Buffs Beat

Colorado’s Quentin Gibson Quietly Becoming Elite in Key College Football Stat

Only a freshman, Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Quentin Gibson is currently third in the country with 427 kickoff return yards, trailing only UAB's Solomon Beebe. It's likely only a matter of time before Gibson returns a kickoff for a touchdown.
Jack Carlough|
Apr 19, 2025; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Quentin Gibson (15) during the spring game at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Apr 19, 2025; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Quentin Gibson (15) 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

Only a freshman, Quentin Gibson hasn't wasted any time in becoming one of college football's best kickoff return weapons.

Through his first seven games with the Colorado Buffaloes, Gibson is second in the country with 427 kickoff return yards. UAB's Solomon Beebe, a sophomore, has just one more yard to lead the nation at 428.

Gibson's 427 kickoff return yards mark the most by a Buff since former cornerback Nikko Reed has 430 in 2022, according to BuffZone's Brian Howell. The last Colorado player to reach 500 yards, which is very much attainable for Gibson, was Donovan Lee in 2015 (540).

Quentin Gibson's Impressive True Freshman Season

Colorado Buffaloes Quentin Gibson College Football Best Major Stat Big 12 Kickoff Return Yards Freshman Deion Sanders Boulder
Oct 4, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Quentin Gibson (15) is tackled by. TCU Horned Frogs safety Bud Clark (21) and TCU Horned Frogs safety Jamel Johnson (2) during the first half at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

A former four-star prospect (per ESPN), Gibson has already totaled three games with at least 100 kickoff return yards (Houston, Wyoming and Iowa State). His season-long return of 46 yards came against Wyoming, and he more recently had a 36-yarder against the Cyclones on Saturday.

Quarterback Kaidon Salter has certainly appreciated Gibson's ability to give Colorado favorable field position to begin drives.

"Q, he's a special teams All-American down there, just him being able to pick up those yards that he's getting on those kickoffs and punts," Salter said. "It's something that you just don't see a lot of nowadays. There are a lot of freshmen that's playing — true freshmen — and Q is one of the ones that's most definitely going to be talked about after this season."

Colorado Buffaloes Quentin Gibson College Football Best Major Stat Big 12 Kickoff Return Yards Freshman Deion Sanders Boulder
Oct 11, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Kaidon Salter (3) calls out in the first quarter against the Iowa State Cyclones at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Gibson has been less effective on offense with nine catches for 43 yards, but his contributions on special teams certainly haven't gone unnoticed. It's now likely only a matter of time before he returns a kickoff to the house.

While Colorado's hopes of reaching the College Football Playoff this season are slim, Gibson's ultimate goal is to win a national championship.

“The goal is, of course, to win a national championship,” Gibson said in fall camp. “I committed alongside four of them, and I visited with three of them, so we created a group chat. All of our freshmen are in it, and we’ve been texting, hanging out every day and spending time together on the weekends.”

MORE: What Kaidon Salter Said After Colorado Buffaloes' Massive Win Over No. 22 Iowa State

MORE: Deion Sanders Gets Candid After Colorado's Upset Win Over Iowa State

MORE: Biggest Winners, Losers from Colorado Win Over No. 22 Iowa State

MORE: Colorado Buffaloes' MVP Turns Heads In Upset Win Over Iowa State

Deion Sanders Praises Quentin Gibson

Colorado Buffaloes Quentin Gibson College Football Best Major Stat Big 12 Kickoff Return Yards Freshman Deion Sanders Boulder
Oct 11, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders during the first quarter against the Iowa State Cyclones at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Much like Salter, Colorado coach Deion Sanders has also shared high praise for Gibson this season.

"The kid had 2,000 yards receiving in high school," Sanders said on the "Colorado Football Coaches Show" earlier this season. "The kid broke records in Texas. The kid was the player of the year in Texas football. Think about that. At the highest level of competition, and they won the state (championship). Two thousand yards receiving, he knows what to do with the ball. We just got to figure out how to get the ball in his hands more frequently."

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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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