Colorado heads into Thursday’s season opener at Georgia Tech with a few key injury questions still hanging over the roster, even as the buzz around the Buffaloes’ new faces keeps building.
The biggest uncertainty sits at wide receiver, where transfers Danny Scudero and Kam Perry both missed time during fall camp. That leaves their status for the Sept. 3 matchup unclear, though coach Deion Sanders has sounded optimistic about both players. Scudero is working through a lower body issue, but Sanders said in early August, "Danny’s progressing, we’re hoping he’s gonna return sooner rather than later," Sanders said.
Sanders also gave another encouraging update on Aug. 24, saying he expected to have the full receiver group back at practice before Week 1. "We have a really good coordinator.
We have a really good offensive line. We have some really good backs, and Danny and the guys will be back,” Sanders said.
"Promise you that they'll be back out wide, so it's going to be familiar territory. And I can't wait to see them all on the field together.
That'll happen probably by Wednesday or Thursday, hopefully, all of them, because I got to see a week's worth of work before I could really bet on it."
Even if Scudero and Perry are limited or unavailable, Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis should still have options. DeAndre Moore, Quentin Gibson and Joseph Williams are all expected to be ready, and the Buffaloes are also set up to rotate several backs, with Damian Henderson, DeKalon Taylor, Micah Welch, JaQuail Smith and Richard Young all competing for carries.
Colorado’s defensive front has had its own roster shake-up. The Buffaloes brought in a number of defensive linemen through the transfer portal, but two players won’t be on the field for Colorado in 2026 after being denied additional seasons of eligibility.
Ezra Christensen had already been dealing with a well-known eligibility situation through the offseason, and On3’s Brian Howell reported shortly before the regular season that Balasama Kamara was also ruled ineligible. With Kamara out, Colorado is expected to lean on Toby Anene and Immanuel Ezeogu at defensive end.
The opener also gives the Buffaloes an early look at how much progress Chris Marve’s defense can make, and it won’t be a soft landing. Georgia Tech running back Justice Haynes is expected to be one of the top rushers in college football, giving Colorado an immediate test up front.
Offensively, the program is hoping Brennan Marion’s arrival can spark a jump, though expectations outside Boulder remain modest. FanDuel Sportsbook has set Colorado’s win total at 4.5 games, and the Buffs have been picked widely to finish near the bottom of the Big 12.
Lewis, a former blue-chip quarterback, is one of the names to watch as the season begins. Thursday night will be his first chance to show what he can do with a new staff and a revamped set of weapons.
Colorado and Georgia Tech will kick off at 6 p.m. MT on Thursday, Sept. 3, with ESPN carrying the broadcast.
In Other News...
Colorado Needs To Figure Out Ernest Campbell Before This Becomes Bigger
Ernest Campbell barely factored into Colorados season opener against Georgia Tech, finishing with limited playing time and no catches as the Buffaloes worked through their first live look of the year. Even so, the receiver remains an intriguing piece of Colorados offense because of the speed he brought from Sacramento State and the familiarity he already has with the current offensive coordinator.
Colorado does not need to force Campbell into a starring role right away, but his skill set is the kind that can change how defenses line up if the staff finds the right spots for him. Whether that comes in situational packages or on special teams, his lack of involvement in the opener feels more like the start of a question than the end of one. [Read more 🡒]
Brennan Marion Just Gave Colorado Fans A Reason To Believe
Brennan Marions first game as Colorados offensive coordinator came with the kind of road test that can tell a staff a lot about itself. Facing Georgia Tech, the Buffaloes leaned into a physical, run-first plan and found enough balance to survive a tough opponent, with DeKalon Taylor giving the offense a needed spark and tight end Charlie Williams coming through with a go-ahead touchdown catch.
Marion said the challenge was matching the moment with the right strategy, and Colorados answer was to keep pressing with the run game and let the defense and special teams finish it off. Boo Carters late block on a field goal attempt sealed the win, leaving the impression that Colorado may have found a blueprint it can trust when games get messy and the margin gets thin. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Has One Defensive Problem It Must Fix Fast
Georgia Techs season-opening loss to Colorado left a sour finish in front of the home crowd, but the bigger concern came from how the game unfolded after halftime. The Yellow Jackets defense had trouble controlling the middle of the line, and the Buffaloes took advantage by turning to a physical ground approach that started to tilt the game in their favor.
Colorado finished with 183 rushing yards in the second half, with Damian Henderson leading the way as the Buffaloes kept attacking inside. Georgia Techs coach pointed to the interior play of the defensive line as a problem that has to get corrected quickly, because if that weakness lingers, opponents are likely to keep probing it until the Yellow Jackets prove they can stop it. [Read more 🡒]