The transfer portal isn’t officially open until January 2, but Colorado is already feeling the impact of some early departures - and these aren’t just depth-chart shuffles. Two highly touted freshmen, defensive tackle Brandon Davis-Swain and offensive lineman Carde Smith, have both announced their intentions to enter the portal, signaling a significant shakeup in Boulder.
Let’s start with Davis-Swain. The redshirt freshman was more than just a rotational piece on Colorado’s defensive line this past season - he was a key contributor.
He logged the second-most snaps among interior defensive linemen for the Buffaloes in 2025, showing both durability and trust from the coaching staff. His stat line - 15 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a pass deflection - doesn’t just tell the story of a young player finding his footing.
It points to a defender who was already making plays and trending upward. With three years of eligibility still on the table, Davis-Swain is the kind of player who could step into a Power Five rotation immediately, and his departure leaves a noticeable hole in Colorado’s defensive front.
Then there’s Carde Smith - a name that carried weight the moment he signed. As the second-highest rated high school recruit in Colorado’s 2025 class (trailing only quarterback Julian Lewis, per Rivals), Smith was seen as a foundational piece for the future of the Buffaloes’ offensive line.
He saw limited action this season, appearing in three games on special teams before redshirting, but that was all part of the long-term plan. Smith was expected to take a big leap heading into next year, potentially stepping into a meaningful role on a line that desperately needs to improve.
Now, that development will have to happen elsewhere. Smith has four full years of eligibility remaining, making him an especially attractive option for programs looking to build up their trenches with young talent.
With Davis-Swain and Smith on their way out, Colorado has now seen five notable players hit the portal in just the last three days. It’s a reminder of how fluid rosters have become in the modern college football era - and how quickly momentum can shift. Whether this is a sign of deeper changes within the program or just the natural churn of the portal era remains to be seen, but one thing’s clear: Colorado’s offseason is already off to a dramatic start.