Colorado head coach Deion Sanders calls for a timeout during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona State, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
Colorado football begins spring practice on Monday, March 18 for just the second time under head coach Deion Sanders.
The Buffaloes will practice for a week, take a week off for Spring Break (March 25-31) and then return to the field on April 1 ahead of the spring game April 27.
Sanders and his No. 5-ranked transfer portal class (No. 1 in Big 12) will be under the close microscope of college football fans in 2024. After an exciting 3-0 start to the 2023 campaign soured into a 4-8 finish. The Buffs completely overhauled their roster, bringing in 24 new transfers.
An influx of new talent will inevitably lead to heated position battles and competition. Year 2 of the Sanders era should be much improved, but the journey begins on March 18.
Here are five storylines to watch this spring:
Who will start at cornerback opposite Travis Hunter?
If Colorado football is going to reach its full potential in 2024, it will almost certainly require a breakout campaign from sophomore cornerback Cormani McClain. The former five-star recruit was ranked as the No. 1 CB in the Class of 2023 but had an inconsistent freshman season, playing in nine games (four starts) and recording 13 tackles to go along with two pass breakups.
Former Oklahoma State cornerback DJ McKinney is one of the Buffs’ 24 incoming transfers and could challenge McClain for a starting spot right away. Both standing at 6-foot-2, McKinney has about a 25-pound advantage over McClain (190 vs. 165) and experience playing in the Big 12. The transfer played in all 14 games for the Cowboys in 2023, totaling five pass breakups and 38 tackles, including a career-high seven in the…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/colorado-buffaloes-spring-football-preview-000028366.html
Author : The Coloradoan
Publish date : 2024-03-13 00:00:28
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