Colorado tight end Zach Atkins is heading into 2026 with a very different job description.
Speaking at Big 12 Football Media Days, Atkins told Brian Howell of the Boulder Daily Camera that Brennan Marion’s offense will use him in a far more flexible way than Colorado did a year ago. In Marion’s “Go-Go” system, Atkins said he won’t just be lined up as a traditional tight end.
“I love [the ‘Go-Go’ offense]. It’s been unbelievable trying to learn it, and I’m still working on that, but coach Marion has been unbelievable in putting me in situations to be successful,” Atkins said.
“Sometimes I’ll line up out wide at X, sometimes I’ll be in the backfield, so you guys are going to see a lot of different stuff from me this year. I’m kind of the Swiss Army Knife of the offense; I’ll do everything.”
That kind of usage is a sharp turn from 2025, when Atkins was mostly asked to block and never really got to play to the strengths that made him dangerous earlier in his career. For Colorado, the shift matters because Atkins has shown he can do more when the ball is in his hands.
He was a productive receiver in high school under coach Anthony Orrick, piling up nearly 2,000 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns while often working out wide. He later started to build momentum as a receiving tight end at Northwest Missouri State before transferring to Colorado.
Once he got to Boulder, though, the fit never quite clicked in Pat Shurmur’s offense. Atkins was stuck in blocking-heavy duties, and the production never matched the talent. That’s why Marion’s system feels like such a clean reset for his final college season.
Now, Atkins could be used as a receiver on routes from the perimeter or even as a ball carrier in the triple-option elements of the offense. That gives him a real path to making an impact in 2026, and it also gives Colorado a more dynamic piece to work with.
He’ll have to earn that role, though. The Buffaloes added three freshman tight ends - Ben Gula, Zayne DeSouza and Corbin Laisure - and also brought in Fisher Clements, who started at tight end for Northern Colorado in 2025. Senior Brady Kopetz is back as well, so Atkins won’t be handed anything.
For Colorado, that competition should help sort out the best option at the position. For Atkins, it means the margin for error is slim. If he wants to own this new role for his final year of eligibility, he’ll need to keep producing every step of the way.
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