Much of the success that Colorado enjoyed during the 2024 football season can be attributed to stars Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter.
Hunter won the Heisman Trophy, while Sanders was the Big 12 Conference offensive player of the year.
The dramatic improvement of the Buffaloes’ defensive front, however, was just as important, and that group might be even better this year.
Leading up to preseason camp, which opens July 28, BuffZone.com will preview each position group for the CU football team and in this installment, we look at the defensive line and edge defenders.
A year ago, the Buffs led the Big 12 in sacks (39) and tackles for loss (93). It was the first time since 1996 that a CU team averaged 3.0 sacks per game.
The run defense wasn’t great, allowing 151.4 yards per game (eighth in the Big 12), but it was the best by a CU team in six years and a 25.2-yard improvement from 2023.
While some key players who contributed to those numbers are gone, the Buffs return four defensive tackles and seven edge rushers. They also added some key pieces through the transfer portal and high school ranks.
“Defensively, man, what we brought in up front, outside to rush the passer, the linebackers and the secondary is phenomenal,” CU head coach Deion Sanders said at Big 12 media day last week in Frisco, Texas. “It’s gonna be special.”
Shane Cokes and Chidozie Nwankwo, who accounted for 20 of the 26 starts at defensive tackle, have graduated, but their top backups, Anquin Barnes and Amari McNeill are both back. Barnes and McNeill each started three games, and McNeill actually played the second-most snaps on the line (441), just 14 fewer than Nwankwo.
McNeill posted six tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, while Barnes was a solid run stuffer who finished with 13 tackles. Tawfiq Thomas was another top rotational player who finished with 18 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.
Also back is Taurean Carter II, who played in 33 games at Arkansas and missed the last 11 games of the 2024 season with injury at CU last year.
Three veterans were added through the transfer portal. Seniors Tavian Coleman and Gavriel Lightfoot, as well as junior Jehiem Oatis, have played a lot of football in their careers and should make the Buffs deeper than they’ve been at tackle in several years. All three have starting experience and a combined 101 FBS games under their belts.
On the edge, the Buffs lost their top pass rusher, BJ Green (7.5 sacks), to graduation, while two others – Dayon Hayes and Taje McCoy – transferred, but plenty of talent returns.
Samuel Okunlola made 10 starts a year ago and posted seven TFLs and three sacks. Arden Walker made two starts and finished with 6.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks (second to Green). Only Green played more snaps on the edge than that duo.
Also back is Keaten Wade, who played just 105 snaps, but was highly productive when on the field, with 7.5 TFLs and 4.0 sacks. Junior Quency Wiggins and redshirt freshman Brandon Davis-Swain have also flashed potential.
The line was boosted through the prep ranks, too.
Defensive tackle Christian Hudson was a four-star prospect who had nearly two dozen scholarship offers and chose the Buffs over Big 12 rivals Iowa State and UCF, among others.
On the edge, London Merritt (a four-star recruit) and Alexander McPherson (three-star recruit) were teammates at IMG Academy and turned some heads this spring.
For the Buffs to be special on defense and continue the team success they had in 2024, this group will play a significant role.
Position: Defensive line/edge
DL
Returners with 2024 starts: Anquin Barnes, 6-foot-5, 340 pounds, Sr. (3 starts); Amari McNeill, 6-4, 300, Sr. (3 starts).
Other returners: Taurean Carter II, 6-3, 280, Sr.; Tawfiq Thomas, 6-4, 300, Sr.
Transfers: Tavian Coleman, 6-1, 300, Sr. (Texas State); Gavriel Lightfoot, 6-3, 310, Sr. (Fresno State); Jehiem Oatis, 6-5, 325, Jr. (Alabama).
True freshmen: Christian Hudson, 6-1, 300, Fr.
Key losses: Shane Cokes (graduated); Chidozie Nwankwo (graduated).
Edge
Returners with 2024 starts: DE Samuel Okunlola, 6-4, 250, Jr. (10 starts); DE Arden Walker, 6-2, 250, Sr. (2 starts).
Other returners: Brandon Davis-Swain, 6-4, 290, R-Fr.; Keaten Wade, 6-4, 235, Sr.; Nikhil Webb-Walker, 6-6, 275, Jr.; Quency Wiggins, 6-5, 255, Jr.; Tristan Marois, 6-6, 240, Sr. (walk-on)
Transfers: None.
True freshmen: Alexander McPherson, 6-4, 240, Fr.; London Merritt, 6-3, 250, Fr.
Key losses: BJ Green (graduated); Dayon Hayes (transferred to Texas A&M); Taje McCoy (transferred to Oklahoma State).
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