Colorado’s 2026 fall camp has already done more than sharpen the roster for Week 1 against Georgia Tech. It has also shown the Buffaloes’ 2027 recruiting class exactly what kind of environment they’re walking into.
Players and staff have called the camp a success, pointing to the level of competition and the unusual first-week trip to Colorado Springs as reasons the group feels ready. For the incoming class, that matters. This is the first fall camp under Colorado’s new-look coaching staff, which means the 2027 recruits are getting a clear picture of the standard before they ever step on campus in Boulder.
That standard starts with the early enrollees already on the 2026 roster. Those freshmen got a head start by arriving in time for spring camp, and that extra run has put them in a much better spot than the players who waited until fall. Some of them are already threatening to play right away.
Freshman cornerback Mojo Williams Jr. is the best example. As an early enrollee, he made noise during the Buffs’ spring game and earned the staff’s trust enough to take on a significant role in the scrimmage. He made the most of it, picking off the game’s only interception in a key red-zone moment and helping seal the win for his side.
The toughest path in camp may belong to Colorado’s offensive line. That group has taken on constant hard coaching, and that’s no accident. The Buffaloes kept the entire offensive line staff from 2025 - Gunnar White, Andre Gurode and George Hegamin - after the no-nonsense approach helped the unit last season.
This summer, that same edge has carried over. The competition up front has been fierce, and the coaching has matched it every step of the way.
That’s especially relevant for the 2027 class, which includes five offensive line commitments. White, who 247Sports says was the lead recruiter for each of them, knows those players well enough to push them hard and expect a return.
Colorado’s trip to Colorado Springs also sent a message beyond the field. The week away helped build real camaraderie on a roster with plenty of new faces, and it reflected a shift in how Sanders’ staff is trying to operate. Sanders has been clear that player retention is hard to count on in today’s college game, but this offseason showed the staff putting more emphasis on it than before.
That isolated week gave the Buffaloes a chance to build brotherhood early, and the response from players suggests it worked. For the 2027 class, that matters too. If Colorado can keep more of its roster together and continue building the chemistry it has this season, it gives the program more time to develop the next wave of freshmen when they arrive in Boulder.
In Other News...
Colorado Just Lost A Key Piece In The Trenches
Colorados defensive line picture took an immediate hit with the news that Ezra Christensen, a transfer addition who was expected to help fortify the trenches, has been denied a preliminary injunction that would have allowed him to play in the 2026 season. For a program trying to keep rebuilding its front with experienced newcomers, the ruling removes one of the more notable pieces from the mix before he ever gets on the field.
His lawyer said the next step could be an emergency motion for reconsideration, so the situation is not necessarily settled yet. For now, though, Colorado has to move forward as planned and lean on other transfers to absorb those snaps up front, a reminder of how fragile roster-building can be when availability questions suddenly become part of the equation. [Read more 🡒]
Former Alabama RB Richard Young Faces Another Frustrating Setback At Colorado
Richard Youngs first months in Boulder have not gone the way Colorado hoped when the former Alabama running back arrived with a chance to add depth and talent to the Buffaloes backfield. Instead, offseason injury issues have kept him out of significant summer practice time, slowing his chance to get comfortable in Johnnie Macks room and learn enough of the offense to make an early push for playing time.
Mack said Young is making progress in picking up the system, but the missed reps leave his role for the 2026 season very much unsettled. For a Colorado offense that could use every healthy option it can get, Youngs next few months matter because the talent is still there, even if the integration has been frustratingly delayed. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado May Have A Bigger DT Problem Than Fans Expected
Colorados defensive tackle room took a hit this week when transfer Ezra Christensen was denied the preliminary injunction that would have cleared him to play in the 2026 season, a ruling that leaves him ineligible for the fall. The case traces back to his junior college experience and the NCAAs shifting eligibility rules, a complicated backdrop that has made this more than a routine roster question for a Colorado front trying to stabilize its interior defense.
Christensens attorney, Darren Heitner, is now weighing an emergency motion after the courts decision, so the matter is hardly settled. For Colorado, the concern is bigger than one player finding his way onto the field. It is another reminder that the Buffs defensive tackle depth may be more fragile than expected, with the legal fight around Christensen creating uncertainty at a spot where the team could use every available body. [Read more 🡒]