Buffs Beat

How Colorado Buffaloes Plan On Matching Last Season's Receiving Production

Wide receivers coach Jason Phillips revealed how the Colorado Buffaloes plan on matching last season's receiving production without the likes of Travis Hunter, LaJohntay Wester and others. Simply put, it'll be a team effort in the wide receiver room.
Jack Carlough|
Apr 19, 2025; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Dre'lon Miller (6) during the spring game at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Apr 19, 2025; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Dre'lon Miller (6) during the spring game at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

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Colorado Buffaloes

Although it may look a little different, the Colorado Buffaloes plan to match last season's receiving production.

Colorado watched four wide receivers — Travis Hunter, Jimmy Horn Jr., LaJohntay Wester and Will Sheppard — land in the NFL this offseason, draining the Buffs of considerable star power. In turn, wide receivers coach Jason Phillips will rely on a new mix of incoming transfers, freshmen and a few talented returners.

After practice on Tuesday, Phillips spoke about the dynamics of his room and gave a number to how many wide receivers will be featured in the rotation.

Jason Phillips Previews Colorado's Wide Receiver Rotation

Colorado Buffaloes Plan Season Receiving Production Jason Phillips Sincere Brown Hykeem Williams Omarion Miller Deion Sanders
Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receivers coach Jason Phillips against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

"Right now, I feel real comfortable with eight to probably 11 guys," Phillips said, per DNVR Buffs. "I'm really comfortable with that. I think a lot of people have asked this question: How do you replace the guys that left with Travis Hunter, LaJohntay and Will Sheppard and Jimmy Horn? You don't replace those guys. What we can do is replace the production."

The high-end talent may not be as prevalent, but Phillips remains confident in the depth of his room. As fall camp winds down and preparation for Georgia Tech begins, Dre'lon Miller, Hykeem Williams, Sincere Brown, Joseph Williams and Omarion Miller have all emerged as leaders at wide receiver.

"We've got enough players in that room that I feel comfortable with playing that we can probably get close to or surpass the production we had last year," Phillips added.

Both Millers had over 200 receiving yards last season while Brown (Campbell), Hykeem Williams (Florida State) and Joseph Williams (Tulsa) joined the Buffs via the transfer portal earlier this offseason. Others who may be in Phillips' circle of trust include freshman Quentin Gibson, sophomore Isaiah Hardge and Utah State transfer Jack Hestera.

"It's kind of hard to talk about one guy. I think the group is progressing as a whole," Phillips said, per BuffZone's Brian Howell. "Guys are maturing. It's a younger group, younger than what we had last year. And we got some new guys that came in that obviously have to play or meet the expectation level of being here. Those guys are starting to understand that. I'm really pleased right now with where we're at, but I still believe there's a long ways to go."

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Colorado Buffaloes Plan Season Receiving Production Jason Phillips Sincere Brown Hykeem Williams Omarion Miller Deion Sanders
Apr 19, 2025; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Joseph Williams (8) during the spring game at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Colorado's wide receivers will, of course, play a key role in helping whoever wins the starting quarterback competition between Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter, freshman Julian Lewis and Ryan Staub. Salter is the current favorite, but coach Deion Sanders has yet to make a formal announcement.

In just over one week, Phillips' wide receivers will look to impress in Colorado's season opener against Georgia Tech on Aug. 29. Kickoff at Folsom Field is set for 6 p.m. MT on ESPN.

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Jack Carlough
JACK CARLOUGH

Jack Carlough is lead reporter for Colorado Buffaloes on SI. Jack graduated from the University of Colorado with a bachelor's degree in journalism and minors in business and sports media. Born and raised in the Boulder area, Jack began covering Colorado athletics in 2018 and was the head sports editor of the CU Independent during his college career. More recently, he spent over three years as the managing editor of the USA Today Sports Network's Colorado Buffaloes Wire, where he covered Colorado's hiring of head football coach Deion Sanders. Other publications Jack has written for include the Boulder Daily Camera, Left Hand Valley Courier and SB Nation’s Ralphie Report. In 2022, the Colorado Press Association awarded Jack second place in its annual Class 5 Best Sports Column Writing category.

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