The cornerback room in Boulder is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing position battles heading into spring practices. With a mix of returning scholarship players, promising freshmen, and a wave of incoming transfers, Colorado’s defensive backfield is getting a serious makeover-and the competition for starting spots is wide open.
RJ Johnson and Makari Vickers are back in the fold, giving the Buffaloes some continuity at the position. But they’ll be pushed by a deep group of newcomers, including true freshmen Preston Ashley and Maurice Williams, both of whom signed during the early period and are looking to make an immediate impression.
Then there’s the transfer haul-five new faces, each bringing a different skill set and experience level to the table. Among them: Justin Eaglin from James Madison, Emory Floyd from Appalachian State, Paul Omodia from Lamar, Cree Thomas from Notre Dame, and Jason Stokes Jr. from Utah. All are in the mix for starting reps, and the staff clearly isn’t leaving anything to chance when it comes to upgrading this position group.
Stokes, in particular, is a name to watch. At 6-foot-2 and 184 pounds, he brings the kind of length and athletic upside that defensive coordinators love to work with. That frame, combined with his developmental trajectory, made him a priority target for Colorado in the portal-and now he’s in Boulder with a real shot to break into the rotation.
While Stokes didn’t log heavy defensive snaps at Utah in 2025, he did appear in all 13 games, mostly on special teams-a proving ground for young players in that program. He flashed some of his talent in limited action at corner, including a standout pass breakup against Baylor that turned heads and hinted at his potential ceiling.
Utah had high expectations for Stokes. After enrolling early in Salt Lake City last spring, he packed on 17 pounds to get his body ready for the rigors of Power Five football.
Coaches there, especially cornerbacks coach Sharrieff Shah, spoke glowingly about his progress and future. Internally, there was a sense that Stokes could be the next big name in a long line of standout Utah corners.
Coming out of Pflugerville (Texas) Weiss High School, Stokes was a three-star recruit and ranked among the top 100 players in Texas for the 2025 class. He had a strong offer list, taking official visits to Arizona, LSU, TCU, and Texas Tech before ultimately signing with the Utes.
He arrives at Colorado with four years to play three, giving the Buffs flexibility and upside at a premium position. The expectation at Utah was that he’d redshirt in 2025 and then compete for a starting role this spring. That plan changed when he hit the portal, a move that surprised some in the Utah camp-especially after he had re-committed to the program and seemed poised to make a leap.
Utah, for its part, was aggressive in replenishing its cornerback room this cycle, adding six players from the high school, JUCO, FCS, and FBS ranks. Still, losing Stokes was a blow. He was seen as a player with real long-term potential, and while the Utes have depth, his departure leaves a bit of a sting.
For Colorado, though, it’s a win. Stokes brings a blend of size, athleticism, and untapped upside to a position group that’s clearly being retooled. The Buffs are loading up on competition, and with spring ball just around the corner, the battle at cornerback is going to be one of the most closely watched storylines in Boulder.