The hits keep coming for Colorado, and Deion Sanders’ roster rebuild just got even steeper.
Freshman edge rusher Alexander McPherson, a player Colorado’s defensive coordinator once said you could build a defense around, is officially heading to the transfer portal when it opens on January 2. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound pass rusher played in 10 games this season, tallying 16 tackles, six quarterback hurries, half a sack, and even a blocked punt. He’s got three years of eligibility left - and now, he’ll be using them somewhere else.
McPherson’s departure is the latest in a string of high-profile exits from Boulder this week. Wide receiver Omarion Miller and safety Tawfiq Byard - arguably the team’s best offensive and defensive players - also announced their intentions to transfer. Now, one of the program’s most promising young defenders is joining them.
On paper, McPherson’s numbers don’t scream “game-changer,” but dig a little deeper and the impact is clear. He finished fifth on the team in quarterback pressures, and his frame and motor made him a long-term piece for a defense that desperately needed one. This wasn’t just a depth loss - it’s a foundational piece walking out the door.
And that’s the reality of a 3-9 season. Momentum matters in college football, and right now, Colorado’s is heading the wrong way.
The belief inside the locker room - the kind that keeps players committed even through tough seasons - seems to be fading. When you lose your top offensive weapon, your defensive anchor, and a rising edge rusher in the span of a week, that’s not just roster turnover.
That’s a program trying to find its footing.
Coach Prime has never been shy about his portal philosophy. He’s said before that players only leave Colorado for money, and while NIL is certainly a factor across the country, this run of exits suggests something deeper. Whether it’s culture, opportunity, or just frustration with the team’s trajectory, the Buffs are bleeding talent - and fast.
Now comes the hard part. The transfer portal opens in January, and Sanders is going to have to be aggressive.
That means selling the vision, selling the opportunity, and yes, competing in the NIL space. Because if Colorado wants to replace the caliber of players it’s losing, it’s going to take more than just hype and headlines.
It’s going to take resources and results.
The concern isn’t just about 2025 anymore - it’s about what 2026 could look like if this trend continues. The Buffs were hoping this past season was rock bottom. But unless something changes quickly, it might just be a preview of what’s to come.
There’s still time for Sanders to reshape the roster. The portal can be cruel, but it can also be kind to programs that know how to work it. The question is whether Colorado can land the kind of difference-makers it just lost - and whether this offseason exodus is close to being over.
Right now, all signs point to more departures ahead. And if that’s the case, the rebuild in Boulder is only just beginning.