Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes midseason report card

Breaking down the performances of Coach Prime and team at the halfway point.

Ignore all the doubters and naysayers who thought the Buffs wouldn’t win three games this season. None of those opinions mean much of anything. Sure, we kept all the receipts but really, what difference does it make? The haters had their say and they were proven wrong.

BuffsBeat has been been saying for months that we expected a 3-0 start. We also figured on them experiencing trouble versus Oregon and USC, followed by wins over Arizona State and Stanford. After that, things get a little dicey. But before looking ahead to this final tough stretch of games, let’s look back at the best and worst of the season’s first half.

REPORT CARD

Quarterback: A+

What more can can we ask for? Over 2,000 yards passing with a 158 quarterback. All this while being sacked more than any other qb in college football. Shedeur Sanders has beyond great and without his number one receiver for more than half the season. At the midway point, he’s done enough to earn a trip to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

Running Back: B-

There’s been some bright spots with Dylan Edwards and Anthony Hankerson but a lot is still to be determined. Sy’veon Wilkerson has looked solid in limited opportunities. We haven’t seen enough from Alton McCaskill, Charlie Offerdahl, or Kavosiey Smoke to give a true assessment.

Whether it’s blocking struggles or just a lack of execution in the run game, this team is capable of averaging a lot more than 95 yards a game.

Offensive Line: C-

We all know they have battling through injuries. There was also the surprise ruling on Tyler Brown’s eligibility. It was an uphill battle for a group thrown together in one off-season. Even a marginal improvement could pay big dividends down the stretch.

Tight End: A+

Does Michael Harrison have a scholarship yet? He’s made an impact in all four wins. Without him, this could be a completely different season.

Wide Receiver: A

It’s never a good thing when someone gets hurts. The loss of Travis Hunter basically wiped out any hopes of a championship season. The only positive takeaway is that allowed those “next men up” to actually have their opportunities to shine.

Imagine a five wide receiver formation tonight with Weaver, Hunter, Miller, Horn, and Antonio. This seems a whole lot more intimidating than it did a month ago.

Special Teams: B

This has been the most unpredictable group through the first six games. We’ve seen a number of kicks blocked but, we have also witnessed some clutch field goals sail through the the uprights. Alejandro Mata was named the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday. Punter Mark Vassett has previously received special recognition for his achievements. Overall, I feel like it’s been somewhat of a mixed bag that has trended upward over the last few games.

Defensive Line: B

Much like the O-line, it almost seems unfair to judge this group. Cohesion is such a critical element to this position group’s success and it’s also the one thing they severely lacked going into this year. When Coach Prime talked about bringing in his “Louis” luggage, nobody was worried about his ability to replace skill position players, it was the offense and defensive lines that were concerning.

Despite that, some stars have emerged. Taijh Alston and Amari McNeill have exceeded expectations. Shane Cokes and Bishop Thomas have embraced their leadership roles on and off the field.

Linebackers: B+

Juwan Mitchell was one of the last additions to the team and is now one of the leaders in total tackles. LaVonta Bentley, Marvin Ham II, and Jordan Domineck have all helped make this group one of the more consistent units on the team.

Secondary: A

I guess we shouldn’t be surprised that the next DBU would excel in the secondary. To accomplish what they have without Travis Hunter has been remarkable. We also haven’t yet seen the best of Cormani McClain, only glimpses of his potential in spot duty. It’s players like Carter Stoutmire, Omarion Cooper, Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig that have risen to elite levels. At safety, Shilo Sanders, Myles Slusher, and Trevor Woods have all had game changing moments. 

Coaching: A

When you are projected to win less than three games and you win that many in September, you’re doing a great job. It’s been an amazing run at a nonstop pace. This staff overturned practically an entire roster. To go into tonight with a great chance to be on the cusp of a bowl game is an incredible accomplishment.