Some of the clearest proof of what Deion Sanders has built at Colorado isn’t found in the transfer headlines or the big names. It lives in stories like Ben Finneseth’s.
Finneseth came into the program as a walk-on and stuck through the upheaval that followed Sanders’ arrival in late 2022. In a roster environment defined by constant change, he became one of the holdovers who kept grinding, and that patience eventually turned into real value for the Buffaloes.
He was open about how low things got before that turnaround. On The Honour Podcast, Finneseth described a stretch when he was ready to give up on the sport entirely.
“I hated my life, I wanted to quit FB. I was the worst player on the team. Coach Prime saw something in me that I couldn’t see in myself,” Finneseth said.
That kind of candor has helped make him a trusted voice inside the program. He has never been the flashiest presence, but he has earned respect by staying steady and putting in the work.
When Sanders arrived, Finneseth understood the reality of the moment. After the now-famous “bringing my luggage” meeting, he chose not to let himself get pushed out and not to walk away from the chance in front of him. That decision kept him in Boulder, and over time it changed his career.
He first carved out a role on special teams, then expanded into the defense. By the 2025 season, he had moved from walk-on status to a dependable role player for Colorado.
The payoff came on April 19, 2025, when Sanders surprised him with a scholarship before Colorado’s annual Black & Gold spring game at Folsom Field. It was the kind of moment that stuck with teammates and fans because it fit the way college football can reward persistence.
Afterward, Sanders pointed to the kind of daily effort that had made Finneseth stand out.
“We got a few guys that work their butts off every day. They are full speed, they are 100 percent. They give everything they got in the classroom and on the field,” Sanders said.
Finneseth’s production kept matching the trust. In 2024, he appeared in all 13 games, made 12 tackles and became a core special teams contributor. Looking ahead to 2026, he is expected to have an even bigger role as Colorado continues working through its secondary and leadership picture.
He is also starting to think beyond his playing days. On The Honour Podcast, Finneseth said coaching has begun to look like a real possibility, especially after he got more involved in recruiting during the winter transfer portal cycle.
That fits a player who has spent years inside the program and seen how it operates under Sanders. He has learned how much communication and trust matter, and he has lived the kind of journey Colorado wants to showcase.
For the Buffs, Finneseth’s path is a reminder that the work behind the scenes still matters. Colorado has generated plenty of attention since Sanders took over, but players like Finneseth show how consistency can still get noticed.
In Other News...
Colorado Still Has 5 Starting Jobs Fans Will Be Watching Closely
Colorados 2026 roster is going to look a lot different, and that means fall camp will do plenty of sorting for Deion Sanders and his staff. With new faces all over the depth chart and a push to rebound from last season, the Buffaloes have real competition brewing in the secondary, along the defensive front, at quarterback, linebacker and on the offensive line. It is the kind of offseason where almost every practice rep matters, because several jobs are open and plenty of transfers and returners have a case to make.
The secondary and safety spots alone could keep the staff busy, while the front seven is still searching for the right mix to generate consistent pressure and hold up against the run. On offense, the quarterback picture and the line in front of him are just as important, since Colorado needs both stability and playmaking to take a step forward. The big question now is how quickly those battles settle once camp gets rolling, because the answers there will go a long way toward shaping the Buffaloes season. [Read more 🡒]
Boo Carter Just Got Pulled Into A Colorado Ranking Debate
ESPNs latest transfer portal update gave Colorado one clear foothold in the national conversation: wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr., who landed at No. 26 after the shake-up at the top of the list. Moore is the lone Buffaloes player in the rankings, a reminder that while Colorado brought in plenty of new faces, not every addition has broken through into the wider portal buzz.
The bigger picture around Boulder is a little more complicated. Colorado was already left out of the Big 12s spotlight last week, and several other newcomers, including Danny Scudero, Boo Carter and Gideon Lampron, also missed the cut. Moores appeal is easy to see, though, especially with his leadership and his familiarity with offensive coordinator Brennan Marion as the Buffs begin installing the Go-Go offense. [Read more 🡒]