Colorado Loses Another Key Recruit as OT Carde Smith Enters Transfer Portal
Deion Sanders’ Colorado program just took another hit to its long-term plans. True freshman offensive tackle Carde Smith is heading for the transfer portal, becoming the latest high-profile departure from a 2025 recruiting class that’s quickly unraveling.
Smith, a 6-foot-6, 310-pound lineman, was one of the cornerstones of that class-ranked as the second-highest recruit in Colorado’s 2025 group, and a top-150 player nationally according to Rivals. He came in with four-star credentials, big expectations, and a clear path to the future of Colorado’s offensive line. Now, he’s leaving Boulder with all four years of eligibility still intact and without ever truly seeing the field.
That’s not just a loss-it’s a blow to the foundation Sanders was trying to build in the trenches.
A Position of Need Loses a Key Piece
Smith was projected as a future starter at right tackle, opposite five-star phenom Jordan Seaton on the left side. That duo was supposed to anchor the Buffaloes’ offensive line for years to come. Instead, Smith logged just 11 special teams snaps over the final three games of the season and never cracked the offensive line rotation.
For a team that desperately needs stability and size up front, losing a player like Smith-especially one with that kind of upside-isn’t something you shrug off lightly.
It’s the sixth defection from Colorado’s 15-player high school class, a group that’s quickly bleeding talent. And while every transfer stings in its own way, this one hits differently. Smith wasn’t just another depth piece-he was part of the blueprint.
A Familiar Pattern in Boulder
If this all feels a little familiar, it’s because it is. Cormani McClain, another highly touted recruit, followed a similar trajectory: big name, limited impact, early exit.
The parallels are hard to miss. And fans are noticing.
Some are brushing off the loss, calling for a tougher, more committed roster. Others are pointing to a trend that’s becoming hard to ignore: highly ranked recruits arrive in Boulder, struggle to find footing, and leave before their potential is ever realized.
It’s not just about Carde Smith-it’s about a pattern. And right now, that pattern is raising some serious questions about player development, culture, and the long-term sustainability of Colorado’s current approach.
The Offensive Line Picture Gets Murkier
With Smith out, Colorado’s offensive line depth takes another hit-and the timing couldn’t be worse. Jordan Seaton, the star left tackle, is already a candidate to jump to the NFL or enter the portal after next season. Smith was supposed to be next in line, either as a bookend on the right side or a plug-and-play option inside at guard.
Now, that succession plan is gone.
Colorado signed just 11 high school recruits in the current cycle, which puts even more pressure on the transfer portal to deliver plug-and-play talent. That’s a tough ask, especially when it comes to offensive linemen-arguably the hardest position group to rebuild overnight.
The Exodus Continues
Smith isn’t alone in heading for the exits. Wide receiver Omarion Miller, safety Tawfiq Byard, and defensive lineman Brandon Davis-Swain have all entered the portal. That brings the number of open scholarships to 35-and it could hit 40 depending on how the next few weeks unfold.
That kind of roster turnover is staggering, even in the modern era of college football where movement is the norm. For Colorado, it means the rebuild is still very much in progress, and the margin for error in the portal is razor-thin.
What’s Next?
For Sanders and his staff, the mission is clear: the portal has to become their best friend-again. Colorado needs experienced, physically ready linemen who can step in and contribute immediately. That’s no easy task, especially when the program is still trying to establish consistency and a winning culture.
Carde Smith may not have played a major role on the field in 2025, but his departure represents more than just a lost body-it’s a missed opportunity. And in Boulder right now, those are starting to pile up.