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Colorado Daily – Spring Practices
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Week Three Schedule … Spring Break … No practices …
… Note … Free tickets to the April 11th Black/Gold game (1:00 p.m., MT) can be claimed here …
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March 14th
… CU in a few minutes …
Alabama transfer running back Richard Young excited to be at CU: “Definitely a restart”
From the Daily Camera … Following three seasons at Alabama, Richard Young wanted a change of scenery.
The 5-foot-11, 210-pound running back found what he was looking for in Boulder.
“Definitely a restart,” Young said of transferring to Colorado to play for the Buffaloes and head coach Deion Sanders. “Coach Prime gave me a chance to show my ability, show what I can do and I’m always thankful for every opportunity I get, no matter what. I definitely feel like being here, I just gotta get better.”
Young is part of a rebuilt running back room for the Buffs, including Damian Henderson II and Jaquail Smith, who both came to CU from Sacramento State. Last year’s leading rusher, Micah Welch, is back, along with senior DeKalon Taylor.
All of them figure to get opportunities to run the ball.
“Well, we know it’s enough for everybody to eat,” running backs coach Johnnie Mack said. “That’s what we preach; hey, it’s enough out here for everybody. You just got to do your job. How do you play without the ball? We preach that. So, for us, it’s about playing selfless.”
… Continue reading story here …
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March 13th
… CU in a few minutes …
CU’s 31-year old safeties coach Vonn Bell: “Embrace the opportunity and just being here wholeheartedly and fully committed”
From the Daily Camera … The 31-year-old Vonn Bell is only about 14 months removed from his last game, on Jan. 4, 2025, with the Cincinnati Bengals. A second-round draft choice in 2016 coming out of Ohio State, Bell played for the New Orleans Saints, Bengals and Carolina Panthers, racking up 760 tackles and eight interceptions.
Bell still looks like he could play and shows up daily to the CU facility at 4 a.m. to work out with Buffs strength and conditioning coach Andreu Swasey. He’s not looking for another playing opportunity, however.
“I’m done. Yeah, for sure,” he said after CU’s fifth practice of spring on Wednesday. “I’m in a new transition in life. I always said towards the end of my career I always wanted to coach.”
Originally, Bell was going to be part of the CU staff this year as an analyst, working under defensive coordinator Robert Livingston, who was one of his coaches in Cincinnati.
Then, on Feb. 25, just five days before the start of spring ball, Livingston took a job with the Denver Broncos. Linebackers coach Chris Marve was elevated to defensive coordinator, while Bell was asked to coach the safeties.
“It’s been a blessing for sure. What a journey,” he said. “I breathe, live, and eat football, so I’m happy to be here. It’s truly an opportunity and really blessed in how they think of me. I just embrace the grind. Embrace the opportunity and just being here wholeheartedly and fully committed.”
So far, so good, as Bell has been embraced by the players.
“He’s a great mentor, a great leader of men,” CU safety Naeten Mitchell said. “Him coming in was a big thing for me. He played in the league, he’s done what I want to do; what I want to get to. So, not only coaching me football, but coaching me outside of football, coaching me to get ready for the league.”
Bell’s time in the league is done, he said, but he’s eager to help Mitchell and the other Buffs achieve their dreams.
“When I get in these meeting rooms, I hit the field, that fire is still going,” he said. “That’s why I love it so much. That’s why I’m so passionate. And that’s why I’m so blessed to be able to have an opportunity to go out there and run with the guys every day.”
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March 11th
… CU in a few minutes …
CU safeties coach Vonn Bell: “The sky is the limit with this group”
From BuffsTV.com …
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March 10th
… CU in a few minutes …
Coach Prime doesn’t like players’ intensity; makes players start practice over
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*Running backs coach Johnnie Mack: “I told my guys, ‘If you’re not excited for this, I don’t know what else to tell you, man. This Go-Go offense is built for running backs”*
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March 8th
… CU in a few minutes …
WR Danny Scudero okay with fewer receptions this fall: “Everybody in that room is a dawg”
From the Daily Camera … In choosing to transfer to Colorado this past winter, Danny Scudero knew he might have to take on a slightly lesser role.
After all, the 5-foot-9, 175-pound receiver from San Jose State led the country last season in targets (156) and receiving yards (1,297), numbers that will be tough to duplicate at CU.
Scudero still figures to have a prominent role in the CU offense, but he is eager to spread the wealth among his talented teammates in the receiving corps.
“The guys in the room make it easy (to shift perspective),” Scudero said after the third practice of spring on Friday. “Guys like (Kam Perry), that I want to see them eat; and they want to see me eat. I want to see Kam run a deep ball; when DeAndre (Moore) is back, I want to see him run a deep ball. … I want to see Ernest (Campbell) use his 4.3 speed to pass people. I want to see everybody do what they came here to do, and I know that it’s reciprocated where they want to see what I can do, too.”
Perry (Miami-Ohio), Moore (Texas) and Campbell (Sacramento State) were all highly productive at their previous schools last year, too, while Joseph Williams was the second-leading receiver at CU in 2025.
Scudero and those other four had a combined 243 catches for 4,049 yards and 32 touchdowns during the 2025 season. CU also brings back talented returners in Hykeem Williams, Quanell Farrakhan Jr., and Quentin Gibson, while adding two incoming freshmen in Jacob Swain and Christian Ward.
“I would say, one, there’s a lot of talent in this room, from the top to the bottom,” Scudero said. “I mean, everybody that is in this room is a dawg. … When you have the mindset of you’re striving to get better every practice and really just holding each other accountable, that really makes for a dangerous room because you have to put your best foot forward, otherwise the guys are going to get on you. And we really just hold each other to a high standard in this room.”
… Continue reading story here …
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March 7th
… CU in a few minutes …
Transfer wide receivers Kam Perry and Danny Scudero discuss their move to CU
From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com …
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March 6th
… CU in a few minutes …
Coach Prime first press conference: “I like everybody that’s in here”
From Coach Prime’s first press conference of the spring …
On Staff Improvements …
“I know there’s been a lot of talk about our staff. I’ve told y’all every year that the Bible says, ‘Your rod and your staff, they comfort me,'” Sanders said. “I feel as though we have the best staff that has been assembled in my tenure by far. There’s a whole lot of gentlemen that coached with me, that’s not a knock on them because I love them. I still have relationships with all of them, and I’m thankful. But I’m thankful for progression. I’m thankful for elevation.”
On Offensive Conference Coordinator Brennan Marion …
“Everybody I interviewed (for offensive coordinator), they averaged 30 points per game,” Sanders said. “Thirty points per game is our threshold. When we score 30 points per game, we win… But I needed that toughness, that mentality. I needed somebody that was gonna apply pressure and understand how we get down around here and go at it in that same type of way. Not only did we find him, but he’s more than expected.”
On the 50 new additions to the roster …
“They look different, they’re built different, their attitude is different,” Sanders said. “We sat down in front of the computer and the television and watched every last one of them. Ain’t nothing got in here that I didn’t see with members of my staff. I like everybody that’s in here. Is everybody a superstar? No. But you put a dog beside a guy that’s not fully grown yet, he can hunt as well.”
On which players have stood out early on during spring ball …
“All of them. They look different, they are built different, their attitude is different. I sat down in front of a computer or television and watched every single one of them. None of them got in here that I didn’t see with members of my staff.
“So I like everybody that is in here. Is everybody a superstar? No, no. But you put a dawg beside a guy that is not fully grown yet, he can hunt as well. He might not kill like that dawg but he can hunt. And I am proud of that.”
On QB Julian “JuJu” Lewis and how his leadership has progressed…
“There was an old song as a kid that we would sing, ‘He’ll be coming ’round the mountain when he comes. He’ll be coming around the mountains…’ That is who he is. And we are looking and we are waiting for him to come around the mountain when he comes. I feel about the time we snap that first snap at Georgia Tech, he’ll be coming ’round the mountain, he’ll be straight. And we have a couple other quarterbacks on this roster that can play this game and they are applying pressure.”
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March 5th
… CU in a few minutes …
CU Linebacker room: If you squint real hard, there is experience (albeit at other schools)
From CUBuffs.com …
Colorado’s linebacker room enters the season with a mix of proven production and developmental depth.
The unit features returners with starting experience, transfers who have produced at multiple levels and a group of younger players working to establish roles. The blend of experience and competition gives the Buffs flexibility to both inside and outside linebackers.
Position Group: Linebackers
Returners: Gage Goldberg, Bo Simmons-Lapenna
Newcomers: Rodney Colton, Carson Crawford, Colby Johnson, Gideon ESPN Lapron, Liona Lefau, Tyler Martinez
Position Group Preview
Gideon ESPN Lampron, Liona Lefau and Tyler Martinez bring starting experience and consistent tackle production at the collegiate level, giving the defense stability at the second level. Their experience in multiple schemes and high-level competition provides a foundation for the room.
Behind them, returning contributors and special teams regulars continue to compete for expanded roles, while a group of freshmen adds size, speed and high school production to the depth chart.
The focus entering camp will be communication and role definition. With veteran leadership and competition throughout the room, the development of cohesion will determine how consistently the linebackers anchor Colorado’s defense this season.
… Continue reading story here …
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New defensive coordinator Chris Marve meets the press for the first time
From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com …
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March 4th
… CU in a few minutes …
*Video: Julian Lewis meets the press*
From Brian Howell at the Daily Camera (Note: CU limits videos to three minutes) …
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Brennan Marion on Julian Lewis: “He has a million dollar arm”
From On3Sports …
Q: What have you liked that you’ve seen from Julian Lewis, and where does that quarterback room stand?
A: “He truly does have a million-dollar arm. It’s just teaching him all the little things. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a great example to learn from the standpoint of what it looks like from a habit standpoint, showing up every day with a smile on your face, a quarterback being the CEO of the program. He’s just learning those little things and details. But as far as ability, he has all the ability in the world. That’s why he came out of high school the way that he did.
“He’s still young. People forget that he skipped his senior year. He’s a very young player. He’s maturing every day; he’s getting better every day. I tell him, as long as it’s a small step forward every day, he’s doing what he needs to do to get better. But as far as his arm talent, he is in the class of Quinn Ewers and those types of guys when you talk about being able to throw the ball at an elite level.”
Q: When you got here, you were able to look at his game tape from his freshman season. What were your takeaways?
A: “The thing I love most about his game film was that Colorado last year didn’t have much run game. They knew that he was going to drop back and throw the ball, but he made smart decisions with the ball. He didn’t risk or turn over the ball. Guys with a lot of arm talent usually risk the ball a lot. When I had Jayden Maiava, when I had him, I was always constantly telling him not to risk the ball because he had such a talented arm.
“You saw Ju making smart decisions, tucking it down and running when he needed to, taking the sack sometimes when it wasn’t there — giving the guys a chance to win when he was out there. That’s what I like from him. He comes from a winning background. He’s used to winning, and he cares about taking care of the football, even though he does have a talented arm and he can force the ball in there and try to force throws, he didn’t do that.”
Q: You’re bringing in your offense. What has that been like, getting everyone up to speed and implementing it? How different is it from what they have run?
A: “To me, this is the best room I’ve been in as far as coaches that really care about the product and want to make sure they do every detail right to make the offense work. And I’d say that’s where it starts, right? Like the coaches got to make the players believe in what we’re running. When you talk about, you know, playing for Gus Malzahn back in the day, a new offense was brought to college football. If you don’t have a coaching staff that’s on board with you, they can really hurt it from working.”
… Continue reading story here …
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March 3rd
… CU in a few minutes …
CU offensive line: Experience; depth; size – Continuity and execution the watchwords for spring
From CUBuffs.com …
Colorado returns five offensive linemen who spent time in the starting rotation last season, providing a foundation of experience entering the year.
Alongside them are 11 newcomers, giving the Buffaloes a reshaped front heading into spring practice. The blend of returning game reps and new additions sets the stage for one of the most competitive rooms on the roster.
The faces may be new. The responsibility remains the same.
Protect the quarterback. Control the line of scrimmage. Set the tone up front.
Offensive Line
Returners: Yahya Attia, Chauncey Gooden, Phillip Houston, Larry Johnson, Andre Royer, Hudson Steber
Newcomers: Leon Bell, Ben Gula, Bo Hughley, Demetrius Hunter, Sean Kinney, Jayvon McFadden, Xaiver Payne, Jayven Richardson, Jose Soto, Taj White
Position Group Preview
Few position groups will define Colorado’s ceiling more than the offensive line.
The Buffs enter the season with a unit that blends returning experience, Power Four transfers, junior college standouts and high ceiling freshmen. Five returners with starting experience anchor the group, while 11 newcomers reshape the room with added size, versatility and competition across every position.
Experience at tackle stands out immediately.
Veterans Taj White, Andre Royer Jr., Jayven Richardson and Leon Bell bring meaningful Power Four experience. White earned three seasons of Academic All-Big Ten recognition with multiyear starting experience. Royer and Richardson both have conference starts at tackle, while Bell adds length at 6’8″ and experiences across multiple programs.
Phillip Houston and Larry Johnson III provide additional starting experience and depth. Johnson allowed just one sack across eight starts last season.
Inside, the Buffs feature physical, battle tested guards and centers.
Jose Soto arrives after starting 11 games at right guard and helping power, one of the top rushing attacks in the Big Sky. Yahya Attia proved his versatility last season, playing four positions along the offensive front while allowing zero sacks and earning PFF Big 12 Left Guard of the Week honors.
Sean Kinney adds leverage and toughness from his wrestling background after earning Freshman All-America honors and All Patriot League recognition.
The youth movement brings size and long-term upside.
Chauncey Gooden, a four-star interior lineman, adds immediate size at 380 pounds and earned national preseason freshman recognition. Xavier Payne and Ben Gula arrived as three-star prospects with strong high school production and multi-sport backgrounds. Hudson Steber provides in-state developmental depth as he continues to build physically within the program.
Across the board, this group is bigger.
Multiple linemen weigh 320 pounds or more. Several stand 6’6″ or taller. Length on the edge and interior mass inside give Colorado a front that looks physically different from a year ago.
The storyline entering camp is cohesion.
With new faces, cross-training options and experienced transfers competing alongside young talent, the emphasis will be on communication, chemistry and consistency.
The size is there. The experience is there. The depth is there.
Now it becomes about continuity and execution.
… Continue reading story here …
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First Look: CU’s new defensive roster
From the Daily Camera …
Defensive line: Completely rebuilt in the offseason, CU brought in six transfers, led by Santana Hopper, who was first-team All-AAC at Tulane in 2025 and first-team All-Sun Belt at Appalachian State in 2024. Dylan Manuel had a good season at App State last year with 37 tackles and seven tackles for loss. Tyler Moore (Coastal Carolina), Sedrick Smith (Maryland) and Samu Taumanupepe (Baylor) are all hoping for bigger roles than they had at their previous stops. Ezra Christensen was first-team All-Conference USA at New Mexico State, but he’s still waiting on a waiver to be eligible. Freshman Josiah Manu (Thompson Valley High School) is also competing.
Edge: Quency Wiggins returns after posting nine tackles and six hurries last year, although he could move to the interior. Kylan Salter is also back after playing a reserve role at inside linebacker last year. This group was overhauled through the portal, as Toby Anene (North Dakota State), Balansama Kamara (Albany), Vili Taufatofua (San Jose State), Immanuel Ezeogu (James Madison), Lamont Lester Jr. (Monmouth) and Yamil Talib (Charlotte) were added as transfers. Kamara and Lester were both first-team All-CAA, while Anene and Taufatofua also earned all-conference recognition. JUCO transfer Domata Peko Jr. will also compete.
Inside linebacker: Liona Lefau could be the leader of this group after starting 20 consecutive games at Texas, posting 69 tackles last season. Gideon Lampron (Bowling Green) was first-team All-MAC and one of the national leaders in tackles (119) and tackles for loss (17.5), while Tyler Martinez (New Mexico State) was second-team All-CUSA in 2024 before missing most of last year with injury. Behind that trio is a trio of freshman: Rodney Colton Jr., Carson Crawford and Colby Johnson, as well as veteran walk-ons Bo LaPenna and Gage Goldberg.
Cornerbacks: RJ Johnson and Makari Vickers are back. They combined for five starts last year but both missed much of the year with injuries. CU added veteran transfers Justin Eaglin (James Madison), Emory Floyd (App State) and Paul Omodia (Lamar), all of which earned all-conference recognition at their previous schools. Jason Stokes (Utah) and Cree Thomas (Notre Dame) join the mix after redshirting at their previous stops, while freshmen Alexander Ward and Maurice Williams aim to compete for time.
Nickel: Tennessee transfer Boo Carter is a former four-star recruit who might be the favorite to start at nickel. Redshirt freshman transfer Donavan Stephens and true freshman Preston Ashley will also battle for the spot.
Safety: Senior Ben Finneseth started six games last year, the most of anyone back on defense, but he’s injured and it’s unclear if he’ll participate in spring. The Buffs signed transfers Randon Fontenette (Vanderbilt) and Naeten Mitchell (New Mexico State), who were both captains and full-time starters last year at previous stops. Jaydan Hardy (Oklahoma) and Jah Jah Boyd (Indiana) both come from big-time programs and are looking to compete for starting roles, along with freshman Braylon Edwards.
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March 2nd
… CU in a few minutes …
*Video: First Spring Practice*
From YouTube, courtesy of Darius Sanders …
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Buffs open spring practices with heavy hearts: “That’s what Dom would have wanted us to do”
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March 1st
… CU in a few minutes …
CU junior walk-on quarterback Dominique Ponder dies in a car accident
… The Colorado quarterback passed away in a single-car accident … As a sophomore last season at CU, Ponder played in two games, making his collegiate debut against Arizona, playing the final three snaps. Ponder came to CU as a transfer from Bethune-Cookman. Ponder did not see action as a red-shirt freshman at CU in 2024 …
“Dom was one of my favorites!” Sanders wrote on X. “He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader. Let’s pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord you’re receiving a good 1.”
From the Colorado State Patrol …
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AD Fernando Lovo on fund-raising: “We need Buff Nation to step up. And they have”
From BuffStampede.com …
How did you go about navigating NIL at New Mexico and how does that vary now here at CU?
Lovo: “I thought we did a really nice job at New Mexico navigating the world of the post-House settlement. You think back prior to July 1 of last year, and everything was collective based. I know we pushed really hard there to ensure we were competitive there. I know we did here as well. We had really strong collective support. The biggest thing is making sure you had a good plan going into the post-House settlement world.
“Here vs. what we were doing at New Mexico is different but the same sort of approach was important. I am pleased to say that since I’ve been here, I think we have a really, really strong internal NIL team, led by Alec Roussos, who does a great job. He is a football supportive administrator and I think our licensing agreements are very well done and give us a good foundation to make sure that our internal revenue share system is operating at a high level. And it is. I very much believe that, and I have seen that first-hand since I have been here.
“The new element here is the above the cap dollars and making sure that we’re competitive there and that we’re continuing to push the envelope to give our coaches the resources that we need.
“Look, that is a work in progress for everyone. There was a lot of front-loading of (NIL) contracts before July 1 of this past year, and now that is no longer something schools can do. We have the CSC (College Sports Commission), we have NIL Go, we have all these things that in place to help regulate the industry so we’re making sure when we have our house in order first. We have that going at a really high level, and now the next iteration is how do we increase our above the cap revenue? And we’re working really hard on that.
“We have to look back first and acknowledge that over the last 18 months, there has been a lot going on. We asked our supporters to donate to our collectives and other things to help us stay competitive there. But now that we’re in this new world, this House-settlement world, donations to the Buff Club are critical to our success because we now have a new $20.5 million expense that increases every year on our budget.
“In order for us to sustain that, so that we can operate at the highest levels, we need Buff Nation to step up. And they have. It is amazing the support they have provided us. But for us to remain competitive and continue to pace with the increases with our expenses, gifts to the Buff Club is by far the best way to support our organization.”
… Continue reading story here …
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Spring Practices Position Group Preview: Offense
From the Daily Camera …
Quarterback: Redshirt freshman Julian Lewis enters his second spring at CU as the projected starter. He played in four games last year, with two starts, throwing for 589 yards and four touchdowns. Sophomore Isaac Wilson comes to CU after two seasons at Utah and he’s looking to compete for the job, as well. He made seven starts as a true freshman in 2024 with the Utes. True freshman Kaneal Sweetwyne will also compete.
Running back: Last year’s leading rusher, Micah Welch, is back. Now a junior, he rushed for 384 yards and four touchdowns last year. Senior DeKalon Taylor is also back and healthy. He made an impact early last season (85 rushing yards, 106 receiving yards and two touchdowns) before missing the last eight games with an injury. That duo will get pushed by a trio of newcomers this spring, including Damian Henderson II and Jaquail Smith, who played for new offensive coordinator Brennan Marion at Sacramento State last year, with both rushing for over 500 yards. Alabama transfer Richard Young will also compete for a starting role.
Wide receiver: Joseph Williams, who was second on the team in catches (37), yards (489) and touchdowns (four), is back. So is Hykeem Williams, who made four starts before a season-ending injury, and sophomores Quentin Gibson and Quanell Farrakhan Jr., who both played quite a bit as freshmen. This room was bolstered with transfers Ernest Campbell (Sacramento State), Kam Perry (Miami-Ohio) and Danny Scudero (San Jose State), who combined for 168 receptions for 3,022 yards last year. Scudero led the country in receiving yards (1,291), and Campbell is a speedster running for CU’s track team this spring. DeAndre Moore transferred in from Texas, but has a leg injury and it’s unclear how long he’ll be out. Freshman Christian Ward will also compete.
Tight end: This room has changed less than any other on the team, as five of the six on the roster were here last year. Zach Atkins is the leader after he made seven starts last year and caught 20 passes for 149 yards. Brady Kopetz earned a scholarship for this year and return, while Zayne DeSouza and Corbin Laisure look to compete after redshirting. Fisher Clements is a transfer from UNC who brings good size (6-foot-7, 265 pounds), while walk-on Charlie Williams hopes to compete for time, too.
Offensive line: It’ll be a rebuilt line once again as four full-time starters are gone. Larry Johnson started eight games, including seven at right tackle, but he’s opening the spring at guard. Yahya Attia (four starts) and Andre Roye (two) also return, with Attia at guard and Roye at tackle. Returners Phillip Houston and Chauncey Gooden will also compete at guard. Transfers Leon Bell, Jayven Richardson, Taj White and Bo Hughley will compete at tackle; they combined for 23 starts at their previous schools last year, with White starting 11 games at Rutgers and Bell eight at California. At guard, transfers Jose Soto and Jayvon McFadden join the competition. Soto was an 11-game starter at Sacramento State last year. Demetrius Hunter, a transfer, is likely the starting center after starting 24 consecutive games for Houston. However, he will be pushed by Sean Kinney, a two-year starter and All-Patriot League choice from Lafayette. CU also has freshmen Ben Gula (guard/center) and Xavier Payne (tackle) in the mix.
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2 Replies to “Colorado Daily – Spring Practices”
Happy,and shocked, that Lewis is still here. Even happier that schurmer is fimally gone. I still cant believe his stale offense was kept for so long. Anyhow, I have some fresh optimism now and a taste for the koolaide. My only worry is how the new DC is going to do.
It starts with the OC in my opinion. If the GO-GO offense is the ball control, downhill style we expect that will help the defense be more efficient and effective. The DC has coordinated good defenses so he has been successful. This notion that he got fired somehow makes him unqualified is ludicrous. Successful coaches get fired all the time for various reasons not always because they are bad coaches.
Last season got derailed the second CP was diagnosed with cancer. It is obvious now that the coaches left behind to keep the ship afloat just didn’t do a very good job at it. It was tough situation and they just couldn’t provide the leadership required. But that is now in the past. I am cautiously optimistic for a bounce back season.