Former CU Buffs players having limited impacts across the country | College Football Insider
As the losses have piled up, so has the criticism for Deion Sanders in his first season at Colorado.
Some of it has been fair, from some questionable play-calling decisions to clock management. But some — like suggesting Coach Prime and company would be better off with more players from last year’s Buffaloes team — simply isn’t.
One year ago CU was down 42-0 at halftime against Utah, looking like a junior varsity team for the 11th time in a 12-game season.
After 10 weeks this season, Sanders has already quadrupled the win total. Yes, the team is 1-6 after a 3-0 start, but the product has also been better each week.
One statistic has been used plenty of times: the number of scholarships holdovers is at single digits. But would a handful more players from last year’s 1-11 team really make that much of a difference?
The majority of the transfers ended up outside of the Power 5 conferences. The few that did wind up at big programs, CU has faced almost all of them this season.
Nikko Reed has 13 tackles and five pass breakups as part of the cornerback rotation at Oregon. Na’im Rodman has 23 tackles and two for loss on Washington State’s defensive line.
The two biggest (and arguably best) performances this season have come from two players at Arizona who helped deliver a win at Folsom Field last week. Wide receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig has 25 catches for 250 yards and two touchdowns, while edge rusher Taylor Upshaw, who was at CU for spring practices, has 7.5 sacks for the Wildcats.
Could the current Buffs use a player like Rodman in the defensive tackle rotation right now? No doubt.
Would Lemonious-Craig see the field on offense? Sure.
They definitely could use Upshaw’s production on the edge.
The same goes for offensive lineman Casey Roddick, a multi-year starter at CU now contributing for an undefeated Florida State team. But he entered the transfer portal before Coach Prime was hired and seemed set on playing elsewhere this year.
Of course, there are some like former walk-on Jack Hestera who appears to be thriving at Charlotte. Simeon Harris has also found a role on the Utah State defense right away. Same for wide receiver Chase Sowell at East Carolina. But for those three specifically, they’re all on Group of Five teams and none have a winning record.
Suggesting that more of these players should have been kept around in Boulder is missing the forest for the trees. Coach Prime has said since he was hired he wants to build a contender — and do it quickly. The best way to do that with the roster he inherited? Clean house.
That’s exactly what the current rules of college football allow and, in fact, encourage.
It won’t be at the same scale, but expect more turnover on the CU roster this offseason as the Buffs gear up for a run at a Big 12 title next season. At least for now, trust the Prime process.
5 Games to Watch
No. 19 Arizona vs. No. 16 Utah (12:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network)
After a dramatic win over the Buffs, the Wildcats still have an outside shot of reaching the Pac-12 championship game. They must take care of business against a Utes team that won’t quit this season.
Air Force vs. UNLV (1:30 p.m., CBSSN)
There’s a battle of the top two teams in the Mountain West at the academy. A win for the Falcons would be a big step toward hosting the conference title game in a few weeks, but to do so they must snap a two-game losing streak against the biggest surprise out west this season in Barry Odom’s Rebels.
No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 21 Tennessee (1:30 p.m., CBS)
Back at No. 1 in the CFP rankings, the Bulldogs have already clinched a spot in the SEC title game but also can’t afford to slip up against a Tennessee team that suffered a big loss at Missouri last week. Georgia looks like the team to beat once again.
Kansas vs. No. 23 Kansas State (5 p.m., FS1)
The Sunflower Showdown has a lot on the line as the Wildcats need a win (and some help) to keep their hopes of defending their Big 12 title alive. The Jayhawks, led by walk-on freshman QB Cole Ballard, are out to continue to show progress under coach Lance Leipold.
No. 10 Oregon State vs. No. 5 Washington (5:30 p.m., ABC)
The game of the day is in Corvallis as the Huskies have a chance to lock up a spot in the Pac-12 championship game with a win. It won’t be easy. The Beavers put up 62 points in a blowout win over Stanford and would love to play spoiler over the final two weeks against both Washington and Oregon, their big in-state rival leaving them behind.
King’s Top 5 Heisman candidates
1. Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
Penix has a chance to almost lock up the award this week if he’s able to lead Washington to a road win vs. Oregon State and secure a spot in the conference title game. He’s coming off 332 passing yards and two touchdowns in a close win over a good Utah team last week.
2. Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Nix is waiting to take over the top spot if Penix and the Huskies slip up. He’s played like a true Heisman candidate and future NFL QB each week and recently put up 412 yards and four touchdowns in a dismantling of USC.
3. Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Maybe the biggest bummer of the season is Daniels missing the final quarter of the Alabama game with an injury. Who knows, maybe he could’ve led the Tigers to an upset in Tuscaloosa? He’s proven capable. He didn’t miss any time and put up ridiculous numbers against Florida last week — 372 passing yards, 234 rushing yards, five total touchdowns. He could still win the award if Penix and Nix slow down.
4. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Harrison remains the biggest reason the Buckeyes offense has been so successful. Despite being the target of opposing scouting reports, he’s still managed to put up big numbers. Last week he had seven catches for 149 yards and three total touchdowns against Michigan State.
5. Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State
Travis and the Seminoles remained undefeated with a win over Miami that was closer than it probably should’ve been. Travis finished with 265 yards and a touchdown as he looks poised to lead Florida State back to the playoff.
Where to watch
Here’s our pick to watch this week’s game, a great place to hang out with fellow Arizona Wildcats fans:
Chopper’s Sports Grill (80 S Madison St.)
