Colorado’s loss to No. 12 Texas Tech on Saturday came with a small but notable development up front: true freshman Xavier Payne made his first career start at left tackle.
The Buffaloes fell 29-7 in a game that felt closer than the final score, but Payne’s debut turned into one of the clearest takeaways from the afternoon. Colorado handed the freshman one of the offense’s most important jobs and asked him to handle it right away against a ranked Big 12 opponent.
That opportunity came with a little uncertainty around the roster shuffle. DNVR reporter Scott Procter confirmed Payne’s first start and noted that tackle Bo Hughely was not listed on the injury report. That leaves the reason for the switch unresolved; it doesn’t, however, establish an injury or a permanent change.
Payne has already explained why the position fits him. In a June 12 feature published by Colorado Athletics, he talked about the trust that comes with protecting the quarterback.
“I like the fact that the quarterback trusts me enough to still say hike and not worry about looking over his shoulder,” Payne said. “If I mess up, he gets smashed. I just like that my guy believes in me the same way I believe in him.”
Colorado true freshman Xavier Payne is making his first career start today at left tackle.
At 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds, Payne arrived in Boulder as an early enrollee from Jones High School in Orlando, Florida, where he helped the Tigers reach consecutive Class 4A state title games. He was a consensus three-star prospect, originally committed to Florida State before choosing Colorado over Syracuse.
His background also includes wrestling and track and field, and he credited those sports with sharpening the way he plays.
“Wrestling taught me how to use my leverage in much better ways, control my body as well as controlling someone else’s,” Payne said in June.
Colorado’s staff sold him on a path to early development. Offensive line coach Gunnar White, along with Andre Gurode and Geore Hegamin, helped convince Payne that Boulder was the right place for him. Spring practice gave him his first taste of college football’s pace and the constant movement along the offensive line before fall camp pushed the learning further.
“My goal is to play as early as possible and as much as possible,” Payne said. “I just trusted their plan for that. That was the biggest thing: ‘trust.’”
That early chance has arrived now, and Payne’s first start gives Colorado a real look at how quickly he can turn physical tools into dependable play. He had already been identified as Colorado’s most underrated signee, and this was the kind of assignment that puts that label to the test.
His long-term standard is even bigger. Asked in June how he wanted to be remembered in Boulder, Payne didn’t leave much room for interpretation.
“The Colorado football legend,” Payne said. “The greatest offensive lineman to ever come through Colorado. Undisputed.”
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For a team already trying to steady itself, the timing could not have been worse. Colorado was beaten 29-7 by Texas Tech in a game defined by turnovers and interceptions, then headed into a bye week with a three-game losing streak hanging over it. Deion Sanders acknowledged the issues and opened up a quarterback competition, leaving the Buffaloes with plenty to sort out and a strange pregame mystery still hanging in the background. [Read more 🡒]
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DeRozan was the one who seemed to embrace the moment most, engaging with fans and giving the sideline the kind of energy Buffaloes supporters have come to expect when a star rolls through Boulder. Jokic, by contrast, drew a different reaction, appearing more reserved and keeping his interactions with attendees to a minimum, a contrast that stood out during a season in which the celebrity turnout around Colorado games has already felt lighter than it has in past years. [Read more 🡒]