Colorado Buffaloes Add Tennessee Transfer Tackle Larry Johnson III Amid Major Rebuild

Rebuilding an offensive line isn’t easy—especially when nearly an entire unit leaves in one offseason. But Colorado coach Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes are wasting no time filling the gaps.

Coach Prime's latest addition is a massive one—literally. Former Tennessee offensive lineman Larry Johnson III has committed to Colorado, giving the Buffs an immediate boost in size, depth, and SEC-caliber competitiveness.

Apr 19, 2025; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders during the spring game at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Johnson, a 6-foot-7, 348-pound tackle from Savannah, Georgia, brings two years of eligibility to Boulder. A former top-20 JUCO prospect nationally in 2023, he appeared in eight games with the Volunteers last season. He’ll be expected to contribute immediately to an offensive lineman room amid an overhaul since the end of 2024.

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— Larry “Tre” Johnson III (@iamthelarryj76) April 30, 2025

The Buffaloes have seen a mass exodus along the offensive line. Nine linemen—including Cash Cleveland, Zechariah Owens, Jay Gardenhire-Crooks, Kahlil Benson, Hank Zilinskas, Ethan Boyd, Tyler Johnson, Yakiri Walker, and Payton Kirkland—have all entered the portal. With an unnamed quarterback and an offensive line in flux, the Buffs have a lot of work ahead before the fall, but Colorado is working fast to reset the foundation.

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In addition to Johnson, the Buffs have already landed five other offensive line commitments this offseason: Xavier Hill, Zarian McGill, Zylon Crisler, Mana Taimani, and Aki Ogunbiyi. All five bring size and experience, signaling a clear intent to gain knowledge and be tougher in the trenches.

Johnson became the second former volunteer to transfer to Colorado this offseason. Defensive back John Slaughter also committed to the Buffaloes recently, as confirmed by his agency APSportsAgency to CBS Sports and 247Sports. That SEC-to-Boulder pipeline may not be an accident—it’s becoming part of Coach Prime’s strategy to build physicality through proven talent.

Tennessee defensive back John Slaughter (12) on the Vol Walk ahead of the NCAA college football game between Tennessee and Mississippi State on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. | Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Gunnar White, who was recently promoted to offensive line coach, will help lead that effort. White will be tasked with molding a patchwork group into a cohesive unit capable of protecting a quarterback and giving the run game a legitimate chance to flourish in 2025.

Johnson’s arrival is a key piece to that puzzle. With his blend of size, experience, and potential, he could be a plug-and-play option at tackle, but at the very least, he will provide added depth.

The Buffaloes 2025 transfer portal class ranking is No. 25 in the nation. In the Big 12 Conference, Colorado's class ranks No. 2 behind the Texas Tech Raiders.

The Buffaloes knew change was coming with the opening of the transfer portal; in this era of college football, it's inevitable. However, with the arrival of Larry Johnson III and several other key commitments, Colorado’s offensive line room is quickly taking shape.

It’s a race against time to prepare the unit for kickoff this fall, but for now, "Coach Prime" and his staff are doing precisely what they need to: rebuilding, one big body at a time.