Colorado establishing identity in camp
AUTHOR Leopoldo Rivera IV leopoldo.riveraIV@colorado.edu
After losing an abundance of talent to the NFL, the 2025 Colorado Buffaloes have shifted their focus back to smashmouth football.
After a brief hiatus, Deion Sanders is back in Boulder. A screening back in April revealed the formation of a cancerous tumor on the bladder that needed a surgical procedure to be removed. Now cancer-free, Coach Prime revealed what helped him through the difficult time.
“It has been a tremendous journey and I am truly thankful that God is good,” Sanders said. “God is so good. You have no idea how good God has been to have me here.”
Offensively, the Buffs have lacked production from the run game for both years under Sanders. During fall camp of year three, a new scheme and acquisitions are dedicated to getting it done on the ground.
Offensive line transfers Zy Crisler, Xavier Hill and Larry Johnson III have brought physicality and competitiveness, impressing in camp so far. With Jordan Seaton being the only returning starter, the group will have to gel fast to be efficient by Week 1.
“It all starts up front. No matter how many tight ends we put in the core or how many wideouts, we need physicality and by in and play hard from all five of those guys,” offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said. “I feel like we’ve brought in some guys who are better people and better players.”
Sanders has yet to name a starter, but with quarterback Kaidon Salter likely to be at the helm, a three-headed running attack featuring a fresh rotation could be just what the doctor ordered for Colorado. Although Shurmur was reluctant to share his offensive plan, running backs teased some new formations.
“You will see two backs on the field,” running back Micah Welch said. “One thing about the running back room, all of us can play. It don’t matter which back comes in the game, you will see somebody make a play.”
In the running back room, new faces DeKalon Taylor and Simeon Price have brought depth and speed as transfers with heavy upside. Combining efforts with Dallan Hayden and Welch, all four backs could see meaningful playing time this season.
“I would say we’re more balanced this year,” Hayden said. “Our offensive line and different personnel groupings that the coaches are putting together allow us to be more balanced.”
Defensively, the Buffs’ pass rush was a strength last season, leading the Big 12 in sacks. With key returners on the edge and additions to the middle, a smothering run defense would elevate the group to a new level.
With little turnover from last season, defensive coordinator Robert Livingston has been working hard to advance his scheme around the new unit. Expect to see some of the same concepts revamped and improved for 2025, with added changes.
“We’ll do some things defensively that are drastically different from what we did last year, a little bit more of the NFL stuff,” Livingston said. “It’s our job as coaches to take our best players and put them in a position to be successful.”
New to the team, defensive line coach Domata Peko has played a “Good Cop, Bad Cop” role with Warren Sapp, bringing more NFL experience to the coaching staff. All three minds have worked collectively to establish a violent run defense and culture of toughness within the unit.
“For the first week, man, I feel like we’ve been doing a good job building a run wall and all of us playing with good pad level,” Peko said. “I’m really excited about our run defense this year. I feel like that’s one of my strengths as a coach.”
Week 1 comes closer with the conclusion of every practice. As the Buffs stack days, their words echo a commitment to old-school football. While only time will tell if they carry any weight, the violent optimism is only growing.