Colorado’s fall camp is only getting started, but Cree Thomas is already making a case that the Buffaloes’ secondary has found one of its early tone-setters.
The redshirt freshman cornerback, who transferred from Notre Dame in January, has been on Deion Sanders’ radar since he arrived in Boulder. That attention has carried into camp, where Thomas has continued to stand out while Colorado works through the first week of practice away from Boulder.
Part of what has fueled his confidence came away from campus. Thomas spent time this offseason working with Denver Broncos All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II, and he said that experience gave him a clear picture of what the position demands at the highest level.
“And I’ve just been so blessed to be able to be around all these guys,” Thomas said, per DNVR Buffs. “You know, Coach Prime on the leadership retreat, I got to meet Jalen Ramsey, and then I got the opportunity to work out with Pat Surtain.
And I mean, just seeing how he works, it was a blessing. Like, it really motivates me just knowing, like, 'Hey, if ever want to get to that level, this is how I got to work.'”
That mindset has shown up again as camp has opened. Thomas said the first two days have been active and competitive, with both sides pushing each other.
“I’m super pleased. Everybody’s running around. We got plays for the offense, plays for the defense going back and forth, challenging each other," Cree said, per DNVR Buffs.
Colorado has spent its first week of fall camp in Colorado Springs, with the team based at UCCS and practicing daily at Fountain-Fort Carson High School. Thomas said the change in environment has helped keep the group focused.
That matters for a roster that has gone through plenty of turnover and needs key players to settle in fast. Thomas has been one of the defenders who looked comfortable almost immediately.
He first started turning heads in Boulder during spring practice after arriving from Notre Dame, and by July he was representing Colorado at Big 12 Media Days. The confidence has been there from the beginning, and he said the team’s chemistry has come a long way since January.
“We showed up in January as strangers,” Thomas said. “Almost the whole team was transfers. We’re super close now; it’s night and day.”
Thomas also gives Colorado a corner with traits the staff clearly values. At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, he brings length on the outside, plays with a physical edge and has said press-man coverage is where he feels most at home. He also has four years of eligibility remaining, adding long-term value to the position.
For now, though, the early read from camp is simple: Thomas is settled in, the competition is real, and Colorado likes what it sees.
“We’ve really meshed together. We’re all really close.”
In Other News...
Indiana Just Entered A Playoff Debate Hoosiers Fans Never Expected
College footballs 2026 playoff conversation already has a Notre Dame angle, and it comes with a familiar name attached to the sports biggest prediction game. Analyst Josh Pate has mapped out the entire field, from conference champions to the Group of Five spot and at-large selections, and his bracket has the Irish finishing on top with Notre Dame, Ohio State, Georgia and Miami earning the four highest seeds.
For Irish fans, the more interesting part is the path. Pates projection sends Notre Dame through Oregon and Indiana before a title-game meeting with Texas, a run that says plenty about how highly he views Marcus Freemans roster and defense. It also puts Indiana in a playoff debate few Hoosiers supporters likely imagined, even if the real intrigue still lies in whether the bracket ever comes close to matching the one Pate has sketched out. [Read more 🡒]
Adon Shuler Is Taking On A Bigger Role In Notre Dame's Title Push
Adon Shuler is stepping into his third year as a starter with Notre Dame, and his role has grown beyond just what he does on the back end of the defense. The safety wants to help lead a veteran unit that already has plenty of experience around him, and his focus is on being more vocal while tightening up his tackling as the Irish prepare for another season with national title expectations.
Notre Dames defense brings back enough proven players to believe it can stay steady from top to bottom, and Shulers job is to help keep that standard in place. The Irish are counting on their secondary to avoid any soft spots, and if Shuler takes the step he expects, he could be one of the key reasons that group holds up when the pressure rises. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Fall Camp Is Already Shaping Three Crucial Battles
Notre Dame opened 2026 fall camp with its coordinators already laying out the early priorities, and the tone suggested a program spending these first practices as much on sorting roles as on sharpening execution. Mike Denbrock sounded confident in quarterback CJ Carr entering his second year, while Chris Ash said the defensive staff will use camp to sort through depth and define where players fit best.
Marty Biagi added another layer to the early picture by outlining a tailored plan for kicker Spencer Porath as camp moves along, a reminder that even the special teams work is being handled with care. For the Irish, the next few weeks will be about more than reps and conditioning, because the biggest questions are already surfacing in the places that often decide the season. [Read more 🡒]