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USA Today
10 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Kaidon Slater makes early statement in Colorado's football first fall camp practice
Colorado football opened up fall camp with its first practice on Tuesday, and Kaidon Salter made an instant highlight play as he battles for the starting quarterback position. Salter was captured on video throwing a beautiful goal line fade to wide receiver Omarion Miller. A potential Salter-Miller connection would be beneficial for the Buffaloes' offense, which has lost Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. Salter, a transfer from Liberty, is competing against star freshman Julian Lewis to become Colorado's starting quarterback and is making his presence felt, albeit in one practice. Salter won Conference USA MVP in 2023 with the Flames, but had a down year last season. He threw for 1,886 yards with 22 total touchdowns in 2024, but if he can regain his MVP form that saw him put up 44 total touchdowns, he would immediately become one of the Big 12's top signal-callers. The quarterback battle will be a major storyline to follow throughout fall camp, leading up to the season opener against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Aug. 29. Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads and Instagram. Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ten Colorado Buffaloes named to East-West Shrine Bowl watch list
Despite the losses of Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter to the NFL, the Colorado Buffaloes still have players with serious NFL potential. With that in mind, the prestigious East-West Shrine Bowl announced its preseason watch list Monday morning, and ten Buffs were among the top 1,000 candidates. The East-West Shrine Bowl is an annual college football all-star game that provides draft-eligible players with a final opportunity to compete in front of NFL scouts. The 2026 Shrine Bowl is scheduled for Jan. 27 at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Colorado had six players compete in the 2025 Shrine Bowl, including Shedeur and Shilo Sanders. Below are the ten Buffaloes who were named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1,000: QB Kaidon Salter Kaidon Salter is amid a quarterback competition against star freshman Julian Lewis, but after winning Conference USA MVP in 2023, the transfer quarterback looks to go out on a high note. LB Martavius French French comes to Boulder hoping to grab hold of the Buffs' starting middle linebacker role. RB Dallan Hayden Hayden showed flashes last year, and after Colorado lost their leading rusher to the transfer portal, he has a chance to be the Buffaloes' starting running back. OL Xavier Hill Hill joins the Buffs after a successful stint at Memphis, where his versatility was on full display. He can play every position on the offensive line and should start most games this year. CB Preston Hodge Hodge returns as Colorado's top option at the nickel position. LB Reginald Hughes Hughes and French are the projected top two inside linebackers on the Buffs roster. Their ability to form chemistry will be a major storyline during fall camp. CB DJ McKinney McKinney is set to take over for Travis Hunter as Colorado's top coverage cornerback. He could be a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft. DL Amari McNeill McNeill steps into a starting defensive tackle role, and his production will be needed for the Buffs to repeat as the Big 12 sack leaders. DL Jehiem Oatis After transferring from Alabama as the top defensive player in the portal (as of Dec. 18, 2024), Oatis has expectations to make an immediate impact. OL Zy Crisler Crisler is coming off a successful career with Illinois and seems to slot in as the Buffaloes' right guard for 2025. Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads and Instagram. Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
26-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Breaking down Colorado's spring quarterback battle between Kaidon Salter and Julian Lewis
Breaking down Colorado's spring quarterback battle between Kaidon Salter and Julian Lewis As the Colorado Buffaloes prepare for the upcoming season, one of the biggest storylines in Boulder revolves around the quarterback position. With Shedeur Sanders off to the NFL, Colorado is looking for its next signal caller, and all eyes are on the battle between Kaidon Salter and Julian Lewis. Each quarterback brings similar skill sets to the table, making this competition one that could define the Buffs' offense in 2025. This position battle has major implications for a Colorado offense looking to build on the progress made by head coach Deion Sanders. With a talented supporting cast, the Buffs need a quarterback who can manage the game and elevate the team to the top of the Big 12. Here is our first pre-spring game position preview, a series in which we will examine all the major contributors across all position groups and break down how Colorado's roster might look. The quarterbacks are up first. Kaidon Salter Salter joins Colorado after a standout tenure at Liberty. In the 2023 season, he led the Flames to a 13-1 record and earned Conference USA MVP honors. While he had a down year in 2024, Salter's dual-threat capability could intrigue offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. If the Buffs can see a return of 2023 Salter with the additions of talented offensive good weapons, the Colorado offense could be challenging to stop next year, even without Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Julian Lewis Ranked as the No. 2 player in the 2025 class by ESPN, Lewis flipped his commitment from USC to Colorado last year. During his high school career, Lewis threw for over 10,000 yards and 144 passing touchdowns. What makes Lewis intriguing is his pro-style approach and playmaking ability. Despite being a true freshman, his arm talent and composure make him a legitimate candidate for the starting job. The only question mark is whether he can handle the speed and physicality of college football or if he would benefit from a year of development behind Salter. According to Coach Prime, however, one thing will separate the two in the battle. "Leadership. Being able to see the field, being able to rally those guys around you," Sanders said last week. "You got to understand, you got to have a bonified leader [at the quarterback position]." Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
