Colorado Buffaloes Missing Four Players On Spring Roster: Transfer Portal, Injury?

As the Colorado Buffaloes hold their spring practices, there are a couple of names that are not on the roster. Defensive end Keaten Wade is reportedly injured. Safety Savion Riley and tight end Sam Hart are also not on the roster. Running back Isaiah Augustave is confirmed to be off the team.

Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos safety Savion Riley (9) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Colorado Buffaloes' spring practice is underway with coach Deion Sanders. As the team has been practicing, there are a couple of noticeable absences among the team. With Colorado's spring game less than two weeks away, defensive end Keaten Wade, safety Savion Riley, and tight end Sam Hart are not listed on Colorado’s spring roster.

The absences came as a surprise, along with the news that running back Isaiah Augustave is no longer on the team. Augustave led the Buffaloes in 2024 with 384 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The spring transfer portal window opens on April 16, and Augustave will likely look for an opportunity elsewhere.

Augustave is the only player who is confirmed to be off the team. The running back transferred from Arkansas in 2024 and immediately saw playing time with the Buffaloes. The news of him being off the team is one of many surprises on the roster.

Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos safety Savion Riley (9) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Wade transferred to Colorado from Kentucky in 2024. In one season with the Buffaloes, the defensive end totaled 7.5 tackles for loss and four sacks, three QB hurries, and one fumble recovery. Wade missed the first six games of the season due to an injury, and once he returned, he made a big impact on the defense.

With speculation on why Wade is not on the spring roster, 247Sports’ Adam Munsterteiger posted on social media that Wade is dealing with an injury. The defensive end is still expected to have a big role with the team in 2025.

Have seen some discussion over whether EDGE Keaten Wade is still on #CUBuffs squad. Can confirm he is. Has been injured this spring but expected to have a big role on the team this fall after a breakout 2nd half of 2024 season in Boulder (7.5 TFLs, 4 sacks over just 105 snaps)

— Adam Munsterteiger (@adamcm777) April 10, 2025

Riley transferred to Colorado in 2024 from Vanderbilt. He was another player to have an impact on the Buffaloes in his first season, appearing in nine games. Riley finished the season with 12 combined tackles. He played 85 snaps on special teams and 77 on defense. There is no confirmation on Riley’s status with the team.

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Hart spent the 2024 season with the Buffaloes after transferring from Ohio State. He has one year of eligibility remaining. Hart played the first six games with Colorado, only having one reception for -1 yards. With his lack of receptions and playing time, Hart may want to look somewhere where he can have a bigger role on offense.

Aside from Wade, who is reportedly injured, Riley and Hart will be two names to watch for when the spring transfer portal opens on April 16. Those who wish to enter the portal must enter their names before April 25.

Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos defensive end Keaten Wade (27) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Buffaloes finished the 2024 season with a 9-4 record, going 7-2 in Big 12 Conference play. Despite some key losses with quarterback Shedeur Sanders and cornerback and wide receiver Travis Hunter heading to the NFL, the Colorado coach has complete confidence in the team in 2025.

“We have a better team than we had last year. We’re gonna prove it this spring,” Sanders told the team ahead of spring practices. “We’re gonna be so much more disciplined.”

“It’s a new day. We gonna establish a new day in a new way. If it ain’t, y'all gonna be gone. And you know I keep my word on that. So, let’s have a great week. We gonna start off right,” Sanders said.

The Buffaloes will hold their annual Black and Gold spring game on April 19.

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