Colorado is wasting no time digging into the punt return picture as fall camp opens in Colorado Springs, and Deion Sanders is already giving the job a real look.
Last season, Quentin Gibson and Quanell Farrakhan Jr. handled most of the work. This year, the Buffaloes are working through a different mix. Boo Carter, DeKalon Taylor and Ernest Campbell have all surfaced as possible answers, giving the staff a few very different options to sort through.
Carter looks like the most polished candidate on paper. The Tennessee transfer arrived in Boulder with an SEC return résumé that jumps off the page.
In 2024, he earned All-SEC freshman honors and led the conference in punt return average at 16.5 yards per return. He backed that up in 2025 by averaging 13.2 yards per return and ripping off a career-long 40-yard return.
That kind of experience usually gets a coach’s attention fast, and Carter brings more than just return ability to the table. He’s expected to play a significant role on defense at nickel or safety, which gives Colorado another reason to keep him in the mix. His quickness and ball skills fit the punt return job naturally.
Taylor brings a different kind of value. The Incarnate Word transfer has been around the return game throughout his college career and comes to Colorado with a strong track record. He was a two-time all-conference punt returner and a two-time all-conference kick returner at UIW, and over three seasons he totaled 538 punt return yards and a touchdown on 46 career returns.
He may not draw the same headlines as Carter, but Taylor gives Colorado experience and versatility in a room where the staff clearly wants choices. That matters when the coaches are trying to find someone who can consistently put the offense in better field position.
Campbell is the wild card, and the speed jumps off the page. The Sacramento State transfer posted 755 receiving yards and eight touchdowns last season while averaging 20.4 yards per catch. He also brings track speed to Boulder, having clocked 10.35 seconds in the 100 meters.
That kind of burst makes him an intriguing punt return option. If Campbell gets a clean lane and space to work with, he can change the feel of a game in a hurry.
Colorado’s need for a spark in that area is pretty clear. The Buffs finished 2025 with 11 punt returns for 79 yards and no touchdowns, a number that left the unit looking for more punch. That’s part of why Sanders is already testing multiple players as camp gets rolling.
For now, the competition is wide open. Gibson and Farrakhan carried the load a year ago, but this camp is shaping up as a fresh battle, with Carter offering the most proven resume, Taylor bringing dependable experience and Campbell flashing the kind of speed that can turn a modest return into something much bigger.
Colorado will spend the first week of camp in Colorado Springs, practicing at Fountain-Fort Carson High School and staying at UCCS before returning to Boulder on Aug. 8. The practices are closed to the public, but the race for jobs is already underway.
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