Colorado’s transfer haul finally got a little national respect, even if the Buffaloes still spent most of the latest ESPN update getting overlooked.
After ESPN reshuffled its top 100 transfer portal rankings, Colorado wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. landed at No. 26, giving the Buffs one player on the list. The adjustment came after former Texas Tech quarterback Brenen Sorsby was removed following a gambling investigation that led to his departure from the Red Raiders.
Moore is the headliner, and for good reason. The former Longhorn arrives in Boulder after three seasons in the SEC, where he became one of Arch Manning’s go-to options. In 2025, Moore put up 38 catches for 532 yards and four touchdowns.
But his value goes beyond the box score. Moore has already carved out a reputation as a steadying voice in Colorado’s receiver room, and Deion Sanders has gone as far as calling him “the real leader.”
That kind of presence matters on a roster that’s still sorting itself out. Moore brings veteran polish, accountability, and the kind of edge that can help a young offense settle in fast.
Even with Moore on the board, Colorado had several other transfer additions left out of ESPN’s rankings entirely. Danny Scudero, who led the entire NCAA with 1,291 receiving yards last season, did not make the top 100. Neither did former Tennessee defensive back Boo Carter or First-Team All-MAC linebacker Gideon Lampron, both of whom arrived in Boulder with proven production.
Sanders, though, made it clear at Big 12 Media Days that outside opinions don’t carry much weight inside the program.
"We don't care what people say," Sanders said. "Just because our guys were snubbed off a poll that's probably not going to be consistent with the end of the season, we don't give a darn."
The rankings did include two former Buffaloes. Former Colorado offensive lineman Jordan Seaton, now at LSU, checked in at No. 3 overall, while former wide receiver Omarion Miller, who transferred to Arizona State, came in at No. 13.
For Colorado fans, seeing Seaton and Miller so high on the list is a reminder of what left Boulder. But the focus now is on what the Buffs brought in, and Moore is right at the center of it.
His fit makes sense on paper, too. Moore is reunited with Colorado offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, who previously served as Texas’ passing game coordinator and helped recruit him to Austin. In Boulder, Moore’s ability to work the middle of the field, generate yards after the catch and challenge defenses downfield lines up neatly with Marion’s Go-Go offense.
Add in redshirt sophomore quarterback Julian "JuJu" Lewis entering his second season in the program with more confidence, and there’s a real buzz building around Colorado’s offense.
The Buffs have finally earned a small measure of national attention for their work in the portal. If Sanders is right about how this group performs, it may not be the last time Colorado shows up in these rankings.
In Other News...
Tennessees Quarterback Battle May Already Be Telling Fans Something Big
Tennessees quarterback room is already one of the most watched parts of fall camp, and for good reason. The Vols are set to sort through a competition that includes true freshman Faizon Brandon, redshirt-freshman George MacIntyre and transfer Ryan Staub, a mix that gives the staff both youth and experience as it tries to identify the next answer under center.
Brandon has been the name drawing the most attention so far, not just because of his recruiting profile, but because of how quickly he has taken to the offense. Coaches have been encouraged by his early progress, and that kind of head start can matter in a room where every rep counts. Even before the competition really settles in, there is already a sense that Tennessee may be seeing the shape of its future at quarterback. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees Biggest 2026 NIL Price Tag Comes With One Huge Twist
Tennessees roster-building under the modern NIL system has produced a familiar sort of arms race, with the biggest numbers often attached to the most coveted young talent. Left tackle David Sanders Jr. sits at the top of the active group with a reported $1.7 million valuation, while quarterback George MacIntyre and a cluster of freshmen and juniors are also being discussed in the six- and seven-figure range. It is a reminder that for the Volunteers, the price of keeping pace in the SEC is no longer just about recruiting rankings or depth charts, but about how aggressively the program can secure the players it believes will matter most.
Chaz Coleman is the twist in that picture. The edge rusher reportedly signed Tennessees largest NIL deal at $2 million, only for the arrangement to change after a medical disqualification, leaving the school to pay out roughly $200,000 before he moved on. For a program trying to balance immediate roster needs with long-term investment, that kind of turn is exactly why NIL has become as much about risk management as it is about talent acquisition. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Finally Gets The National Respect Vols Fans Wanted
College basketball analyst Jon Rothstein gave Tennessee another sign that the Vols are being viewed the way their fans have long wanted, slotting them No. 10 in his Rothstein Power 45. For a program that has spent recent seasons trying to turn strong regular-season teams into something even more dangerous in March, the ranking fits the broader sense around this roster: Tennessee has the talent to be taken seriously as a national title threat.
Rick Barnes has used the transfer portal to reshape the group with a clear eye toward more scoring punch, adding Juke Harris, Terrence Hill Jr., Jalan Haralson, Dai Dai Ames, Miles Rubin, Braedan Lue, Christian Fermin and DeWayne Brown II. The Vols still want to win the familiar way, with defense and rebounding at the center of everything, but the real test is coming soon enough in a demanding non-conference slate that should say plenty about how ready this team is for the postseason. [Read more 🡒]