Colorado’s defense is still waiting for that next splash play, and Randon Fontenette is feeling the drought as much as anyone.
The Buffaloes safety has three regular-season games left in his college career, and he wants one of them to end with the ball in his hands. Colorado hasn’t forced a takeaway since Oct. 17 against Utah, and for a 3-6 team that has to win out to get bowl eligible, that stretch has left the 6-2, 220-pound Vanderbilt transfer hungry for a change.
“Yeah, man, it's been on everybody's mind, my mind. It's kind of tough not getting the takeaways you feel like you set for yourself coming to the season.
But it's all about the response and continue to work on it and continue to emphasize it. So we've been doing that, and I'm starving for a turnover,” Fontenette said.
He didn’t stop there.
“Hopefully, well, it's gonna happen, not hopefully. It's gonna happen.
We just gotta keep going and keep our head up and not let the moment get us down or not let us not getting takeaways in a moment persuade us that it's not gonna happen in the future. So just stay down and it's gonna come.”
Houston comes to Folsom Field on Friday night, but the challenge in front of Colorado isn’t exactly built around giveaways. Cougars quarterback Conner Weigman has thrown just two interceptions on 257 attempts this season, and his last pick came against Oklahoma State on the same Saturday Colorado picked off Utah twice for its most recent takeaways.
Fontenette knows plenty about Weigman already. The former five-star recruit has been on his radar for years.
“Yeah, he's an older guy, he was class of '22, so he was from my area, so I heard about him a lot. Real experienced guy, played a lot of football, he's a winner,” Fontenette said.
“If you look at his record, has that dog mentality, he's willing to put the team on his back. So it's gonna be a good challenge, but I feel like we got the guys that can go make it happen.
We gotta make it happen, we can't just talk about it, we gotta do it.”
Colorado’s only interception this season from Fontenette came against FCS Weber State in September. The fumble he forced against Utah looked like it might turn into another takeaway, but the ball bounced right back to the Utes.
That lone interception fits into a bigger picture for Fontenette, whose first career pick came in 2024 against Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe. He took that one 29 yards for a touchdown, giving Vanderbilt a 13-0 lead in a 40-35 upset of the top-ranked Crimson Tide.
At 2025 SEC Media Days in Atlanta, Fontenette called the play “It was God’s gift,” and added, “It (the ball) just came down to me, I saw the end zone, and I ran to the end zone. I just feel like it was one of those plays that comes from all the hard work you put in.”
Friday’s game also carries a personal edge. Fontenette grew up in Freeport, Texas, starred at Brazosport High School and began his college career at TCU before spending two seasons at Vanderbilt. Houston recruited him as well, and that adds another layer to the matchup.
“It means more just 'cause it's a Houston team. They offered me, but it just means more playing your hometown school. Every time I play a Texas school, even at my previous school, it's personal,” Fontenette said.
“So it's gonna be fun to go out there, and then it's a late-night game, so I love those. It's gonna be fun to fly around and showcase my ability and get the win with the guys and trend upward, just get some going.”
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