Colorado made a few notable tweaks to its Week 3 depth chart ahead of Saturday’s trip to Northwestern, and the biggest headline sits right where everyone looks first: quarterback.
Julian Lewis is listed as the starter under center for the Buffaloes, giving Colorado a clear offensive anchor as Deion Sanders’ staff sorted through personnel after the Week 2 win over Weber State. The latest chart also reflects the expected movement elsewhere on the roster after the Buffs had a chance to evaluate what worked.
Up front, Colorado’s offensive line comes out with Bo Hughley at left tackle, Chauncey Gooden at left guard, Sean Kinney at center, Jayvon McFadden at right guard and Leon Bell at right tackle. The backups listed behind them are Xavier Payne, Yahya Attia, Phillip Houston, Demetrius Hunter, Larry Johnson III and Andre Roye Jr.
At receiver, DeAndre Moore Jr., Joseph Williams and Quentin Gibson are the starters. The depth behind them includes Quanell Farrakhan Jr., Kam Perry, Ernest Campbell, Zach Atkins and Corbin Laisure. Brady Kopetz and Ben Gula are listed at fullback.
In the backfield, Micah Welch is the lead running back, with Damian Henderson II and Richard Young behind him. DeKalon Taylor is also listed as a starter, with Jaquail Smith on the depth line.
Defensively, Colorado’s front shows Lamont Lester Jr. and Toby Anene at EDGE, with Santana Hopper and Dylan Manuel at defensive tackle. The listed depth includes Kylan Salter, Samu Taumanupepe, Quency Wiggins, Tyler Moore, Chauncey Gooden, Manny Ezeogu and Domata Peko Jr.
At linebacker, Gideon ESPN Lampron, Tyler Martinez and Liona Lefau are the starters. Carson Crawford and Rodney Colton Jr. are behind Lampron, while Gage Goldberg is listed as depth behind both Martinez and Lefau.
The secondary features Cree Thomas and Boo Carter at cornerback, with Jason Stokes Jr. and Maurice Williams backing them up. Randon Fontenette and Naeten Mitchell are the starting safeties, with Jah Jah Boyd, Braylon Edwards, Ben Finneseth and Justin Eaglin in reserve. Makari Vickers is the starter at nickel, with Preston Ashley listed behind him.
In Other News...
Deion Sanders Calls Out A Colorado Issue Fans Will Hate
Deion Sanders did not like what he saw after Colorados 41-7 loss to Northwestern, and it was not just the score that bothered him. The Buffaloes were undone by turnovers and offensive inconsistency, but Sanders focused on the reaction from some players afterward, saying he was dissatisfied with the fact they were laughing after the defeat.
With Big 12 play coming next, Sanders is using the aftermath as a teaching moment about accountability and what kind of standard this team has to live up to. For Colorado, the concern now is bigger than one rough afternoon. It is whether the lesson from an ugly opening loss sticks before the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Faces A Costly Crossroads If Deion Era Ends
If Colorado ever decided to move on from Deion Sanders, the fallout would be about more than simply finding a new head coach. His contract carries a significant buyout clause, which means any exit would come with a major financial hit before the Buffaloes even get to the harder part: figuring out what kind of program they want to be next. That question is already shaping the discussion around possible replacements, because the choice would say as much about Colorados long-term direction as it would about the football team itself.
Among the names being floated are Brennan Marion, Jason Eck, Ryan Walters, Brian Kelly and others, a mix that underscores how many different paths the school could take. Some candidates bring strong recruiting appeal, some have Colorado ties, and others offer more established head-coaching experience, but each would come with a different level of risk and expectation. For a program trying to find stability, the next move would not just be about replacing Sanders. It would be about choosing which version of the future Colorado is willing to buy into. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Had To Address A Troubling Colorado Issue Fast
The postgame mood around Colorado was blunt and unsettled after a 41-7 loss to Northwestern, a game that turned early when the Buffaloes gave the ball away and never recovered. Deion Sanders did not hide from it, acknowledging the mistakes that put his team in a hole while also giving Northwestern credit for how it was coached and prepared.
Sanders also had to deal with more than the scoreboard, addressing player behavior in the wake of the defeat as he tried to steady a team already under pressure. With Big 12 play looming, the message was clear enough: the Buffaloes have to clean up the details, prepare better and show much more discipline if they want the next stretch to look anything like they hoped. [Read more 🡒]