Colorado’s transfer portal haul finally got a little national respect, even if the Buffaloes still weren’t fully embraced.
ESPN’s updated top 100 transfer portal rankings gave Colorado wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. a spot at No. 26 after former Texas Tech quarterback Brenen Sorsby was removed from the list following a gambling investigation that ultimately led his departure from the Red Raiders. That left Moore just outside the top 25 as the lone Buffalo represented, while several other notable additions were left out entirely.
Moore arrives in Boulder after three seasons in the SEC, where he became one of Arch Manning’s favorite targets at Texas. In 2025, he caught 38 passes for 532 yards and four touchdowns.
But his value to Colorado goes beyond the numbers. Inside a young receiver room, Moore has already taken on a leadership role, and Deion Sanders has gone so far as to call him “the real leader.”
It’s the kind of presence Colorado is banking on as it tries to turn a loaded transfer class into something more than offseason buzz. Moore has the résumé, and he brings the kind of steady veteran voice that can matter just as much as production when a roster is still finding its footing.
The snub list was just as eye-catching. Danny Scudero, who led the entire NCAA with 1,291 receiving yards last season, did not make the Top 100. Neither did former Tennessee defensive back Boo Carter or First-Team All-MAC linebacker Gideon Lampron, even though both came to Boulder with proven production.
Sanders made it clear at Big 12 Media Days that Colorado isn’t spending much time worrying about outside opinions. “We don't care what people say,” Sanders said. “Just because our guys were snubbed off a poll that's probably not going to be consistent with the end of the season, we don't give a darn.”
Two former Buffs did land on the list, though. Former Colorado offensive lineman Jordan Seaton, now at LSU, checked in at No. 3 overall, and former wide receiver Omarion Miller, who transferred to Arizona State, came in at No. 13.
For Colorado fans, seeing Seaton and Miller near the top is a reminder of the talent that has moved through Boulder. But the focus now shifts to the newcomers, and Moore is right at the center of that conversation.
His move also reconnects him with Colorado offensive coordinator Brennan Marion. Marion, who previously served as Texas’ passing game coordinator, helped recruit Moore to Austin. Now they’re back together in Boulder, where Moore’s ability to work the middle of the field, create yards after the catch, and stretch defenses fits cleanly into Marion’s Go-Go offense.
With redshirt sophomore quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis heading into his second season in the program with noticeably more confidence, the pieces are starting to line up for Colorado’s offense. The Buffaloes have finally picked up a bit of national recognition for their work in the portal, but Sanders’ group is clearly aiming for something bigger than a one-time ranking bump.
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