Colorado’s offense may look different under new coordinator Brennan Marion, but the biggest swing factor might not be the receivers at all. The real question sits in the backfield, where Colorado has a crowded room and no obvious answer yet for who takes control.
Marion arrives with a reputation for lighting up wideouts. He was a receiver himself and helped turn Jordan Addison into a 2021 All-American at Pittsburgh.
That background makes Texas transfer DeAndre Moore Jr. and former San Jose State wideout Danny Scudero important pieces. But the Buffaloes’ season could end up hinging on whether the run game finally becomes more than a supporting act.
That’s because Marion’s “Go-Go” system is built to stress defenses in multiple ways. It creates one-on-one chances for receivers and uses movement to confuse coverage, but it works best when the ground game is forcing defenses to react. Colorado has spent too long leaning on the pass, and Sanders brought in Marion to change that.
Last season, the Buffaloes averaged 125.6 rushing yards per game, which was their best mark in the Sanders era. Even so, they finished 15th out of 16 Big 12 teams in rushing yards per game. That imbalance is a big reason Sanders turned to Marion after his first season as Sacramento State head coach.
Now the backfield has turned into a competition, and probably a committee.
Micah Welch led Colorado in rushing last season and should get his share of work, but he is not locked in as the starter. Alabama transfer Richard Young gives the Buffaloes a physical runner who can punish the middle of a defense, and Marion already went viral for giving Young some fiery motivation before a long scrimmage run.
Young is not the only bruising option. Damian Henderson II comes over from Hornets and brings size, familiarity with Marion’s blocking schemes, and a 6.2 yards-per-carry average from his lone season with the program. Fellow Hornet transfer JaQuail Smith adds another layer with 6.7 yards per carry and a speed element that fits Marion’s style.
There is also DeKalon Taylor, an Incarnate Word transfer who can stretch the edge on designed pitches and deepen the room even more.
Colorado needs this group to deliver. The Buffaloes have the pieces to make the “Go-Go” attack work, but the season may come down to whether this backfield can stay healthy and finally give the offense a run game opponents have to respect.
In Other News...
Why Colorado Fans Are Starting To Doubt The Doubters
National pundits have spent the offseason trimming Colorados ceiling for 2026, with some already penciling in a losing record and no real playoff path. Inside the program, though, there is still a different kind of optimism around Deion Sanders roster, built on transfer additions, a fresh wave of recruiting talent and the arrival of offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, whose track record has made him an intriguing fit for a team trying to find more balance.
Colorados schedule is still going to ask plenty of questions, and the Buffaloes have also reshaped parts of the recruiting staff with more proven college recruiters in the mix. The bigger question now is whether that combination is enough to make the outside skepticism look premature, especially with fans pointing to the talent coming in and Sanders again sounding confident about where the program is headed. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Is Remaking Colorados Staff Faster Than Fans Expected
Deion Sanders is continuing to reshape Colorados staff with the kind of speed that has become part of the programs identity. The latest additions are former NFL players Pierson Prioleau and Xavier Adibi, both hired as defensive quality control analysts, giving the Buffaloes two more experienced voices on that side of the ball.
The move also deepens the connection to new defensive coordinator Chris Marve, since both Prioleau and Adibi worked with him at Virginia Tech. Colorado still has Vonn Bell in place as a quality control analyst and safeties coach, and the staff picture has changed quickly enough that the next round of moves could be just as notable as the last. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Commit Just Sent A Message Against Elite Talent
Jaiden Kelly-Murray keeps giving Colorado reasons to feel good about its 2027 wide receiver haul. The four-star prospect took part in the Under Armour Next S7VNS camp and came away with more than just reps, earning notice as one of the events top performers while showing the kind of burst and route-running that can translate quickly at the next level.
Recruiting reporter TJ Randall pointed to Kelly-Murrays chemistry with quarterback Colton Nussmeier, along with his ability to separate and finish plays in traffic, as the kind of showing that stands out against elite competition. For Colorado, it is another reminder that Kelly-Murray could fit neatly into Brennan Marions offense as a slot option and return specialist, even if the full picture of just how dangerous he can be is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]