Colorado’s new-look roster is already talking like a group with something to prove, and Naeten Mitchell says that edge is showing up everywhere.
Speaking at Big 12 Media Days, the Colorado defensive back told DNVR Buffs he likes the mindset of the Buffaloes’ transfer-heavy group as they head toward 2026. Colorado brought in more than 40 new transfers before the season, and Mitchell believes that kind of influx has given the team a different kind of energy.
“A lot of these guys have a chip on their shoulder. It's different when you've been through something, a lot of people have told you no or they care about your size, or things of that nature.
There's a lot of guys out there that have a big chip on their shoulder, and I think we brought a lot of guys in that do have that chip on their shoulder, and they're working really hard to play in this season. I'm just excited," Mitchell told DNVR Buffs.
He doubled down on that idea in another comment shared from the interview: “A lot of these guys have a chip on their shoulder...I'm just excited because there a lot of guys that are under the wraps and it's gonna be a big year for them.”
That attitude fits a Colorado team that has leaned heavily into the portal. The Buffaloes lost veterans, but the wave of newcomers has created real optimism around the program as the season approaches.
The biggest immediate help could come up front. Colorado added transfer offensive linemen who should give expected starting quarterback Julian Lewis more experienced protection.
That matters even more with Brennan Marion’s Go-Go offense in the mix, since the unit will need time to learn the system. The added experience should also help running backs like Henderson and Smith, who could benefit from the creativity and aggression built into that scheme.
The transfer portal remains one of the most debated parts of college football. Supporters see freedom and opportunity. Critics argue it can shake up chemistry, weaken long-term commitment, and create more tampering concerns.
But for Colorado, the portal may be a strength rather than a problem.
There are already examples of players who used it to their advantage, including quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza, Jayden Daniels, and Joe Burrow. Notre Dame also found success with transfer quarterbacks Riley Leonard and Sam Hartman in back-to-back seasons. Former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders is another example of how a transfer path can put a player in front of NFL coaches and general managers.
Colorado’s recruiting approach has also widened. Deion Sanders had mostly focused on Florida and nearby talent around Boulder in the past, but this group is coming from the South, Midwest, and West Coast. That mix brings in players who have been shaped by different coaching styles, and the Buffaloes are hoping that combination, along with all that chip-on-the-shoulder energy, makes for a strong fit with Coach Prime.
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