Projecting CU’s Starting Lineup: Defense

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Projecting CU’s Starting Lineup: Defense

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Over the next few weeks, leading up to the 2025 season opener against Georgia Tech (Friday, August 29th, 6:00 p.m., MT, ESPN), there could be a number of changes in the projected lineup for your Buffs.

That being said, we can make some educated guesses as to what the starting lineup might be, and which position battles are still up for grabs.

So, let’s take a look at which 22 players may be the first to trot out onto Folsom Field’s new turf for the opener, this time looking at the defense and special teams (the projected starting lineup for CU’s offense can be found here) …

… Note … 12 positions are listed … three defensive linemen, four linebackers, and five defensive backs (including a nickel back) …

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DEFENSE

Defensive Tackle 1

1.) Amari McNeill, Jr.

2.) Taurean Carter II, Sr.

3.) Tavian Coleman, Sr.

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Defensive Tackle 2 

1.) Tawfiq Thomas, Sr.

2.) Gavriel Lightfoot, Jr.

3.) Brandon Davis-Swain, R-Fr.

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The Buffs are deep along the defensive line this fall.

I’ll leave that as a stand alone sentence, as it was not all many years ago (try three) that CU wasn’t able to have a spring game because there weren’t enough defensive linemen on the team to field two squads. Now, with the possible exception of red-shirt freshman Brandon Davis-Swain – a consensus four-star prospect from last season’s recruiting Class, who could develop into a star in his own right – any one of the above six players could start for the Buffs this fall.

Pass rush coordinator Warren Sapp didn’t help those trying to predict the starting lineup when he said this past week, “I don’t have a depth chart. I have a rep chart”.

So … All of Sapp’s players will play … but who will start?

For now, let’s go with the two players with the most returning experience.

Amari McNeill, a College Football News Big 12 Defensive Line Player of the Year, has recorded a total of 52 tackles, 28 pressures, six-and-a-half sacks and two forced fumbles over the past two seasons. With a strong season, McNeill could be an NFL draft pick next April.

Tawfiq Thomas, meanwhile, has also shown steady improvement since transferring into Boulder from Louisville last year. He played in all 13 games last season, with his best performance coming in the regular season finale against Oklahoma State.

Taurean Carter returns from an injury that sidelined him much of the 2024 season, Davis-Swain returns after bulking up during a redshirt fall, while Tavian Coleman and Gavriel Lightfoot both join the mix after performing well at the Group of 6 level.

“That’s one of my strengths as a coach is run defense and techniques,” said first-year defensive line coach Domata Peko, who played 15 seasons in the NFL from 2006-20. “The guys are starting to catch on, they’re starting to see the box faster and really excited for that first week under our belt. We’ve been doing good and stopping the run.”

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Nose Tackle

1.) Jehiem Oatis, Jr.

2.) Anquin Barnes Jr., Sr.

3.) Christian Hudson, Fr.

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CU added 33 transfers to the team this off-season, with Jeheim Oatis from Alabama being the top-rated rated of the entire group. Oatis was considered to be the the No. 14 overall player in the transfer portal, the No. 1 defensive player, and the No. 1 defensive lineman. There is a world of potential here, with Oatis perhaps being the key to CU’s run defense this fall.

Oatis followed the path to Boulder laid out by Anquin Barnes, who transferred in from Alabama last season. Between them, Barnes and Oatis bring 665 pounds of run stuffing and block eating force up front for the Buffaloes. Barnes played in 12 games last season, starting three, accumulating 212 snaps on defense overall. In addition to recording 13 tackles, Barnes had an interception, the first by a Buff defensive tackle since Curtis Cunningham in 2008.

“I feel like the big guys are doing their job for the most part,” defensive line coach Domata Peko said this past week. “In camp, it’s going to be a tough grind, but I feel like we’ve been doing a good job building a run wall, and all of us playing with good pad level. Really excited about our run defense this year.”

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Outside Linebacker 1 

1.) Arden Walker, Sr.

2.) Keaten Wade, Sr.

3.) London Merritt, Fr.

4.) Alexander McPherson, Fr.

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Outside Linebacker 2 

1.) Samuel Okunlola, Jr.

2.) Quency Wiggins, Jr.

3.) Nikhil Webb-Walker, Jr.

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Buff fans will do well to remember jersey No. 53, as Arden Walker may become the face of CU’s 2025 defense. Off-season interviews with team members have been consistent in pointing to Walker as one of the players who have stepped up the most as a leader. Only Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter graded out better on Colorado’s defense in 2024 than Walker, who had 27 pressures and effectively set the edge in run support.

Samuel Okunlola, meanwhile, had 23 pressures, with 30 tackles, 18 unassisted tackles, eight quarterback hurries, seven tackles for loss, and three sacks in his ten starts as a sophomore.

Quency Wiggins, at 6’5″, 255-pounds, looks the part of an outside linebacker, and started playing the part this spring, with  Coach Prime taking him under his wing. London Merritt and Alexander McPherson arrived this spring as true freshmen ready to push the starters after honing their skills at IMG Academy. Nikhil Webb-Walker is a fan favorite in the making, returning to the team after undergoing cancer treatment last fall.

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Inside Linebacker – Mike Linebacker

1.) Martavius French, Sr.

2.) Shaun Myers, Sr.

3.) Mantrez Walker, Fr.

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Inside Linebacker – Will Linebacker

1.) Reginald Hughes, Jr.

2.) Jeremiah Brown, Sr.

3.) Kylan Salter, So.

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This is the “fingers crossed” group.

Fingers crossed that the lower level transfers are as good as their stats would indicate. Fingers crossed that they can stay healthy, as there is precious little depth in this unit.

Martavius French played in all 13 games for UTSA last season, starting 11, finishing with a team-leading 80 tackles and 17 tackles for loss. Only seven players in the country had more tackles for loss than did French.

Reginald Hughes, meanwhile, made a big impact at Jacksonville State by racking up 29 pressures as a redshirt junior. Hughes was also solid in coverage, giving up just 47 yards on 10 targets. He was a first-team all-Conference USA selection.

Shaun Myers started 22 games and was a team-captain at North Alabama before transferring to CU. While Myers had the stats – he recorded a total of 105 tackles, including eight for a loss, two interceptions and six pass breakups over the past few seasons – the numbers were still posted with the North Alabama Lions, playing against the likes of Tarleton State and Austin Peay.

Jeremiah Brown has been in the CU program for three years now, and had shown playmaking ability despite limited playing time, while Kylan Salter has been reportedly been attacking the weight room since joining his older brother, quarterback Kaidon Salter, in Boulder this spring.

“(At linebacker), we’ll see how it plays out”, defensive coordinator Robert Livingston said, not giving the Buff Nation a great deal of insight. “I think there’s a lot of ability in that room, and I think it can be a strong suit for us.”

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Cornerback 1

1.) DJ McKinney, Jr.

2.) Teon Parks, Jr.

3.) Makari Vickers, R-Fr.

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Cornerback 2 

1.) RJ Johnson, So.

2.) Ivan Yates, Sr.

3.) Braden Keith, Jr.

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DJ McKinney was treated to a trial by far last season. Playing opposite Travis Hunter, McKinney was often the target for opposing offenses, and he acquitted himself well. A transfer from Oklahoma State, McKinney, who had a pick six against his former team in the regular season finale, allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete just 52.1 percent of the passes sent his way in 2024, which actually ranked slightly ahead of Hunter giving up 56.1 percent of the passes thrown his direction.

All you really need to know about McKinney … at the Fall Camp media day, Coach Prime told the assembled press audience that, when NFL scouts come to Boulder, the first player they ask about is DJ McKinney.

RJ Johnson was moved over from safety to cornerback late last year, and he has thrived in his new role, both as a leader and on field performer. With Hunter and McKinney as CU’s starters during the 2024 season, though, Johnson spent most of his time on special teams. Still, Johnson made the most of his opportunities, with a total of 212 snaps on coverage and return units.

The rest of the cornerback depth chart will be sorted out between who will work at cornerback or nickel back primarily. Teon Parks is new as a transfer from Illinois State, Makari Vickers is coming back from heart surgery, while Ivan Yates has struggled to find consistency in Boulder.

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Nickel Back 

1.) Preston Hodge, Sr.

2.) Tyrecus Davis, Sr.

3.) Noah King, Fr.

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A transfer into Colorado’s program from Liberty last off-season, Preston Hodge was named honorable mention all-Big 12 in 2024 despite missing significant action due to injury, including four full contests at the end of the year. He finished the campaign with 33 tackles, two interceptions, and seven pass breakups. A ruling that allows for former junior college players to gain an extra year of eligibility has provided Hodge another run with the Buffs … which is very good news for the CU secondary.

Tyrecus Davis played primarily as a traditional cornerback at Wyoming, where he excelled, so it is hard to project exactly where he will fit in with the Buffs. At 5’10”, Davis is on the short side as a cornerback, but may be forced into duty if either McKinney or Johnson get hurt.

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Strong Safety – 

1.) Tawfiq Byard, So.

2.) Ben Finneseth, Sr.

3.) Terrance Love, Jr.

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Free Safety – 

1.) Carter Stoutmire, Jr.

2.) John Slaughter, Jr.

3.) TJ Branch, Fr.

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Carter Stoutmire has finally settled into a consistent role and finally stayed healthy through an off-season, allowing him to shine as a top figure at safety. He previously spent more time playing nickel back and cornerback with the Buffaloes, and could also move back to either of those roles if needed in the future. At present, he appears to be most needed and best suited on the back end of the secondary.

Tawfiq Byard lived up to the hype as a transfer from USF this spring and his football IQ has been praised. Ben Finneseth was placed on scholarship based on his hard work and leadership this spring, while Terrance Love and John Slaughter have joined the mix as transfers. A four-star recruit from the Recruiting Class of 2025, TJ Branch appears to have a bright future, but may see limited playing time this fall.

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Specialists

Field goal kicker … under 40-45 yards

1.) Alejandro Mata, Sr.

2.) Buck Buchanan, Jr.

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Field goal kicker … over 40-45 yards

1.) Buck Buchanan, Jr.

2.) Alexander Stoyanovich, R-Fr.

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Punter

1.) Damon Greaves, Jr.

2.) Daniel Gerlach, Jr.

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Alejandro Mata followed Coach Prime from Jackson State, and the mutual admiration society has never diminished. Despite Mata’s lack of consistency from long range, he has Coach Prime’s confidence, and will likely be CU’s kicker from 40 yards and in. Overall, Mata has made 22-of-27 kicks in two seasons in Boulder.

Outside of the 40-45 yard range, though, Louisiana Tech transfer Buck Buchanan is going to be the Buffs’ placekicker. Buchanan had four 40-yard field goals last season for the Bulldogs, plus two field goals of 50 yards or more. Buchanan turned a few heads with a 60-yarder during CU’s spring game.

Oh, and perhaps just as important … Buchanan put 51 of 56 kickoff attempts through the end zone last season.

Like CU’s punter last season, Mark Vassett, Damon Greaves comes in as an Australian with an excellent ability of placing his punts inside the 10. His overall consistency as a punter during his time at Kansas gives the Buff Nation some cause for concern, but the job is Greaves to lose, as CU’s only other punter, Boulder native Daniel Gerlach, averaged only 33 yards per punt at Colby College two years ago.

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Colorado’s defense made significant strides last season.

In 2023, in Year One of the Coach Prime era in Boulder, the CU defense gave up 453.3 yards per game, and 34.8 points per game.

In 2024, in Year Two, the CU defense gave up 351.9 yards per game, and 23.1 points per game.

In anything, the CU defense could be even better this fall. Other than at inside linebacker, the team has both quality and depth up and down the roster. Which makes picking the starting lineup guesswork … but in a good way.

“There is nothing given here,” defensive coordinator Robert Livingston said about his side of the ball. “It doesn’t matter if you make a million bucks (in NIL money) or you’re a walk-on.

“We need to go win. … We have the men here (on staff) that know what it takes to get to the next level. So it’s our job to play the best players, and it is what it is. Sometimes life’s not fair.”

Bring on Georgia Tech …

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This post, about the Fall Camp game, from the 2025 Season, is filed under Article.
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