CU Buffs spring football preview: Defense and specialists

After several months of overhauling the coaching staff and the roster, the Colorado football team is finally ready to get on the field for an official practice.

First-year head coach Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes open spring practices on Sunday. It’s a huge spring for Sanders and his staff to lay the foundation for the program, but also to mesh a roster loaded with newcomers and returning players.

Defensively, the Buffaloes were one of the worst teams in the country a year ago, but this is a vastly different group than it was in 2022.

Coordinator Charles Kelly came over from Alabama this winter and he’s eager to see how it all comes together. In addition to a full slate of new coaches, the Buffs have 12 transfers and three true freshmen joining a group of 28 returners.

All of them, however, are in the same stage of learning the new system and this spring will be mostly about getting comfortable with the playbook.

“There’s a process that we go through teaching,” Kelly said. “We’re assuming when we come in here that nobody knows anything. Our job as coaches is to teach. I believe this about coaching: we want to teach our players what to do, we want to teach them how to do it and we want to teach them why it’s important to do it that way. So every day we go into practice, that’s our goal as coaches to do those things.

“We’ll start basic and then build and then we want to teach our guys to understand the game also – how to play situations.”

There are several players who will be fighting for roster spots, as well as trying to make an impression as potential starters. But, first and foremost, they’ve got to get on the same page this spring.

“There’s a lot of things that we have to do to teach our players and that’s what we’re going to work on throughout the spring,” Kelly said.

Here’s a position-by-position look at the defense and specialists going into the spring:

Defensive linemen

Returners: Jalen Sami, Sr.; Na’im Rodman, Sr.; Allan Baugh, So.; Tyas Martin, So.; Ryan Williams, So.; Aaron Austin So.; Mason Maddox, So. (walk-on).

Newcomers: Taijh Alston, Sr.; Leonard Payne Jr., Sr.; Shane Cokes, Jr.

Unlike the rest of the team, this group hasn’t had a couple of months to get familiar with their position coach. After the sudden departure of newly hired Patrick Hill to the Minnesota Vikings, Sal Sunseri has been on board for only a couple of weeks. The benefit, however, is that Sunseri is a long-time coaching veteran and he’s got a lot of experience to work with this spring. Sami and Rodman are returning starters, while Martin played quite a bit last year. The group was bolstered by some experienced additions. Alston (West Virginia), Payne (Fresno State) and Cokes (Dartmouth) were all productive in their last stops.

Edge

Returners: Joshka Gustav, Jr.; Devin Grant, So.; Zion Magalei, So.; Shakaun Bowser, Fr.; Kaden Ludwick, Fr.

Newcomers: Jordan Domineck, Sr.; Taylor Upshaw, Sr.; Jeremiah Brown, Jr.

CU didn’t get a lot of impact plays from its edge players last year and those who got the bulk of the playing time (Guy Thomas, Jamar Montgomery, Chance Main) have graduated. CU needed an overhaul here and got one with the additions of Brown (Jackson State), Domineck (Arkansas) and Upshaw (Michigan). That trio needs to set the tone on the edge this spring, but the Buffs also need the returners to develop and prove they deserve playing time.

Inside linebackers

Returners: Marvin Ham II, Jr.; Isaac Hurtado, Jr.; Mister Williams, So.; Eoghan Kerry, So.; Aubrey Smith, So.; Caiden Robertson, So. (walk-on); Thomas Notarainni, So. (walk-on); Jack Remington, Fr. (walk-on).

Newcomers: LaVonta Bentley, Jr.; Victory Johnson, T-Fr.; Morgan Pearson, T-Fr.; Nathan Hallmark, Fr. (walk-on).

The key to this group is going to be Bentley, who was a highly productive reserve at Clemson. After CU graduated all three linebackers from last year, Bentley is the most experienced and has some star potential. This spring is huge for the Buffs’ returners, especially veterans Ham, Hurtado and Williams. Kerry and Smith are highly regarded true sophomores with an opportunity to make a statement this spring.

Cornerbacks

Returners: Nigel Bethel Jr., Sr.; Nikko Reed, Jr.; Simeon Harris, So.; Jason Oliver, So.; Keyshon Mills, Fr.; Joshua Wiggins, Fr.; Braden Keith, Fr. (walk-on); Liam McGannon, Fr. (walk-on).

Newcomers: Tayvion Beasley, So.; Kyndrich Breedlove, So.; Travis Hunter, So.

All eyes will be on Hunter, who was the top prep player in the 2022 class and the top transfer this winter. After an injury-plagued season at Jackson State, however, this is a big spring for Hunter to not only stay healthy, but to step up and prove he can be the leader of this group. Beasley and Breedlove were also brought in to compete for starting spots and they’re going to increase the competitiveness here. Don’t sleep on the returners, though. Reed was a solid starter last year, while Bethel, Harris and Oliver have experience. This is one of the most intriguing groups on the team – even without freshman Cormani McClain, who arrives in the summer.

Safeties

Returners: Jeremy Mack Jr., Jr.; Tyrin Taylor, Jr.; Trevor Woods, Jr.; Dylan Dixson, Fr.; Oakie Salave’a, Fr.; Xavier Smith, Fr.; Trey Ortega, Jr. (walk-on); Austin Dahlke, So. (walk-on); Ben Finneseth, So. (walk-on); Jordan Woolverton, So. (walk-on).

Newcomers: Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig, Jr.; Myles Slusher, Jr.; Jaden Milliner-Jones, Fr.

Woods was one of the best players on the CU defense last year, but he has to prove himself to a new staff. He has the potential to still be the top safety of the group. He’s going to be pushed, however, by transfers Silmon-Craig (Jackson State) and Slusher (Arkansas), who were productive starters at their previous stops. Mack and Taylor both have a lot of experience and need a big spring, as well. Dixon was highly regarded coming out of high school but battled injuries last year and he needs to step up. Milliner-Jones is one of the more intriguing freshmen on the team.

Specialists

Returners: Noah Hubbard, So. (walk-on); Trent Carrizosa, So. (walk-on); Cristiano Palazzo, So. (walk-on); Cameron Warchuck, So. (walk-on).

Newcomers: Mark Vassett, Jr.; Jace Feely, So.; Alejandro Mata, So.; Jacob Politte, So.

This area of the team has been overhauled and it’s expected that transfers will take over in most spots. Vassett (Louisville) is likely to take over as punter, while Feely (Arizona State) and Mata (Jackson State) battle at placekicker. Warchuck is looking to hold off Politte (Jackson State) for the long snapper job. The Buffs would love to come out spring feeling confident in this area.