Samuel Okunlola is heading back to the transfer portal, officially planning to enter when it opens on January 2. After a promising 2024 campaign with Colorado, the edge rusher saw his 2025 season cut short almost as soon as it began. He logged just 33 defensive snaps in the Buffaloes’ opener against Georgia Tech before a shoulder injury sidelined him for the rest of the year.
It’s a tough break for a player who had carved out a key role on Colorado’s defense. In 2024, Okunlola played in all 13 games, starting 10, and finished third on the team in quarterback pressures with 23-trailing only BJ Green II (43) and Arden Walker (27). He totaled 31 tackles that season, including seven for loss and three sacks, showing flashes of the disruptive edge presence that made him a coveted recruit out of high school.
At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, Okunlola brings size and experience to the table. He began his college career at Pitt, where he appeared in 15 games across two seasons before transferring to Boulder. During his time with the Panthers, he posted 18 tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery-solid production in a rotational role.
Okunlola will enter his next stop with just one year of eligibility remaining, though there’s a possibility he could apply for a medical hardship waiver down the line, potentially extending his college career into 2027. That decision will hinge on how the NCAA evaluates his injury-shortened 2025 season.
The Brockton, Massachusetts native was a standout at Thayer Academy, where he dominated on both sides of the ball. As a high school senior, he racked up 17 sacks and drew more than 50 scholarship offers-a testament to his raw talent and upside. His younger brother, Samson Okunlola, is currently on track to be a junior offensive lineman at Miami in 2026, continuing the family’s presence on the college football stage.
Okunlola isn’t the only Buffalo preparing for a fresh start. Colorado is expected to see a significant wave of players enter the portal when it opens next month. Among those anticipated to depart are offensive athlete Dre’lon Miller, running back Dallan Hayden, wide receiver Omarion Miller, offensive linemen Tyler Brown and Carde Smith, and a deep group of defensive linemen and secondary players-including edge Alexander McPherson, cornerbacks Noah King and Teon Parks, linebacker Mantrez Walker, and safeties Tawfiq Byard, TJ Branch, John Slaughter, and Terrance Love.
It’s shaping up to be an offseason of transition in Boulder, and Okunlola’s departure is part of a broader roster reshuffle. For teams looking for an experienced, high-motor edge rusher with Power Five production and a chip on his shoulder, Okunlola could be a valuable late addition.