Sanders Goes All-In to Fix Colorado’s Defensive Issues

Deion Sanders isn’t interested in slow rebuilds or cautious roster flips. Even after Colorado saw more than 30 players hit the transfer portal, “Coach Prime” and his staff have spent portal season attacking the program’s most glaring problem — the defense.

Colorado beat reporter Brian Howell summed it up on X, noting that the Buffs “added 30 transfers since the portal opened: 20 on defense, 9 on offense, and 1 on special teams.” Howell also pointed out that only five scholarship defenders from the 2025 roster remain, essentially forcing Colorado to restock the defensive side from scratch.

That overhaul was badly needed. Colorado’s defense was gutted by departures, including playmakers such as TJ Branch, Jehiem Oatis, Noah King, Teon Parks, and Mantrez Walker. Secondary depth became especially critical — Carter Stoutmire, who played safety last season, enters 2026 as the lone returning cornerback.

Even inside the building, there was acknowledgment of how thin things had become. Colorado staffer Adam Munsterteiger explained that there were “needs across the board,” adding that the Buffs had zero returning defensive tackles, lost their top five edge rushers, and retained just one scholarship linebacker from 2025. He also noted that Colorado would need to rebuild the cornerback room “in the coming days and weeks.”

The response from Sanders has been aggressive. Colorado started by landing Naeten Mitchell, a breakout safety from New Mexico who produced 93 tackles, three interceptions, and four forced fumbles in 2025. The Buffs followed that with Dylan Manuel from App State, a defensive lineman who posted 37 tackles, seven TFLs, three sacks, and an interception.

Perhaps their biggest splash was Mercer edge rusher Andrew Zock, an FCS All-American who piled up 21.5 sacks this past season. Additional help arrived from Bowling Green linebacker Gideon Lampron, James Madison cornerback Justin Eaglin, and Tulane edge Jordan Norman, among others.

These moves come after Colorado’s defense finished near the bottom of the FBS, surrendering 425.7 yards per game and giving up a painful 222.5 rushing yards per game — the second-worst mark in the country.

With defensive needs addressed, Sanders moved to stabilize the offense. After losing quarterbacks Ryan Staub and Kaiden Salter to the portal, Colorado landed Isaac Wilson, the younger brother of Dolphins QB Zach Wilson. As a true freshman at Utah in 2024, Wilson started seven games and threw for 1,510 yards with 10 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Although he later slid behind Devon Dampier on the depth chart, Wilson’s pedigree is strong — he entered college as a four-star recruit and a Top 20 quarterback in the 2024 class.

Colorado also added playmakers across other positions, including WR Ernest Campbell (Sacramento State), RB Jaquail Smith, and OT Taj White.

Despite a nine-loss season, Sanders has remained defiant and confident about the rebuild. As he told reporters, “If anybody is built for adversity, I am… You’ve got the right man. I promise you, you do.”

Whether these roster changes pay off in 2026 is still an open question, but one thing is clear: Deion Sanders isn’t sitting still, and Colorado’s defense won’t look anything like the unit that took the field last season.

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