Tag: Buffaloes

Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) with wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Buffs retiring jerseys of Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Colorado is retiring the uniform numbers for Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders at the Buffaloes’ spring game on Saturday in Boulder, Colo.

The school announced its plans Monday to honor the No. 12 of Hunter, the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner, and the No. 2 of Sanders, the 2024 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.

Hunter, a wide receiver and cornerback, also won the Walter Camp Award and the AP and Sporting News player of the year honors. He finished his two seasons at Colorado with 153 receptions for 1,979 yards and 20 touchdowns. On defense, Hunter recorded seven interceptions and 16 passes defensed.

Sanders won the 2024 Johnny Unitas Award as college football’s best quarterback. In two seasons with Colorado, the son of Buffs coach Deion Sanders completed 71.8 percent of his passes for 7,364 yards with 64 touchdowns and just 13 interceptions in 24 games.

The four previous Colorado players to have their jersey numbers retired are: QB/halfback Byron White (No. 24); guard/linebacker Joe Romig (No. 67), QB/tailback Bobby Anderson (No. 11) and running back Rashaan Salaam (No. 19).

–Field Level Media

Nov 29, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders runs onto the field before the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Colorado keeps Deion Sanders with contract extension, huge raise

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Deion Sanders will remain the head coach at Colorado through the 2029 season under terms of a contract extension announced Friday.

He will earn a base salary of $10 million in 2025, making him the highest-paid football coach in the Big 12 and among the top 10 highest-paid head football coaches in the country, the university announced.

ESPN reported that his total compensation over five years will be $54 million, with his pay rising to $11 million annually in 2027 and $12 million in 2029.

Last season, he earned $5.7 million, according to the USA Today coaches’ salary database. Mike Gundy of Oklahoma State earned $7.75 million to top the Big 12, per the database.

Sanders took over a team that was 1-11 in 2022 and saw an improvement to 4-8 in his first season. In 2024, the Buffaloes were 9-4 and earned an invitation to the Alamo Bowl.

In a news release, the school called Sanders’ two seasons as head coach as “transformational” and credited his leadership for turning the Colorado football team into one of the “most-watched teams in sports,” citing 54 million viewers in 2024 as evidence.

“Coach Prime has revolutionized college football and in doing so, has restored CU football to our rightful place as a national power,” athletic director Rick George said. “This extension not only recognizes Coach’s incredible accomplishments transforming our program on and off the field, it keeps him in Boulder to compete for conference and national championships in the years to come.”

Campus leaders also said Sanders’ presence and visibility has influenced the academic side of Colorado, which has seen a 20 percent increase in applications, including an increase of 50.5 percent from students who classify themselves as Black/African American. He also speaks in classes and special campus events.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to continue building something special here at Colorado,” said Sanders, 57. “We’ve just scratched the surface of what this program can be. It’s not just about football; it’s about developing young men who are ready to take on the world. I’m committed to bringing greatness to this university, on and off the field. We’ve got work to do, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but here, making history with these incredible players and this passionate fan base.

“Lastly, anybody got at least a five-bedroom home with acreage for sale?”

Sanders played 14 seasons as a defensive back in the National Football League, won two Super Bowls and was named a first-team All-Pro six times. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

Concurrently, he played nine Major League Baseball seasons, retiring with a career average of .263 with 186 stolen bases and 43 triples in 641 games.

Immediately before accepting the Colorado job, Sanders spent three seasons as the head coach at Jackson State, finishing with a 27-6 record.

–Field Level Media

Feb 11, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; NFL former player Marshall Faulk during the NFL Alumni Legends Party Presented by USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures at Avalon Hollywood. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Colorado adds Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk to coaching staff

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Marshall Faulk is joining head coach Deion Sanders at Colorado, giving the Buffaloes three members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame on its coaching staff.

Sanders and Faulk were 2011 inductees in Canton, with Warren Sapp joining them in 2013.

Sapp is the Buffaloes’ senior quality control analyst on defense. Faulk will coach the running backs and will be tasked with improving a running game that ranked 134th in the nation with 65.1 yards per game.

Faulk brings a lengthy resume to his role as running backs coach at Colorado.

He was a first-team All-American three times at San Diego State and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

In the NFL, he was the league Most Valuable Player in 2000, a three-time Offensive Player of the Year and a three-time first-team All Pro. The No. 2 overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts, he won the Super Bowl with the then-St. Louis Rams and its “Greatest Show on Turf.”

Faulk, 51, played 12 seasons in the NFL and tallied 12,279 rushing yards, 6,875 receiving yards and 136 total touchdowns.

Sanders is entering his third season as head coach at Colorado. The Buffaloes finished the 2024 season with a 9-4 record.

–Field Level Media

Nov 29, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Travis Hunter (12) following an interception in the first quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

No. 17 BYU, No. 23 Colorado prepare for Big 12-flavored Alamo Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Conference foes No. 17 BYU and No. 23 Colorado will square off on Saturday night in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio.

The Cougars (10-2) and Buffaloes (9-3) once had their sights set on a Big 12 Conference championship game appearance and a berth in the College Football Playoff.

But late-season losses dashed those dreams, and in the era of mega conferences, the rare intra-conference bowl game will pit teams that didn’t play in the regular season.

Another rarity is the lack of players opting out to prevent injury. Colorado has taken out disability insurance to safeguard Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

In its latest NFL mock draft, CBS Sports had Hunter going No. 2 to the New England Patriots and Sanders going No. 3 to the Las Vegas Raiders, who would need to trade up to acquire that pick.

Sanders completed 74.2 percent of his passes for 3,926 yards, 35 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. Hunter rarely took a snap off, doubling as a wide receiver on offense and a cornerback on defense.

Hunter has declared for April’s NFL draft and had 92 catches for 1,152 yards, 14 receiving touchdowns and a rushing score. He had four interceptions, 11 passes defended and 31 tackles at cornerback.

“Colorado has a ton of talent in all three phases,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. “I think a lot of credit goes to the offense for the Heisman Trophy winner (Hunter), Shedeur and the rest of the crew. But we are excited, they are a complete team and we’re excited about the matchup.”

The rest of the crew Sitake referenced includes second-leading receiver LaJohntay Wester, who caught 70 passes for 880 yards and 10 touchdowns, and Will Sheppard, who had 617 yards and six TDs.

Colorado was 4-8 last year in coach Deion Sanders’ first season at the helm.

Freshman receiver Drelon Miller came on late in the season with two touchdowns in the Buffaloes’ last three games and is part of a youth movement that has Deion Sanders excited.

“We have some young talent here that’s going to help this program tremendously,” said the elder Sanders, who has the Buffaloes in just their third bowl game in the past 17 seasons. “When those (young) guys walked on the field, you felt their presence and they wanted us to know that they belong. And it was phenomenal. I don’t want to throw names out, but we got some talent.”

A 9-0 start had the Cougars rise to No. 6 in the Week 11 CFP rankings, but back-to-back losses to Kansas and eventual Big 12 champion Arizona State knocked them out of a shot in the conference title game.

Jake Retzlaff led the BYU turnaround — the Cougars were 5-7 last season — with 2,796 passing yards and 20 passing touchdowns. Chase Roberts was his top target with 51 catches for 843 yards and four scores.

Darius Lassiter racked up 679 receiving yards and four touchdowns, but he will sit out the first half of the Alamo Bowl after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the second half of the Cougars’ last game of the regular season.

“To flip it and turn it around, what they’ve accomplished this season isn’t a surprise given who their coach is,” Deion Sanders said. “(Sitake is) a good guy with a great team and I adore him.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 29, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders runs onto the field before the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Colorado adds DE London Merritt among 4 high-profile recruits

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Colorado football coach Deion Sanders and his program scored a huge recruiting haul as Thanksgiving came to a close with four elite prospects in the Class of 2025 verbally committing to the Buffaloes.

In live appearances Thursday night on the “Nightcap” streaming talk show hosted by former NFL players Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson, recruits London Merritt and Alexander McPherson of IMG Academy, Carde Smith of Williamson High School in Mobile, Ala., and Quentin Gibson of North Crowley High in Fort Worth, Texas, pledged to play for Colorado.

Smith had decommitted from Southern California on Nov. 20, while Merritt changed his mind on Ohio State on Nov. 26, the same day that McPherson dropped Oklahoma State.

Merritt, listed at 6-foot-2 1/2 and 250 pounds, is a four-star edge rusher at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. He is No. 144 in the Class of 2025, No. 13 at edge and 24th overall in Florida, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings.

McPherson (6-5 1/2, 240) is a three-star defensive lineman at IMG Academy. He is rated No. 1,025 in the nation, No. 113 among all defensive linemen and 133rd in Florida in the composite rankings.

Smith (6-5, 293) is a four-star offensive tackle at Wiliamson High. He is No. 224 among the country’s seniors, No. 24 at his position and No. 15 overall in Alabama.

Gibson (5-8, 165) is a three-star wide receiver at North Crowley High School in Fort Worth, Texas. He is the No. 668 player in the Class of 2025, No. 101 among wide receivers and 94th in all of Texas, according to the composite rankings.

One week earlier, Colorado scooped up four-star QB Julian Lewis, ranked No. 6 at his position by the 247Sports composite. Lewis, from Carrollton (Ga.) High School, pledged to Colorado after decommitting from USC, to which he gave his verbal pledge in August 2023.

The Buffaloes also have commitments from four-star receiver Adrian Wilson of Weiss (Texas) High in Pflugerville, four-star wideout Quanell X Farrakhan Jr. of Houston’s North Shore High, and four-star offensive lineman Chauncey Gooden of Lipscomb Academy in Nashville.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas running back Devin Neal (4) splits the defense for additional yardage during the 1st quarter between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Colorado Buffaloes at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nick Tre. Smith-Imagn Images

Devin Neal (4 TDs), Kansas set mark with upset of No. 16 Colorado

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Devin Neal scored four touchdowns as Kansas upset No. 16 Colorado 37-21 Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

Kansas (5-6, 4-4 Big 12) became the first team in college football history with a losing record to win three straight games against ranked opponents. The Jayhawks’ bowl chances seemed all but eliminated after they lost at then-No. 16 Kansas State on Oct. 26 and fell to 2-6. But if they win at Baylor next Saturday, they’ll be bowl-eligible.

Neal had three rushing touchdowns while gaining 207 yards. He also caught four passes for 80 yards and a score. Jalon Daniels was 14-of-21 passing for 189 yards and a TD and rushed for 72 yards on six carries.

Shedeur Sanders was 23-of-29 passing for 266 yards and three touchdowns for the Buffaloes (8-3, 6-2), who rushed for only 42 yards. Heisman Trophy favorite Travis Hunter had eight catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns.

Trailing by nine at the half, Colorado scored on its first second-half possession when Sanders found Hunter for a 26-yard touchdown. But Neal’s third TD extended Kansas’ lead to 30-21 midway through the third. Neal then punched it in from the 2-yard line for a 37-21 Jayhawks advantage with less than 12 minutes to play.

Colorado got deep in Kansas territory with 6:22 left but turned it over on downs.

Kansas received the opening kickoff and went 73 yards on six plays to take a 7-0 lead. Daniels hit Neal on a short screen to the left side and Neal went 51 almost untouched for the score.

After forcing a Colorado three-and-out, Kansas drove deep into Buffaloes territory. The drive stalled and the Jayhawks settled for a 24-yard Tabor Allen field goal.

The Jayhawks then stopped Colorado on a fourth-and-2 just past midfield. On the ensuing drive, Kansas went 61 yards in eight plays, capped by Neal’s 9-yard touchdown run.

The Buffaloes finally got on the board as Sanders found Hunter on a wide-receiver screen and Hunter went 51 yards for the score with 7:18 left before intermission.

Neal’s 47-yard run set up the Jayhawks at Colorado’s 8-yard line, but the Jayhawks had to settle for another Allen field goal.

Sanders found Drelon Miller on a 19-yard touchdown and Allen hit a 25-yard field goal inside the final two minutes of the second quarter.

Kansas led 23-14 at the break.

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders looks on before the game against the Utah Utes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Deion Sanders dismisses talk of leaving Colorado

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Given his success this season as Colorado’s head coach, it’s no surprise that Deion Sanders’ name has been mentioned for other coaching vacancies, including in the NFL, but Sanders said Tuesday he has no intention of leaving the Buffaloes.

“I’m happy where I am, man,” Sanders told reporters Tuesday. “I’ve got a kickstand down. You know what a kickstand is? … That means I’m resting. I’m good, I’m happy, I’m excited. I’m enthusiastic about where I am. I love it here, truly do.”

The No. 16 Buffaloes are 8-2, already doubling their win total from last season’s 4-8 finish, which was Sanders’ first at the helm.

He signed a five-year $29.5 million contract with Colorado after the 2022 season, which saw the Buffaloes fire Karl Dorrell midseason and notch just one win.

Now, at 6-1 in the conference, they’re two wins away from competing in the Big 12 title game and are pushing for an appearance in the College Football Playoff.

This success has prompted speculation that Sanders could fill one of several coaching vacancies, including at the NFL level, with former Dallas Cowboys teammate Michael Irvin among those suggesting Sanders could wind up in Dallas if the team parts ways with current coach Mike McCarthy.

Sanders, however, spoke highly of his younger players and the expectation that Colorado’s success will continue, despite the likelihood that key players like Heisman Trophy candidates Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, Deion’s son, will depart for the NFL after this season.

“It says a lot about what we plan on being and the stability that we’re going to be here for a while,” he said. “We ain’t going nowhere. We’re about to get comfortable.”

Tied with BYU for first place in the Big 12, Colorado visits 4-6 Kansas on Saturday and finishes out the season hosting 3-7 Oklahoma State.

–Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) dives for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Colorado star Travis Hunter first Big 12 POTW on offense, defense

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Colorado star wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter earned a unique accolade on Monday because of his abilities on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

Hunter was named the Big 12’s offensive player of the week, becoming the first player in conference history to have won both offensive and defensive player of the week honors.

He played 132 total snaps on Saturday in a 34-23 win over Cincinnati, setting a career high with 153 receiving yards on nine receptions, with touchdowns of 3 and 34 yards.

The Heisman Trophy candidate — a consensus All-American in 2023 — had collected the defensive award after his performance in the Buffaloes’ 28-9 victory over Colorado State on Sept. 14. The junior made five tackles, one interception and one pass breakup.

For the season, Hunter has 20 tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, two interceptions and a Big 12-best seven pass breakups as Colorado has become bowl eligible at 6-2 (4-1 conference).

Hunter, who has battled a shoulder injury that caused him to miss portions of games, leads the Big 12 with eight TD catches, is tied for first with 60 receptions and is third with 757 receiving yards.

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) runs for a touchdown against the Arizona Wildcats in the first half at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Buffaloes’ defense dominates in Colorado’s rout of Arizona

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Shedeur Sanders threw two touchdown passes and Colorado’s defense held Arizona to 245 yards of total offense in a 34-7 victory Saturday in their Big 12 matchup in Tucson, Ariz.

Colorado (5-2, 3-1 Big 12) limited the Wildcats (3-4, 1-3) to 107 yards rushing while producing seven sacks. Samuel Okunlola and Keaten Wade each had two sacks to lead the Buffaloes.

Sanders completed 23 of 33 pass attempts for 250 yards, with two interceptions. He engineered an offense that was 9-of-18 on third-down conversions, 8-of-11 in the first half as Colorado built a 28-7 lead.

Travis Hunter, Colorado’s two-way standout, started after missing the second half of last week’s loss to Kansas State at Boulder, Colo., with a shoulder injury.

Hunter did not play in the second half against Arizona after re-aggravating the injury.

Arizona’s Noah Fifita threw for 138 yards while completing 16 of 26 passes with a touchdown and an interception.

The Wildcats’ last 10 possessions ended with a fumble, six punts, an interception, another fumble and the clock running out to end the game.

Arizona crossed into Colorado territory just three times.

Colorado’s first three drives resulted in touchdowns as the Buffaloes built a 21-7 lead with 13:03 remaining in the second quarter.

Sanders accounted for two of the touchdowns, a 1-yard pass to Drelon Miller and a 16-yard connection with Will Sheppard.

Colorado then had possessions end in a lost fumble after an errant snap to Sanders and an interception thrown by Sanders before a late score in the half.

The Buffaloes took advantage of Jimmy Horn’s 16-yard punt return to the Arizona 31 by scoring a touchdown on a 7-yard run by Sanders with 1:12 left in the half, increasing their lead to 28-7.

The only scoring that occurred in the second half were field goals of 28 and 34 yards by Colorado’s Alejandro Mata.

LaJohntay Wester had eight receptions for 127 yards for the Buffaloes.

–Field Level Media

Sep 28, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) scores a touchdown against the UCF Knights during the first quarter at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Deion Sanders: Colorado WR-CB Travis Hunter playing ‘for certain’ at Arizona

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Colorado two-way standout Travis Hunter will be ready to play Saturday against Arizona, Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders said.

A junior in the running for the Heisman Trophy, Hunter has played cornerback and wide receiver for Colorado (4-2, 2-1 Big 12) this season, but left last week’s 31-28 loss to Kansas State with a right shoulder injury.

“Travis should play for certain,” Sanders said Tuesday.

Hunter went to the locker room with 5:18 left in the second quarter and did not return in the first half. He was on the field for 23 snaps on offense and 21 on defense while in the game.

The Buffaloes’ second-leading receiver, Jimmy Horn Jr., also left the game against Kansas State and didn’t play in the second half but is on track to play against Arizona (3-3, 1-2), Sanders said Tuesday.

Now in his second season in Colorado since transferring from Jackson State, Hunter had three receptions for 26 yards last week. He has 49 catches for 587 yards and six touchdowns, and he co-leads the team with two interceptions.

–Field Level Media