Latest news with #Buffs'
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Deion Sanders' QB dilemma: Ex-NFL scout warns against benching Julian Lewis
Photo byfor ONIT Deion Sanders has never backed away from bold decisions, but one of the biggest choices of his Colorado coaching career is staring him down: who will start at quarterback in 2025? With Shedeur Sanders off to the NFL, Coach Prime is now evaluating Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter and blue-chip freshman Julian 'JuJu' Lewis. But former Alabama standout and ex-Buffalo Bills scout Gerald 'Smoke' Dixon has a word of caution — one that could shape Colorado's future and keep the Buffs' rebuild on course. Deion Sanders' quarterback decision could shape Colorado Buffaloes ' long-term future Gerald 'Smoke' Dixon knows what success looks like at both the collegiate and professional levels. As a four-year starter at Alabama and a former NFL scout with the Buffalo Bills, Dixon has seen how quickly programs can shift — for better or worse. Now, as Colorado enters its next phase under Deion Sanders, he's weighing in with advice only someone with his experience can give. While speaking on the Ultimate College Football Show by 24/7Sports, Dixon weighed in on Colorado's quarterback competition, which features experienced Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter and highly touted freshman Julian Lewis. His recommendation? A two-quarterback system — but with clear expectations and foresight. Photo byfor ONIT "You can't leave a four-star, talented player like JuJu Lewis on the sideline all season, and you can't play Kaidon all year, just because I think he's gonna get banged up," Dixon explained. "When you have a young guy like JuJu, if you keep him on the sideline for a long time, I only know one place where he's going to end up: the transfer portal." Dixon's comments come as Colorado looks to build on a surprising 9-4 season in 2024, a run that helped vault Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders into the NFL. Yet despite the Buffs' success, protecting the quarterback remains a concern — Shedeur was sacked 42 times last year, and Coach Prime has called on his offensive line to step up in 2025. With high-profile recruits and transfer talent at his disposal, Deion Sanders has the pieces to make Colorado a contender. But as Dixon warns, keeping a young star like Julian Lewis engaged might be just as important as naming a starter. The wrong decision could send the Buffs' future walking. Also Read: Why the Pittsburgh Steelers passed on Shedeur Sanders: Mike Tomlin's shocking draft decision explained
USA Today
14-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Marshall Faulk working to revitalize Colorado's run game
Marshall Faulk working to revitalize Colorado's run game Amid his first spring in Boulder, new Colorado running backs coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk has his sights on revitalizing the Buffs' famished rushing attack. Although Colorado understandably leaned on its passing game, the Buffs averaged only 65.2 rushing yards per contest last season with Isaiah Augustave, Micah Welch and Dallan Hayden leading the charge. Those three and others are back in the fold this spring and now learning under one of the best running backs in NFL history. "If you're not trying to improve, then you're getting worse," Faulk said Thursday. "Even if I came in here and we were coming off being top 10, top five, I'm still looking at where can we improve? That's the idea, and that's the mindset that we have to have. That's what we want to instill in the football players that we bring in here and that we coach." Faulk later gave his own guarantee that Colorado will have more success on the ground in 2025. "I gotta take your weakness and turn it into a strength," Faulk said. "I believe I'm here, and that's what I'm going to try to do. I can't change what you thought about the run game last year, but we're going to be better. I can guarantee you we are going to be better." Former walk-on Charlie Offerdahl and freshman Brandon Hood are other returning running backs to watch this spring. Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Colorado announces dates for 2025 homecoming game, family weekend
Dates for two of Colorado football's biggest in-season weekends have been set. On Friday, the Buffaloes announced their family weekend will come on Sept. 20 and their annual homecoming game will follow on Nov. 1. With family members of students flocking to Boulder, the Buffs' family weekend typically yields one of the largest home crowds of the season. This year, the Wyoming Cowboys' first trip to Folsom Field in 16 years will coincide with family weekend. Colorado's homecoming game on Nov. 1 will come against the Arizona Wildcats, who last visited Boulder in 2023 while the two teams were still members of the Pac-12. The Buffs' 2024 homecoming game saw one of the most memorable moments in program history when Shedeur Sanders connected with LaJohntay Wester for a game-tying Hail Mary against the Baylor Bears. Soon-to-be Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter then forced a fumble in overtime to seal a win in Colorado's first game back in the Big 12. Fall plans are coming together! 🏈Homecoming & Family Weekend are set for 2025 #GoBuffs — Colorado Buffaloes (@CUBuffs) February 14, 2025 Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions. This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado football announces dates for homecoming game, family weekend
USA Today
06-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Way-too-early game predictions for Colorado football's 2025 season
Way-too-early game predictions for Colorado football's 2025 season Now that we have finalized dates for Colorado football's 2025 schedule, it's becoming easier to make some way-too-early predictions for next season. Head coach Deion Sanders' squad will likely undergo another round of changes courtesy of the spring transfer portal window, but many of the Buffs' biggest pieces are seemingly already in Boulder. The biggest question mark comes at the quarterback position as incoming freshman Julian Lewis will battle Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter for Colorado's starting job. Both are qualified and should be well-protected with left tackle Jordan Seaton, center Cash Cleveland and several talented newcomers comprising the Buffs' offensive line. Below are my way-too-early game-by-game predictions for CU football's 2025 season: Week 1 vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Prediction: WIN Led by dual-threat quarterback Haynes King, the Yellow Jackets finished 7-6 last season with a win over Miami and a near-upset of the Georgia Bulldogs. King returns to the fold in 2025, along with experienced running back Jamal Haynes. Georgia Tech represents Colorado's most challenging nonconference opponent, but with this game being in Boulder, I'm expecting the Buffs to come out strong in their season opener. Week 2 vs. Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens Prediction: WIN While you could call Delaware a trap game, this should be a blowout victory for the Buffs. Delaware is moving up to the Football Bowl Subdivision level after being one of the best Football Championship Subdivision teams in recent years. Week 3 at Houston Cougars Prediction: WIN Houston could be a sneaky-good team in the Big 12 next season now that the Cougars potentially have a quarterback in Connor Weigman. Still, Houston isn't up to Colorado's level just yet. Week 4 vs. Wyoming Cowboys Prediction: WIN Wyoming was an absolute mess last season, winning only three total games in head coach Jay Sawvel's first season. If the Buffs are serious about taking another step forward in 2025, they better win this game handily. Week 5 vs. BYU Cougars Prediction: LOSS While you can't put too much weight on a bowl game, BYU was well ahead of Colorado when these two teams met in last year's Alamo Bowl. Because the Cougars bring back many of their key players who wreaked havoc on the Buffs in San Antonio, I'm projecting a loss. Week 6 at TCU Horned Frogs Prediction: WIN The Buffaloes' last trip to Fort Worth resulted in one of the most memorable games in program history as Colorado beat the Horned Frogs in Coach Prime's debut. TCU, led by its passing attack, quietly enjoyed a great 2024 season, but the Buffs' secondary will be up for the challenge in Week 6. Week 7 vs. Iowa State Cyclones Prediction: LOSS Playing seven straight weeks is difficult, and Iowa State won't make things easy on the potentially banged-up Buffs. This one will be close, but I'm giving the edge to the Cyclones, who return several key players from last year's 11-win squad. Week 9 at Utah Utes Prediction: WIN Don't expect Colorado to blow out Utah two years in a row, especially with this one being at Rice-Eccles. I'm also not entirely convinced — at least not yet — that New Mexico transfer Devon Dampier is the answer to Utah's quarterback problems. Week 10 vs. Arizona Wildcats Prediction: WIN Unless Noah Fifita can return to his 2023 form in head coach Brent Brennan's offense, the Wildcats won't be much better in 2025. Colorado made quick work of Arizona last year and should do so again with this matchup being at Folsom Field. Week 11 at West Virginia Mountaineers Prediction: WIN With a new head coach in Rich Rodriguez and an uncertain quarterback situation, the Mountaineers will likely take a step back from their six-win 2024 campaign. I'd expect this to be Colorado's easiest Big 12 game. Week 13 vs. Arizona State Sun Devils Prediction: WIN Well-rested following a bye week, Colorado should be in the thick of the Big 12 championship race and won't ignore an opportunity to beat fellow conference title threat Arizona State in Boulder go to waste. I'm a big fan of ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt, but Week 14 at Kansas State Wildcats Prediction: LOSS Kansas State had Colorado's number last season, and with quarterback Avery Johnson, running back Dylan Edwards and other key Wildcats returning to Manhattan, the Buffs have a daunting regular season finale. I'm rolling with K-State until we have a better idea of how these two teams will look in 2025. Way-too-early regular season record prediction: 9-3 (6-3 Big 12)
USA Today
05-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Beat writer predicts Colorado football's final record in 2025
Beat writer predicts Colorado football's final record in 2025 Notable Colorado beat reporter Tyler King of the Denver Gazette cast his final record prediction for the Buffs' 2025 football season after the schedule reveal on Tuesday. King made mention of several key factors impacting his decision. He noted that four of the Buffs' first five games come at home and their final two contests are against two of the Big 12's best, the Arizona State Sun Devils and Kansas State Wildcats. While King predicts a strong first half of the campaign with just one loss in the rematch of last year's Alamo Bowl against the BYU Cougars, a final record of 7-5 (4-5 Big 12) was the writer's ultimate prognostication. Four of the five losses King predicted came in the back half of CU's schedule during a pair of two-game losing streaks. The Iowa State Cyclones and Utah Utes stung the Buffaloes' chances of a Big 12 championship before a slump to the finish against Kansas State and Arizona State. Colorado football kicks off its 2025 season on Aug. 30 at home against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
