Colorado finally got a little national respect for its transfer haul, and DeAndre Moore Jr. is the name leading the way.
ESPN’s latest transfer portal rankings put the Colorado wide receiver at No. 26 overall after former Texas Tech quarterback Brenen Sorsby was dropped from the list following a gambling investigation that led to his departure from the Red Raiders. That change gave the Buffaloes one player inside the top 100, but plenty of their other additions were left out entirely.
Moore’s spot is easy to understand. The former Longhorn spent three seasons in the SEC and became one of Arch Manning’s go-to options in 2025, finishing with 38 catches for 532 yards and four touchdowns.
That production alone would make him a strong pickup. But Colorado also sees something bigger in him.
Inside a young receiver room, Moore has already taken on a leadership role, and Deion Sanders has been blunt about it, calling him “the real leader.”
That kind of presence matters for a roster trying to settle in fast. It gives a young offense a steady voice, someone who has already played in a demanding conference and knows what the standard looks like.
Even with Moore near the top 25, Colorado had other arrivals who were nowhere to be found on ESPN’s updated top 100. Danny Scudero, who led the entire NCAA with 1,291 receiving yards last season, did not make the cut. Neither did former Tennessee defensive back Boo Carter or First-Team All-MAC linebacker Gideon Lampron, both of whom came to Boulder with proven production.
Sanders, though, has already made it clear he isn’t putting much stock in preseason lists. At Big 12 Media Days, he said, "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."
There were two former Buffs who did land on the rankings. Former Colorado offensive lineman Jordan Seaton, now at LSU, checked in at No. 3 overall, while former wide receiver Omarion Miller, who transferred to Arizona State, came in at No. 13.
For Colorado fans, seeing Seaton and Miller that high is a reminder of what left Boulder. But the focus now is on what the Buffs brought in, and Moore is at the center of that conversation.
His fit makes sense on the field, too. Moore is back with Colorado offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, who previously served as Texas’ passing game coordinator and helped recruit Moore to Austin. Now they’re reunited in Boulder, where Moore’s ability to work the middle, pick up yards after the catch, and threaten defenses downfield lines up neatly with Marion’s Go-Go offense.
Add in redshirt sophomore quarterback Julian "JuJu" Lewis, who is entering his second season in the program with more confidence, and Colorado has reason to feel good about the direction of its offense.
The Buffaloes may have finally earned a little national acknowledgment for their work in the portal, but if Sanders is right about this group, it may not be long before they’re impossible to ignore.
In Other News...
Why Colorado Fans Are Starting To Doubt The Doubters
National pundits have spent the offseason trimming Colorados ceiling for 2026, with some already penciling in a losing record and no real playoff path. Inside the program, though, there is still a different kind of optimism around Deion Sanders roster, built on transfer additions, a fresh wave of recruiting talent and the arrival of offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, whose track record has made him an intriguing fit for a team trying to find more balance.
Colorados schedule is still going to ask plenty of questions, and the Buffaloes have also reshaped parts of the recruiting staff with more proven college recruiters in the mix. The bigger question now is whether that combination is enough to make the outside skepticism look premature, especially with fans pointing to the talent coming in and Sanders again sounding confident about where the program is headed. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Is Remaking Colorados Staff Faster Than Fans Expected
Deion Sanders is continuing to reshape Colorados staff with the kind of speed that has become part of the programs identity. The latest additions are former NFL players Pierson Prioleau and Xavier Adibi, both hired as defensive quality control analysts, giving the Buffaloes two more experienced voices on that side of the ball.
The move also deepens the connection to new defensive coordinator Chris Marve, since both Prioleau and Adibi worked with him at Virginia Tech. Colorado still has Vonn Bell in place as a quality control analyst and safeties coach, and the staff picture has changed quickly enough that the next round of moves could be just as notable as the last. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Commit Just Sent A Message Against Elite Talent
Jaiden Kelly-Murray keeps giving Colorado reasons to feel good about its 2027 wide receiver haul. The four-star prospect took part in the Under Armour Next S7VNS camp and came away with more than just reps, earning notice as one of the events top performers while showing the kind of burst and route-running that can translate quickly at the next level.
Recruiting reporter TJ Randall pointed to Kelly-Murrays chemistry with quarterback Colton Nussmeier, along with his ability to separate and finish plays in traffic, as the kind of showing that stands out against elite competition. For Colorado, it is another reminder that Kelly-Murray could fit neatly into Brennan Marions offense as a slot option and return specialist, even if the full picture of just how dangerous he can be is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]