After a promising 2022 season, the Buffalo Bulls cobbled together a disappointing 3-9 year in 2023, then lost head coach Maurice Linguist to Alabama.
Pete Lembo has assembled a promising staff and while the future is probably bright in Buffalo, it could be a rough 2024 season. There’s not much remaining on this roster, so they’ll need new guys to step up.
Who are the Buffalo Bulls’ top returning players?
Buffalo Bulls Top Returning Players
10) C.J. Bazile, Edge
While he’s been at Buffalo since 2020, C.J. Bazile didn’t have his best year in 2023. He’s back to lead a talented yet unproven defensive front this season.
In 2022, Bazile had 23 pressures in less than 200 opportunities, helping lead a strong Buffalo defense that season. He’ll have plenty of opportunities to take another step forward in 2024.
9) JJ Jenkins, WR
JJ Jenkins is a huge wild card in the receiver room for the Bulls.
An FCS transfer from Columbia, Jenkins caught 73 passes for nearly 1,000 yards over the last two years and didn’t drop a pass in 2023. He has great size and did his best work at the end of last season, catching three of his four touchdowns in the final month of the season.
8) Nik McMillan, WR
Nik McMillan is the primary returning receiver who played at Buffalo last season. He had a promising start to his redshirt freshman year but was injured in Week 4, missing nearly two months, and was never the same once he returned.
In those first four games, McMillan averaged 40 yards a game, scoring his only touchdown of the season in his best game against Liberty.
7) Red Murdock, LB
Red Murdock started the year as a sub linebacker and slowly worked his way into a starting position. Now, he’s back in 2024 as the presumed starter at middle linebacker. He’s excellent in coverage, and he cut down on his missed tackles as the year progressed, ending the 2023 season on a high note with a huge game against Eastern Michigan.
6) Charles McCartherens, CB
Just a true sophomore, Charles McCartherens was a welcome surprise for the Buffalo secondary last season, starting 10 games and picking off three passes. He only allowed one touchdown in coverage and allowed just a 47.6 passer rating against him.
5) Antonio Colclough, Edge
After playing sparingly in three years at James Madison, Antonio Colclough dropped down to the FCS level to play at Monmouth. There, he was a pass-rushing fiend, and he parlayed a strong season into a transfer back up to the FBS level.
Colclough should have more opportunities on this roster and can be a high-upside pass rusher for the Bulls.
4) Tyler Doty, OG
Tyler Doty is a much better pass blocker than run blocker at this point in his career, but he will look to become more consistent in 2024.
A two-year starter at Buffalo, Doty took a big step forward in 2023 and will look to take another in 2024. He’s one of the few returning starters on offense, so his leadersship will be important.
3) George Wolo, IDL
George Wolo only played about 350 snaps on defense last year, but was excellent as a pass rusher, racking up five sacks, good for a tie for best on the team. He’s likely to see an uptick in his playing time this season, so if he can scale his production, the Buffalo defensive front will be in good shape.
2) Marcus Fuqua, S
Marcus Fuqua is the only full-time starter to return in the secondary in 2024, but his presence in the back cannot be understated. He’s been at Buffalo since 2019 and has been a three-year starter, logging over 2,400 snaps and 135 tackles in his career. He’s just two years removed from a seven-interception season
1) Shaun Dolac, LB
A standout run defender who made 112 tackles in 2022, Shaun Dolac only played four games last year before missing the season with injury, so his return instantly upgrades the Bulls’ defense. He has 164 tackles and 95 run stops in his career despite only becoming a starter two seasons ago.
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