FOUNTAIN - Chris Marve’s first offseason on the job at Colorado came with a different kind of value: distance.
Before the Buffaloes wrapped up spring ball, his promotion to defensive coordinator and his return to the sideline were already set. But once CU opened training camp Monday at Fountain-Fort Carson High School, the first real preseason stretch under Deion Sanders gave Marve a chance to talk about what he picked up during a year away from an official coaching role.
After three years as defensive coordinator at Virginia Tech, Marve spent last season studying the game and visiting other teams’ practice sessions. On Tuesday, during his first media session of the preseason, he said the time away reinforced the things he already believed and exposed him to ideas he normally wouldn’t have been able to see up close.
“I could write a book. I plan to, actually,” Marve said.
“In a nutshell, if I could encapsulate it, a lot of things that I fundamentally believe as a football coach were reinforced. And some things that are innovative and cutting edge, I had access to that you typically don’t when you work at an institution and you have a logo on your chest.
You may be friends with these colleagues who are peers in your profession, but because you’re at a particular institution, they can’t let you behind the walls.
“I had access to pretty much everywhere I wanted to go. I got to really be in the rooms for some innovative coaching and teaching and leading. But also, I was able to really reinforce some things that I fundamentally believe.”
Marve was hired early in the offseason as CU’s linebackers coach, then moved up to defensive coordinator in late February after Robert Livingston left. He still handles the linebackers, too.
The Buffs need that side of the ball to come together fast. Last year’s team finished 3-9, and while the offense had its own problems, there’s a sense that Marve’s defense carries the heavier burden now.
Colorado has more reason to expect points this season, with a year of collegiate experience for quarterback Julian Lewis and talent at the skill spots. That puts the pressure on Marve’s group to keep games from turning into shootouts.
The challenge is made tougher by the turnover. Only eight defensive players are back from last season, and just three of them - defensive backs Ben Finneseth, RJ Johnson and Makari Vickers - started a game a year ago.
Still, this week isn’t only about installs and reps. Colorado’s stay in the Colorado Springs area includes some built-in team time, including a movie night and a trip to the Air Force Academy. Marve said that kind of bonding matters in today’s college football, where rosters change constantly from year to year.
“I do believe this engagement and this time of the year, as it relates to our team and our players and any program that does this, I do think it leaves more of an indelible mark,” Marve said. “Just because of … the distractions and things that go on outside of the program. I think it is more unique that way, and I’m glad we’re doing it.”
In Other News...
Colorado Roster Debate Puts Deions Team-Building Approach Under The Microscope
A viral social media post has pushed Colorados roster construction back into the spotlight, after fans noticed the Buffaloes list 11 players at 5-foot-9 or shorter. Defensive back Kole Mathis, listed at 5-8 and 140 pounds, quickly became part of the conversation as supporters and skeptics debated whether the teams emphasis on quickness can hold up over the long haul.
The reaction has been split in familiar ways for a Deion Sanders program. Some fans see size concerns and worry about matchups, while others point to the potential value of speed and skill, especially when smaller players have produced in the past. Colorado has continued to recruit and build with that profile in mind, pulling in plenty of players from strong high school programs in Texas and Georgia, and the latest online dustup has only added another layer to the scrutiny around that approach. [Read more 🡒]
Colorados Ezra Christensen Could Benefit From A New NCAA Eligibility Fight
The latest NCAA eligibility fight is already rippling beyond Villanova, and Colorado has a clear reason to pay attention. Pat McQuaides lawsuit challenging the Five-Year Rule centers on whether a junior college season should count against a players eligibility, and the case has quickly become another test of how the NCAA handles transfers and time limits across college football. A federal judge has already allowed McQuaide to keep competing while the case moves forward, giving the dispute an immediate practical impact as well as a legal one.
For Colorado, the relevance comes through defensive lineman Ezra Christensen, whose own eligibility situation could be affected if this challenge gains traction. The ruling also has potential implications for UCFs Dean Miller, adding another name to a growing list of players watching the case closely. For now, the fight is still unfolding, but it has the kind of legal shape that can reach into roster planning, depth charts and the near-term futures of players waiting on a decision. [Read more 🡒]
DeKalon Taylor Sees Something Different In Colorado This Fall
Fall camp has given Colorado a different feel this month, and DeKalon Taylor has noticed it up close. The Buffaloes back pointed to the culture shift around Deion Sanders, along with the arrival of new coordinators Brennan Marion and Chris Marve, as part of what has made this preseason stand out from the last one. He also singled out the new offensive scheme and a reshaped offensive line as reasons the group looks and sounds more settled heading into the season.
For a program trying to move on from a 3-9 finish in 2025, those details matter because the Buffaloes know they need more than talent to climb back. Colorado has added key transfers and has started to build around a roster that wants better results, even if outside expectations remain modest with preseason odds around 4.5 wins. The real question now is whether the cleaner habits Taylor has seen in camp can turn into something more meaningful once the games start. [Read more 🡒]