good year as a pass catcher, but he’s a converted receiver and not a strong blocker, and he was the only tight end who played much. He also went through senior day festivities, so he may not be back. Having a good blocker (or two) at tight end is key to a solid run game — as well as protecting the QB — and not having that contributed to the Buffs having the worst rushing offense in the country.

Inside linebacker is the most pressing need on defense. That group was such a mess that safety Trevor Woods was moved up in the middle season, starting four games at linebacker before being sidelined by an injury. Lavonta Bentley, who finished strong and led the team with 69 tackles, is a good foundational piece if he returns for his final season, but the Buffs have to get better around him.

The Buffs need to replace their top pass rusher, Jordan Domineck. He and Taijh Alston were the most productive edge defenders this year and both are graduating. Several other edge players return, including Arden Walker, who the Buffs believe could step into Domineck’s shoes, but nobody returning has proven production at the FBS level.

At defensive line, the Buffs need more depth and talent. Shane Cokes’ production didn’t match how much the staff hyped him up in the offseason, but he was still solid in his first year at the FBS level. He hasn’t decided whether to come back for his final year but said Saturday he is “definitely leaning towards it.” He and Amari Mcneill are good places to start on the defensive line, and there are others who could return (JJ Hawkins, Bishop Thomas and Chazz Wallace), but the Buffs need more.

Coach Prime was frustrated all year with CU’S inability to put kickoffs out of the end zone, so that could be a priority, too. And, they could go hunting for a top-notch receiver to replace Xavier Weaver, who is graduating. The Buffs are loaded at receiver, with Hunter and Jimmy Horn Jr. as headliners, but Weaver led the group and his departure is a big one.

There are many needs and it should be an active winter for the Buffs. And, of course, Coach Prime is confident it’ll be a productive winter.

“The recruits are responding,” he said. “Trust me, there’s not a day that goes by that kids aren’t blowing our recruiting staff up or blowing Shedeur up in the DMS or Travis or some of the key players on the team. They’re calling and we’re responding, trust me.”