Three Positions Deion Sanders Doesn't Need to Worry About for Colorado

The Colorado Buffaloes saw massive turnover during the offseason, welcoming a whopping 60 new players to the team.

But in all of the uncertainty, there are three position groups Colorado coach Deion Sanders doesn’t need to worry about in 2026.

Quarterback

The Buffaloes already appeared to be set at quarterback after blue-chip freshman Julian Lewis’s performance at the end of the 2025 season.

Lewis played in four games last season and threw for 589 yards and four touchdowns without throwing an interception. Lewis started two games for the Buffs against the West Virginia Mountaineers and the then-No. 25 Arizona State Sun Devils. While Lewis is yet to record his first career win, he played well in both starts, so hopes have been high since he announced his return to the team for the 2026 campaign.

“I’m a Buff through and through,” Lewis said. “I’ve got my crib out here, all my guys are out here, I’ve got no reason to go.”

But during the offseason, the Buffs landed three-star (247Sports) transfer quarterback Isaac Wilson from the Utah Utes. Wilson, whose older brother, Zach, is a former No. 2-overall pick in the NFL Draft, has starting experience at Utah and has carried that over to CU.

“You see that boy (Wilson), he's that one, ” said Buffs cornerback Preston Ashley after Wilson gave a post-practice speech. “Point the camera at that boy. He that one. On my mama…he that one. You that one.”

Regardless of who wins the starting job, the way that both quarterbacks have played signals that the position is as good as secure for 2026

Wide receiver

While the Buffs sustained hits in the portal with star receivers Omarion and Dre’Lon Miller transferring out of the program during the offseason, Sanders and his staff did a lot of work in the portal to rebuild that room.

They brought in Danny Scudero from San Jose State, who led the nation in receiving yards with 1,297 on 88 receptions. Scudero also hauled in 10 touchdowns.

Alongside him, they acquired Kam Perry by way of Miami University. The 5-9 receiver recorded 976 yards and six touchdowns for the Redhawks last season, and is another shifty slot receiver who will fit in well in offensive coordinator Brennan Marion’s ‘Go-Go’ scheme.

To get a slightly taller receiver, the Buffs brought in 6-0 DeAndre Moore Jr., who’s been a meaningful contributor for the Texas Longhorns over the last two seasons. He tallied 532 yards and four touchdowns last season, and despite battling injuries in spring practice, he will be in the running to be one of the offense’s primary weapons.

In addition, CU brought in the speedy Ernest Campbell Jr. and brought back Joseph Williams from last year’s team.

The depth alone in the receiver room makes it a force to be reckoned with, but the quality of talent that Coach Prime and company rebuilt the receiver room with is what makes it truly secure.

Safety

The safety position was also a major question mark during the offseason after star safety Tawfiq Byard transferred to Texas A&M.

But similarly to the receiver room, the Buffs rebuilt the safety position with major portal additions and a key returner.

The biggest name CU brought in from the portal is Boo Carter, a four-star transfer from Tennessee. Despite playing in just eight games last season, he forced three fumbles, racked up 25 tackles, a sack and three pass breakups.

Alongside him, they added Randon Fontenette, who’s been a tackling machine for Vanderbilt over the last two seasons. He also recorded a pick-six in Vanderbilt’s 2024 upset of the then-No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide.

The Buffs also returned Ben Finneseth, who rotated through the starting role last season. He is a former walk-on with the Buffaloes and one of the few players from the 2022 campaign who made the roster after Coach Prime arrived in 2023.

New Buffs defensive coordinator Chris Marve will have plenty of options at his disposal schematically with that trio, making the safety position one the Buffs won’t need to worry about for 2026.

In the upcoming spring game on April 11, these three position groups will get their first chance to shine. The Buffaloes still have a lot of questions to answer before kickoff on Sept. 3, but these three positions are ones they can set high expectations for.

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