Colorado’s defense has done enough through five games to keep the Buffaloes from sliding even further, and the biggest reason is simple: the front seven has started to look like a real problem for opposing offenses.
That’s a notable shift for a unit that had already been beaten up by run games and left searching for a pass rush. This season, the edge room has given Colorado something to build on.
Monmouth transfer Lamont Lester Jr. made an immediate splash with a three-sack performance against Georgia Tech, topping Arden Walker’s sack total from last season in one game. North Dakota State transfer Toby Anene has also become a steady force.
The most disruptive presence, though, has been Santana Hopper. After moving inside, the Tulane transfer has been wrecking plays in the backfield, and Texas Tech still had trouble handling him in Colorado’s 29-7 loss.
Hopper finished that game with 5.5 tackles for loss. The Buffaloes are still thin at defensive tackle, which is part of why Hopper has been sliding around the line, but Dylan Manuel has quietly provided help inside, and 6-5 Quency Wiggins has added length from the edge while working inside at times.
If Colorado has a reason it has been able to hang around, it starts here.
The linebackers have also delivered on the preseason buzz. Before the year, Deion Sanders singled out Gideon Lampron and called him the “dog” of the group. Through five games, the Dayton and Bowling Green transfer has backed that up with 38 tackles to lead the linebackers.
Liona Lefau has been just as important. The former Texas linebacker has already cleared 30 tackles and is on pace to finish with more than 70 for the first time in his college career.
Colorado did take a hit when Tyler Martinez was lost for the season with an injury, and that puts pressure on the depth chart. Walk-on Gage Goldberg or Carson Crawford now has to step in and handle more responsibility.
Even with that loss, the linebackers have helped Colorado create multiple three-and-outs and hold opponents to a 37.5 percent third-down conversion rate. If not for the defensive line, this would probably be the clear strength of the defense.
The secondary has been better than it was a year ago, too, especially at corner. Boo Carter and Cree Thomas have given the Buffaloes a much firmer base there. Carter has shown off his versatility, particularly as a blitzer, while Thomas has held up in man coverage even if penalties have been an issue early.
The problem is depth. Colorado still needs a third corner to emerge after the removal of Jah Jah Boyd.
At safety, New Mexico State transfer Naeten Mitchell has become a dependable tackler. Randon Fontenette, though, has taken the biggest step, leading the Buffaloes in tackles and giving Marve a player he seems comfortable using near the line of scrimmage.
Fontenette’s downhill style has changed the tone of the defense. Colorado still needs another safety to claim the third spot, and Ben Finneseth may be the one who can fill that role.
Special teams has offered far less to talk about, aside from Carter’s block of a field goal to open the season. Without a true special teams coach, the unit has had issues, and even placekicker Elliot Arnold has been uneven, including a miss from the 20-to-29-yard range.
The return game has not helped. No kickoff returner is averaging 20 yards per return, and the punt return production has been minimal, with Carter’s eight-yard return standing as the longest.
In Other News...
Colorado Faces A Huge In-State Recruiting Test At Quarterback
The recruiting spotlight was already bright around Colorados quarterback room, and Titus Huard only added to it during the Buffaloes game against Texas Tech. The four-star passer, who is Colorados top 2027 recruit, was on hand for the visit and had a chance to spend time with the coaching staff, giving the program a key look at a prospect who could shape its long-term plans.
Huards ties to the Buffaloes run through his high school coach, Mike Sanford Jr., and that connection has helped keep Colorado firmly in the mix. He came away optimistic about what he saw, even as he continues to sort through other possibilities with planned visits to Oregon and UCLA still ahead in the process. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Faces A Brutal Colorado Question After 3 Straight Losses
Colorados fast start has given way to a rough midseason stretch, and the buzz around Deion Sanders has shifted with it. After opening the 2026 season with two wins, the Buffaloes have dropped three straight to fall to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in Big 12 play, a slide that has revived familiar questions about where the program is headed and how quickly it can steady itself.
The criticism is only getting louder as the bye week arrives, with Fox Sports personality Colin Cowherd among those taking aim at Sanders ability to sustain success at the sports highest level. For Colorado, the timing adds to the pressure, because the next test is No. 12 Utah and the issues are bigger than one bad stretch - quarterback stability, overall execution and the broader sense of organization all remain in the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Faces Its Biggest Early Test Yet At Arizona State
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Jenna Ylivainios steadiness at setter and Ana Burilovics presence on the pin give the Buffaloes pieces that can travel, but Arizona State brings plenty of pressure of its own. JJ Van Niel is in his third season guiding a group built around upperclass hitters Noemie Glover, Una Vajagic and Aniya Clinton, and the Sun Devils have the ranking, the home court and the series history to make this feel like more than just another Big 12 date. Colorado has already shown it can win when the stakes rise, and this one looks like another early measuring stick with plenty still to sort out. [Read more 🡒]