Colorado’s offensive line may have just gotten its loudest vote of confidence yet.
New Buffaloes offensive coordinator Brennan Marion didn’t stop at praising the group’s size or physicality. He went straight to the comparison that will catch every Colorado fan’s attention: the line he’s working with in Boulder, he says, stacks up favorably with the one he coached at Texas.
Marion told The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, “Our O-line is better than what we had at Texas other than we don’t have Kelvin Banks,” Marion said, referencing the ninth overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. “Offensive-line wise, we’re better than we were at Texas.
We’re bigger. We’re more physical.”
He didn’t leave it there.
“This will be the best offensive line I've ever had," Marion boldly declared.
That kind of line is exactly the sort of thing Colorado fans have been waiting to hear. The Buffaloes have spent the Coach Prime era trying to solve a front that has too often been a weak spot, and Marion’s arrival brings more than his “Go-Go” offense. His system also changes the blocking approach, which makes the line room even more central to what Colorado is trying to build.
There are reasons to think this group could look different. Colorado has mixed high-end talent with players who arrive with something to prove, and the coaching staff has reshaped the room with Marion plus new offensive line coaches Andre Gurode and Gunnar White.
One of the biggest additions is former four-star Georgia signee Bo Hughley, a 6-7 tackle who brings a power game built on a strong hand punch, leverage and the kind of force that can open running lanes. He comes from a system at Athens where clearing space up front was part of the job.
The Buffs also added center Sean Kinney, who helped Lafayette produce two straight 1,000-yard rushers. Kinney arrives in Boulder after being under-recruited out of high school and through the portal, giving him the kind of chip-on-the-shoulder profile this line seems to be collecting.
Right guard Jose Soto is another familiar piece for Marion. Soto played for him at Sacramento State, didn’t allow a sack during Big Sky play, and helped the Hornets average 262.5 rushing yards per game. At 6-3 and from Tulare, California, he already knows the blocking language in this offense.
Colorado also brought in Demetrius Hunter from Houston, a former rival who is projected to start at center. He has started 25 games over the last two seasons and gave up only two sacks in that span.
The bigger picture is clear: Sanders, Marion and the staff did not build this group one way. They blended power-conference pedigree with overlooked linemen who have something to prove, aiming to turn a long-running problem into a strength.
Marion’s comments suggest he believes the upside is real. If he’s right, Colorado may have found the kind of front that can change the feel of the entire offense.
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