Colorado Offensive Lineman Turns Heads After Offseason Transformation

Colorado’s offensive line coach broke the silence on an up-and-coming prospect amid spring practice.

Nov 8, 2025; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders walks along the sidelines late in the fourth quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. | Ben Queen-Imagn Images

During the Colorado Buffaloes’ spring practice, offensive line coach Gunnar White spoke about the development of one of his up-and-coming talents during spring practice.

Buffs offensive lineman Chauncey Gooden has been making strides as the spring season has gone along, according to White.

Gooden’s arrival in Boulder

Lipscomb Academy offensive lineman Chauncey Gooden greets well-wishers before the start of the school's high school football signing ceremony during the early signing period Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, Tennessee. | George Robinson / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Gooden was recruited by Colorado coach Deion Sanders and his staff out of Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, Tennessee, during the offseason. In his time there, he established himself as a premier interior offensive lineman, with 247Sports listing him as a four-star recruit.

247Sports also ranked Gooden as the third-best prospect from the state of Tennessee and the No. 12 interior offensive lineman in the class of 2025.

Gooden had offers from the likes of the Auburn Tigers, Florida Gators, Arkansas Razorbacks, Clemson Tigers and many others, but committed to the Colorado Buffaloes on June 24th, 2024.

When he arrived at spring camp, though, there were some things that White and the rest of the offensive line staff realized Gooden would need to work on.

“He came in a little heavy,” White said. “We got him with the nutritionist…making sure he’s eating and doing proper things, not just stuff that tastes good.”

Gooden saw 18 snaps during the 2025 season as he appeared in its last four games.

Gooden’s development in spring practice

Lipscomb's Chauncey Gooden (55) celebrates a pass block against IMG at Lipscomb's Reese Smith Football Field in Nashville, Tenn., Friday night, Aug. 18, 2023. | Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

But Gooden has taken to the development well since getting on his new nutrition program.

“He’s on the right track with that,” White said. “When it comes to the working out and conditioning, he’s done a really good job with that; it’s helped him drop his weight.”

Since getting to a more ideal weight, Gooden and the coaches have seen the benefits in his on-field production.

“When he gets on the field, he’s just a mauler,” White said. “He puts hands on guys, and he doesn’t let anybody loose.”

That type of dominance was what made Gooden such a highly touted prospect out of high school.

As seen in his high school film, Gooden is a dominating guard, and with his 6-3, 380-pound frame, he could have an immediate impact for the Buffaloes.

Apr 19, 2025; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes offensive lineman Zylon Crisler (72) during the spring game at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Additionally, the Buffaloes are losing two starting interior offensive linemen in Zylon Crisler and Zarian McGill to graduation and two to the transfer portal in Cooper Lovelace and Tyler Brown. 

While the Buffaloes also added four interior offensive linemen in the transfer portal and one additional lineman from the high school ranks, Gooden certainly stands out in the eye test.

The competition for those guard positions is going to be stout, but his abnormal stature, which has now been refined due to his nutrition program, along with his impressive film, show that he plays above his level and expectations, and has for quite some time. 

Colorado’s spring practice and upcoming spring game on April 11 will be where that battle is fought, and after coach White’s evaluation of his development, he will be a key part of the new-look offensive line group to keep an eye on during that time.

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