Colorado’s freshman class already has a path to the field, but Josiah Manu looks like the one who could force the issue fastest.
With the Buffaloes still sorting through 22 starting spots, the defensive tackle from the 2026 class stands out as a true first-year player who could make noise right away. Colorado has four freshmen who could push for starting jobs, but Manu has the kind of frame and production that make him easy to picture in the mix from the jump.
At 6-5 and 295 pounds, Manu already has the length coaches want in the trenches, and he pairs it with real disruption. He put up 55 tackles with nine for loss while working mostly over the center or shading toward the right guard. The selling point is the burst: Manu explodes off the line, gets centers and guards back on their heels, then finishes with strong arm extension to clear himself out of blocks.
His background makes him even more intriguing. Manu was a two-way force at Thompson Valley High in Loveland, Colorado, playing on both the defensive and offensive lines.
On offense, he used his quick feet at guard and became a reliable pull-blocking option. That experience should help him later on, because he already understands how blockers think and how line schemes are put together.
The opportunity in front of him got even clearer because of what happened with Ezra Christensen. The former New Mexico State and Fresno State defender is dealing with an NCAA case over his 2026 playing eligibility, and he has hired attorney Darren Heitner to handle that fight. Since Christensen and his attorney are suing the NCAA, the situation has changed the picture up front for Colorado heading into fall.
That doesn’t mean Manu is the only answer. Deion Sanders and defensive coordinator Chris Marve have other ways to build the interior if they want to lean on experience.
Santana Hopper and Quincy Wiggins could slide inside, and Wiggins brings a 6-5 frame similar to Manu’s. Another route would be to load up with size, using 6-4, 320-pound Sedrick Smith and Baylor transfer Samu Taumanupepe, who checks in at 6-3 and 370 pounds, especially against run-heavy teams like Georgia Tech in the opener.
Still, Manu has the combination of physical traits and upside that could get him into the two-deep quickly. He looks like a player who can make offensive linemen uncomfortable from the start, and August could be the month he works his way into a bigger role than most expected.
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