Colorado’s home opener against Weber State looks like the kind of game that can open a few doors.
The Wildcats come in from the FCS level, have gone 4-8 in each of the last two seasons and already dropped their first game this year to fellow FCS team Southern Utah. With ESPN Analytics giving Colorado a 98 percent chance to win, this should be the sort of matchup where the Buffaloes can afford to dig a little deeper into the roster.
One name worth watching is Alabama transfer Richard Young. He didn’t get much work against Georgia Tech, but he made the most of what he had.
Young carried the ball three times for 10 yards and showed real burst in a small sample. On his first run, Georgia Tech linebacker E.J.
Lightsey came up to make the tackle and ended up injured on the play, which says plenty about the kind of power Young can bring.
That kind of back can matter in Colorado’s rotation. The Buffaloes already had Micah Welch as their hybrid option against Georgia Tech, but Young gives them another runner who can blend power and speed and keep a defense from settling in.
There’s also a practical reason to get him more involved now. Running backs coach Johnnie Mack said on Aug. 20 that Young lost a big chunk of the summer because of an injury setback, and that time away slowed his progress in the system.
“Richard Young, he came back from injury, so he missed a lot of the summer, and a lot of people don’t understand that,” Mack said. “Like, he missed a lot of the summer, which kind of had him behind a little bit.
So now, he's starting to figure out the system, learn the system a lot more, and I think he's starting to get comfortable. So it's going to take some time for him, but he's growing every day.”
Young’s talent has never really been in question. He was a dominant high school player and a consensus four-star recruit across the major recruiting services.
At Alabama, minor injuries were part of the story, but the bigger issue was breaking through in a crowded backfield. Even so, he flashed whenever he got chances, and that showed again against Georgia Tech.
Colorado’s backfield already has its pieces. Damian Henderson II brings the bruising element, JaQuail Smith and DeKalon Taylor provide speed, and Welch handles the hybrid role. If the Buffaloes give Young more snaps against Weber State, they could lighten Welch’s load and still keep that versatile look in the backfield.
In Other News...
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The early hardware is a reminder that Colorados roster makeover is not just about headlines, it is about impact. The defensive lines recognition as the leagues unit of the week only deepens that view, with the Buffaloes already seeing fresh pieces tilt a tight road game their way and hint at how quickly this defense can become a problem for opponents. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Defense Just Made That Georgia Tech Win Look Even Bigger
Colorados opening win at Georgia Tech already carried plenty of weight for a program trying to set a tone early, and the defense made sure it kept getting louder in the days that followed. The Buffaloes picked up three Big 12 weekly honors for their work on that night, with defensive lineman Lamont Lester Jr. earning co-Defensive Player of the Week and defensive back Boo Carter taking co-Special Teams Player of the Week, while the unit also was recognized as the conferences Defensive Line of the Week.
Lesters debut included three sacks, the kind of disruptive start that can quickly change how an opponent prepares for Colorado going forward. Carters impact was even more dramatic in the final moments, when he blocked a game-winning field goal as time expired, a play that helped turn a season opener into something the Buffaloes can point to for a while as evidence their defense can swing a game in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Toby Anene Could Change What Colorado's Pass Rush Becomes
Toby Anene is settling into Colorados rotation at defensive end at a time when the Buffaloes are still sorting out what their pass rush can become. The fifth-year defender has already been through Folsom Field once before, when he played there for North Dakota State in 2024, but this time the setting carries a different kind of weight as he works to carve out a bigger role in Boulder. His growth has been less about raw athleticism than about sharpening the details, especially play recognition and a better grasp of offensive schemes.
That development showed up in Colorados recent win over Georgia Tech, where Anene made a notable contribution and gave a glimpse of why he fits into this edge group. He has also benefited from the competition around him, crediting the depth at defensive end for pushing him forward. For a defense looking to define itself, Anene is one of the players who could help determine how disruptive the Buffaloes become off the edge. [Read more 🡒]