Colorado has an incoming cornerback in Cree Thomas who is already drawing attention, and not just from the Buffaloes’ staff.
Thomas, a former Notre Dame defender and one of Deion Sanders’ transfer portal additions, has been earning strong reviews from defensive coordinator Chris Marve. What has Buffaloes fans buzzing, though, is who Thomas spent time training with before the 2026 campaign: Denver Broncos All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II.
Thomas went viral after linking up with Surtain this summer, and it’s easy to see why that matters. Surtain is coming off his first career AFC title game appearance, a loss to eventual conference champ the New England Patriots, but still picked up his fourth straight Pro Bowl nod after breaking up 12 passes.
Across the season, he allowed only 33 passes in his coverage area for 305 yards and just one touchdown. He gave up one touchdown against the Buffalo Bills, though Denver still knocked off the AFC favorites 33-30 in the second round after earning a bye as the conference’s top seed.
For Colorado, the appeal is obvious. Surtain’s game is built on the kind of detail work that translates anywhere: sharp hand placement in press man, excellent foot balance at the line, and the ability to throw off a receiver’s release before the route even gets rolling.
He also brings the kind of football IQ that’s been shaped by a strong lineage, starting with his father, Patrick Surtain Sr., and later sharpened by Coach Prime and Nick Saban at Alabama. Just as important, Surtain plays with poise, staying calm and timing his breaks without panic.
That’s the kind of seasoning Thomas can carry back to Boulder. In Marve’s 4-2-5 defense, Thomas could give Colorado a press man option with real upside, and the work he’s done with Surtain could help him become a shutdown presence.
His early schedule will test him quickly. Colorado opens against Georgia Tech, where Thomas may be asked to do more in run support since the Yellow Jackets like to lean on the ground game.
After that comes a matchup with Coy Eakin and reigning Big 12 champion Texas Tech. Eakin is coming off 48 catches for 637 yards and six touchdowns and leads a younger receiving group.
Then there’s Nov. 7 against Arizona State, where Sanders and Colorado will see a familiar name in former wideout Omarion Miller, who is expected to lead Kenny Dillingham’s passing attack.
Thomas will see a mix of Air Raid looks and run-heavy offenses, and if he turns that offseason work with Surtain into an All-Big 12 type of season, he may owe the Broncos star more than a quick thank-you.
In Other News...
Colorado Roster Debate Puts Deions Team-Building Approach Under The Microscope
A viral social media post has pushed Colorados roster construction back into the spotlight, after fans noticed the Buffaloes list 11 players at 5-foot-9 or shorter. Defensive back Kole Mathis, listed at 5-8 and 140 pounds, quickly became part of the conversation as supporters and skeptics debated whether the teams emphasis on quickness can hold up over the long haul.
The reaction has been split in familiar ways for a Deion Sanders program. Some fans see size concerns and worry about matchups, while others point to the potential value of speed and skill, especially when smaller players have produced in the past. Colorado has continued to recruit and build with that profile in mind, pulling in plenty of players from strong high school programs in Texas and Georgia, and the latest online dustup has only added another layer to the scrutiny around that approach. [Read more 🡒]
Colorados Ezra Christensen Could Benefit From A New NCAA Eligibility Fight
The latest NCAA eligibility fight is already rippling beyond Villanova, and Colorado has a clear reason to pay attention. Pat McQuaides lawsuit challenging the Five-Year Rule centers on whether a junior college season should count against a players eligibility, and the case has quickly become another test of how the NCAA handles transfers and time limits across college football. A federal judge has already allowed McQuaide to keep competing while the case moves forward, giving the dispute an immediate practical impact as well as a legal one.
For Colorado, the relevance comes through defensive lineman Ezra Christensen, whose own eligibility situation could be affected if this challenge gains traction. The ruling also has potential implications for UCFs Dean Miller, adding another name to a growing list of players watching the case closely. For now, the fight is still unfolding, but it has the kind of legal shape that can reach into roster planning, depth charts and the near-term futures of players waiting on a decision. [Read more 🡒]
DeKalon Taylor Sees Something Different In Colorado This Fall
Fall camp has given Colorado a different feel this month, and DeKalon Taylor has noticed it up close. The Buffaloes back pointed to the culture shift around Deion Sanders, along with the arrival of new coordinators Brennan Marion and Chris Marve, as part of what has made this preseason stand out from the last one. He also singled out the new offensive scheme and a reshaped offensive line as reasons the group looks and sounds more settled heading into the season.
For a program trying to move on from a 3-9 finish in 2025, those details matter because the Buffaloes know they need more than talent to climb back. Colorado has added key transfers and has started to build around a roster that wants better results, even if outside expectations remain modest with preseason odds around 4.5 wins. The real question now is whether the cleaner habits Taylor has seen in camp can turn into something more meaningful once the games start. [Read more 🡒]