Colorado’s secondary has been under pressure from the start, and that’s what makes Jaydan Hardy’s quiet opening to the season stand out even more.
Through two games, the Buffaloes have already given up 237 passing yards to Georgia Tech in Week 1 and then 245 yards and three touchdowns to Weber State in Week 2. That kind of production usually opens the door for defensive backs to rotate in and make a case for more snaps. So far, Hardy still hasn’t been able to break through.
Hardy arrived in Boulder during the offseason with the look of a player who could reset his career. He had spent time with two strong Oklahoma teams under Brent Venables, but never fully locked down a starting job there because of the competition around him. As a rotational safety, he finished with 17 total tackles, 11 solo tackles, a pass breakup, a forced fumble and two interceptions.
That background made him an obvious candidate to matter more for Colorado, especially after Tennessee transfer Boo Carter was moved out of the safety room. With Hardy’s SEC experience and playoff background, it seemed like he could be the kind of veteran piece that helps a team with postseason ambitions.
Instead, he has been a non-factor on defense so far. He has not recorded a stat through the first two games.
Week 2 looked like the best chance for him to get involved, but even against Weber State, he stayed on the sideline while others got the nod. Carter moved to slot, and redshirt freshman Jason Stokes Jr. got the opportunity over Hardy.
The Wildcats were moving the ball through the air, too, which should have created chances for Colorado to shuffle its secondary. It still wasn’t enough to get Hardy on the field.
Weber State receiver Noah Kjar had 121 yards and two touchdowns, including a 70-yard catch that came against nickel Makari Vickers. Even with that kind of damage showing up in the box score, Hardy never found his way into the rotation.
There is still time for that to change. Colorado is only two games into the season, and Sanders has already shown he is willing to adjust personnel, including on special teams.
"I'm not concerned about those issues,” said Sanders when addressing Colorado’s special teams issues ahead of Week 2. “The reason: because that's an easy fix with personnel.
Some things are schematic. That wasn't schematic.
That was personnel. We fixed it with personnel already.
Hopefully, you see the results this weekend.”
If Hardy can work his way into Sanders’ revamped punt and kick return coverage units, he could create another path back into the defensive picture. For now, though, the question is whether he can turn a promising transfer move into a real role before the season starts forcing harder conversations.
In Other News...
Colorado May Have Found A Key Piece To Protect Julian Lewis
Colorados recent push on the high school recruiting trail has started to show up where it matters most, in the trenches. The Buffaloes have made a bigger commitment to building through prep prospects, and that effort got a boost with four-star offensive tackle Dewey Young at the front of their 2027 class. ESPN analysts singled out Young as the Colorado commit most likely to help sooner rather than later, which fits the broader need to keep the pocket cleaner for quarterback Julian Lewis.
Youngs path to Boulder also gives the commitment some added weight. He had family ties to Michigan State and had several other programs in the mix before choosing Colorado, a sign the Buffs had to win a real recruiting fight for a player they view as part of the offensive-line rebuild. For a program trying to strengthen protection up front, landing a tackle with early-impact potential is exactly the kind of step that can shape what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Leaving Colorado Would Take More Than Florida State Interest
Deion Sanders has Colorado off to a 2-0 start in 2026, a welcome change after last years 3-9 finish and another reminder of how quickly he has reset the tone around the program. Even with Florida State looming as a possible opening, the situation is not as simple as a nostalgic reunion. Sanders has built real footing in Boulder, where the fit has centered on control, confidence and a staff structure he helped shape.
Florida State is expected to search for a new head coach after the firing of its athletic director and the likely departure of Mike Norvell, which naturally puts Sanders in the conversation. But any move would have to clear more than one hurdle, including his Colorado buyout, the history of FSU passing on him before, and the question of whether he would walk away from the autonomy and salary he has in Boulder. The interest is real enough to keep the speculation alive, but the path from rumor to reality still looks complicated. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Just Lost A Key Recruiting Stage At A Tough Time
Colorados home opener against Northwestern comes with an unusual recruiting wrinkle, because the game is being played on the road and there will be no official in-state recruiting visits at Folsom Field. Under NCAA rules, those visits are tied to home games, so the Buffaloes lose one of the most visible chances to sell prospects on the full campus experience at a time when every detail matters.
Recruits can still attend the Northwestern game on their own, but the standard visit setup Colorado usually leans on is off the table for this date. The good news is the Buffaloes will get that stage back for their next home game against Texas Tech, when the program can again bring prospects into the building and show off what Saturdays in Boulder look like at full volume. [Read more 🡒]