The Colorado Buffaloes may have a simple answer sitting right there on the defensive line.
Tyler Moore arrived with some buzz after transferring from Coastal Carolina, and during fall camp he was even tagged with the “Get-Off King” nickname. That label came from the kind of burst and leverage that jumped out in practice, the traits Colorado defensive line coach Dante’ Carter pointed to on Aug. 18.
“He got two superpowers I tell him about: getting off the rock and his leverage,” said Colorado defensive line coach Dante’ Carter on Aug. 18.
“He’s already [5-10], so, ain't no way he should be taller than somebody 6-3, 6-4. [I tell him], ‘Use your leverage to your advantage.’"
But once the games started, Moore’s role shrank fast. He has appeared in just four games this season, hasn’t started, and hasn’t put up a stat. His only official mark this year is being part of the defensive line group that earned Big 12 Defensive Line of the Week honors in Week 1 against Georgia Tech.
That lack of usage matters because Moore still has another season of eligibility left. If Colorado keeps leaving him on the sideline, the Buffaloes could be staring at a transfer decision down the road.
That possibility feels even more relevant now with the Week 10 injury report pointing to a short-handed interior. Dylan Manuel is doubtful for the Arizona State game, which opens the door for more rotation help inside. Santana Hopper has handled a heavy load, and Samu Taumanupepe has been the next man in line, but neither can carry every snap.
That’s where Moore fits.
Taumanupepe has shown he can help against the run, but his pass-rush impact has been limited. Moore brings more speed and a wider set of pass-rush moves, which gives Colorado a better option in blitz situations. If the Buffaloes use him as a relief piece for Hopper and Taumanupepe, and mix him into defensive coordinator Chris Marve’s stunts, Moore finally gets a real chance to show what he can do.
And for Colorado, that could mean getting the most polished version of him before he has any reason to look elsewhere.
In Other News...
Chauncey Gooden Is Becoming A Colorado Story Fans Should Notice
Chauncey Gooden has become one of those Colorado players whose value shows up in more than one place. The second-year lineman has settled in as a starter at guard while also giving the Buffaloes a look on the defensive side, a reminder of how much trust the staff has in his ability to handle different jobs along the line.
Goodens path to Boulder was shaped in part by his relationship with Deion Sanders and director of player personnel Darius Darden Box, and that background helps explain why Colorado was willing to keep expanding his role. For a team that has leaned on flexibility and depth, Gooden is turning into the kind of story fans tend to notice only after he has already become hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Recruiting Just Took Another Hit At A Crucial Time
Colorados 2027 recruiting class has taken another early hit, even as the Buffaloes continue to hold a solid place in the Big 12 race for future talent. The staff has been working to build around a class that still includes 19 verbal commits, and the overall picture remains respectable by league standards, with Colorado sitting fourth in the conference and in the national range of the upper 30s to low 40s depending on the outlet.
Still, the timing matters because the Buffaloes have now seen two players back away from the class, and one of the departures came at wide receiver, a spot the program has been targeting heavily. With recruiting momentum always fragile this far out, Colorados staff will keep pressing forward, especially at receiver, while trying to steady a class that has already been tested before the cycle has really taken shape. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Heads To Arizona State With A Road Problem Getting Worse
Colorado heads to Tempe on Saturday with the same problem that has followed it through much of Big 12 play: getting out of its own way on the road. The Buffaloes are 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the league, and the matchup with Arizona State at Mountain America Stadium arrives with both teams trying to clean up turnover issues and establish some stability heading into the stretch run.
The timing makes this one feel especially important for Colorado, which has been competitive in conference play but has not been able to turn those starts into enough wins. Arizona State is expected to key on stopping the Buffaloes' running game, while Colorado needs to run the ball effectively to protect itself from mistakes and give its offense a steadier foundation away from home. [Read more 🡒]