Colorado’s 2026 roster has no shortage of buzz around it, and Deion Sanders is doing plenty to feed that energy. After a 3-9 season, the Buffaloes are still hearing the noise from outside. Sanders and his staff, though, keep talking like they’ve got a much different team this time around - one with NFL-caliber pieces and a real chance to climb.
A lot of that obviously starts with quarterback Julian "JuJu" Lewis. His development will steer everything. But Colorado also has five players who could lift the team’s ceiling in a major way, whether they’re already proven commodities or newcomers still tapping into what made them coveted in the first place.
One of the most intriguing is wide receiver Sincere Scudero. He’s headed into his third different offense, but this one may suit him best yet. Colorado’s system should create more room for him to work with, which matters for a receiver who already punished defenses in San Jose State’s pass-heavy "Spread-N-Shred" attack.
Offensive coordinator Brennan Marion brings a different kind of stress to defenses. His "Go-Go" offense leans on play action and vertical shots, and Scudero should see chances to line up in unbalanced formations that force opponents to sort out the chaos before the snap. Even with that downfield emphasis, he can still attack the middle of the field when linebackers bite on the run.
Marion’s track record helps the case, too. He helped turn Jordan Addison into an All-American at Pitt and unleashed Xavier Worthy at Texas. That kind of background gives Scudero another path to production.
The other transfer drawing plenty of attention is Alabama running back Dre’lon Young. He landed on the Doak Walker Award watchlist on Aug. 18, and the hype around him is starting to build. Colorado still needs a back who can bring some downhill power to Marion’s offense, and Young has a real shot to be that guy.
That also means finally showing the traits that made him such a prized signing for Alabama in the last years of Nick Saban’s run there. Young has already gone viral for taking on one of Marion’s practice challenges and running through arm tackles with force. Colorado needs that physical edge to show up on Saturdays, and the opener against Georgia Tech should tell plenty about how quickly he settles in.
Up front, Sanders has been talking about how "violent" the offensive line is this season. That’s a notable word choice given how rough things have been for the Buffs in that area under his watch. The new offense may be helping, but the most versatile piece on the line looks like Chauncey Gooden.
Gooden can play both guard and tackle, and Colorado can use that flexibility to help power the run game for Young and the rest of the backfield. If the line is going to take a step, he’s a logical place to start.
On defense, the surprise name is Arden Walker. Defensive tackle coach Dante Carter called him the "X-Factor" on Aug. 18, and Colorado appears set to move the natural edge rusher inside. That shift could open things up for the whole defense if Walker can use his length and first-step burst against guards and centers.
There’s also a ripple effect here. With new defensive coordinator Chris Marve helping slide Walker inside, Colorado could free up more edge rushers and give its linebackers more room to operate.
Then there’s Carter himself, whose ceiling may be as high as anyone’s on the roster. Sanders has already called the Tennessee transfer a "top five" NFL Draft talent, and the expectation is that he’ll bring more to the table than last season’s top corner, DJ McKinney. Carter is being looked at as Colorado’s most talented defender since Travis Hunter.
If he can consistently take away the opponent’s top receiver, that draft talk only gets louder. And if he can push past four interceptions, he could change the look of Colorado’s back end in a hurry.
In Other News...
Colorado Hype Is Growing As Buffs Talent Starts Drawing National Buzz
Colorados talent is starting to get noticed well beyond Boulder, and the preseason award circuit is providing another sign of how much buzz is building around the program. Six Buffaloes were included on national watch lists for 2026 honors, a reminder that this roster is no longer flying under the radar as the season approaches.
Kam Perry and Danny Scudero landed on the Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List, Richard Young was recognized as a Doak Walker Award candidate, and DeKalon Taylor made the Comeback Player of the Year Watch List. DeAndre Moore Jr. and Boo Carter also earned spots on the Senior Bowl Top 300, giving Colorado a spread of recognition across offense, defense and special teams that should only add to the expectations around this group. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Defense Is Taking Shape Around Deions Newest Addition
Cree Thomas arrival from Notre Dame gives Colorado another experienced piece to work with as Deion Sanders continues reshaping the defense in Boulder. The cornerback joins a group that already includes several players with Power Five backgrounds, and the Buffs are hoping that blend of familiar names and fresh transfers can give the unit a more settled look heading into the season.
Liona Lefau and Boo Carter are also expected to factor into the defensive mix, adding to the sense that Colorado is trying to build depth as well as talent. The program has already drawn some preseason recognition, with multiple players landing on award watch lists, and the next step will be turning that attention into a defense that looks more complete once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Has A Transfer Defender Suddenly Pushing For A Real Role
Colorados defensive line has been one of the quieter camp battlegrounds, but Samu Taumanupepe has made it one of the more interesting ones. After arriving from Baylor following stops with Texas A&M and limited on-field opportunity, the transfer defensive tackle struggled through spring, then turned around enough in fall camp to draw strong notice from defensive line coach Dante Carter. For a program trying to deepen its front, that kind of shift can change the tone of an entire rotation.
Taumanupepes timing makes the development even more notable. Colorado is heading into its Big 12 opener against Baylor, the team he transferred away from, and the matchup offers a clean reminder of how much his role has changed since spring. Whether he ends up as more than a camp success story will be decided in game action, but he has clearly worked his way into the conversation for a real spot on the field. [Read more 🡒]