Colorado Buffaloes Safeties Coach Vonn Bell Names Biggest Leaders in His Unit

The Colorado Buffaloes have a new-look safety room as well as a new safeties coach in Vonn Bell, but Bell recently revealed which Buffs defensive backs are leading the position group during fall camp as the regular season approaches.

Randon Fontenette, Naeten Mitchell Leading Colorado Safeties

According to Bell, a nine-year NFL veteran who joined the Buffaloes' coaching staff in February, Colorado safeties Randon Fontenette and Naeten Mitchell are two leaders of the group:

"Those guys, continuously making strides and progressing in the right way. Building unity on and off the field. . . They're leading guys in the right direction," Bell said per DNVR Buffs' Jake Schwanitz.

colorado buffaloes safeties vonn bell randon fontenette naeten mitchell boo carter ben finneseth deion sanders big 12 — Vanderbilt safety Randon Fontenette (2) warms up before playing against Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Colorado safeties coach Vonn Bell on Randon Fontenette and Naeten Mitchell.

“Those guys continuously making strides and progressing in the right way. Building unity on and off the field... They’re leading guys in the right direction.”
— Jake Schwanitz (@JakeDNVR) August 21, 2026

That connection was on display as Fontenette spoke to the media after Friday's practice, explaining that he and Mitchell have promised each other to communicate before every single snap. Such communication is key for any defenders, and the chemistry developing between Fontenette and Mitchell in the defensive backfield could be an indication as to which Buffaloes will be starting at safety.

However, Colorado safety Ben Finneseth may have a word in that. The Buffs safety is one of the few returning members of the 2025 team, and he adds leadership to the roster no matter which duo of safeties earn the starting nods.

Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders mentioned the possibility of Finneseth not guaranteed to start at Big 12 Media Days, and it appears as though Fontenette and Mitchell may have something to do about it. Still, Colorado will not be lacking leadership in the back end of the defense.

"Just because Ben (Finneseth) isn't penciled in as your starter, as your guy, as your killer, as your dawg, he's a leader. If it's time to fight, he swings first. If it's time to choke somebody, get him right and get him in line, he's going to the house and knocking on the front door first. You can't always equate the talent level to leadership and a guy that has CU tattooed on his chest when he takes off his shirt. He is that guy," Sanders said on Finneseth at Big 12 Media Days.

Colorado Buffaloes Safety Rotation

Colorado brought in a number of defensive backs through the transfer portal in addition to Fontenette and Mitchell, like Jah Jah Boyd, Boo Carter, and Jaydan Hardy. Bell also highlighted Boyd after Friday's practice, revealing how the Indiana transfer might see the field and crack into the rotation in 2026:

"Probably one of the most versatile guys in the room," Bell said on Boyd, per Schwanitz.

Carter has earned the praise of Sanders during fall camp, with "Coach Prime" projecting the Tennessee transfer as a potential first-round pick in the NFL Draft if he sticks around and develops in Boulder.

The Buffaloes may be deep at safety, but Carter will likely play his way onto the field thanks to his kick and punt returning abilities, but he may also be a weapon for Bell and the Buffaloes defensive coaching staff.

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