Colorado head coach Deion Sanders has been active in the transfer portal in an effort to rebuild the Buffaloes’ offense following a difficult offseason in which key offensive players—such as top wide receivers and offensive linemen—departed.
As the 2025 season draws near, the team has acquired a number of significant transfers to strengthen the offensive line and receiving corps, paving the way for fierce quarterback competition.
Colorado Reloads After WR Exodus With New Weapons for Quarterback Competition
When he arrived in Boulder, Sanders promised a fast rebuild, and he’s living up to that promise again. The Buffaloes suffered significant losses this offseason, including star Travis Hunter heading to the NFL and receivers Omarion Miller and Willie Gaines entering the portal.
Instead of dwelling on departures, Sanders attacked the portal, and the results are impressive.
Colorado picked up Joseph Williams, a dynamic 6’2″ receiver from Tulsa. Known for his ability at the catch point, Williams should instantly give the Buffs a vertical threat.
They also secured Sincere Brown from Campbell, a smooth and underrated addition from the portal despite the Fighting Camels’ run-first offense. Brown scored 11 touchdowns on just over 40 receptions a year ago.
Another major storyline is Colorado’s quarterback competition.
With Shedeur Sanders now in the NFL, the Buffs knew they needed an answer at the quarterback position, moving quickly to secure the transfer services of former Liberty QB Kaidon Salter to join freshman phenom JuJu Lewis. The battle between Salter and Lewis is arguably the top QB battle to watch this fall.
Colorado Builds in the Trenches, Too
Sanders also addressed Colorado’s biggest weakness from 2024: the offensive line.
The Buffs struggled in pass protection last year, but help is coming. Memphis transfer Xavier Hill, Louisiana Tech’s Zarian McGill, and Illinoi lineman Zyon Crisler are just a trio of the new faces on the offensive line that should be a welcome site for Colorado fans.
The improved line should help whichever quarterback wins the starting job and open up the run game. Colorado struggled to run consistently last season, something Sanders and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur intend to change this fall.
Beyond offense, the Buffs also added defensive pieces through the portal. Still, the focus was clearly on giving the new quarterback as many weapons and as much protection as possible. Sanders’ approach mirrors an NFL free-agency strategy: act quickly, plug roster holes and reload faster than the competition.
Spring practices showed flashes of the new-look Colorado offense. Though there’s still much to figure out before the fall, despite their losses, it may be clear that the Buffs are in a much better place than they were this time last year.
KEEP READING: Week 2 College Football Transfer Portal Winners
Colorado fans can expect a fresh, fast-paced offense in 2025, and if the new transfers hit, the Buffaloes could surprise many people again.
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