Colorado football's 2023 season was defined by Shedeur Sanders not being protected and the run game being practically non-existent. Fast forward a year, the Buffs had three running backs averaging over four yards per carry and the "Grown QB" no longer being the FBS's most-sacked QB.
Fast forward two years and, as Buffaloes Wire's Jack Carlough writes, CU's offensive line could be a strength.
"Colorado’s offensive line could be a strength next season with class of 2025 signees Carde Smith, Chauncey Gooden and Jay Gardenhire set to unite with Jordan Seaton, Cash Cleveland and others in keeping Julian Lewis clean," Carlough wrote.
It's fair to say Phil Loadholt has been one of the best hires Coach Prime has ever made. As he was putting together his 2024 transfer class, Loadholt was already being praised. Then, the season happened, and the mix he found from Power 4 and Group of Five veterans. Most amazingly, though, Hank Zilinskas and Cash Cleveland, two homegrown talents, were among the OL's biggest contributors alongside the 2024 high school class's crown jewel, Jordan Seaton.
The metamorphosis in Boulder has been inspiring. And the best part about it: being able to successfully recruit offensive lines is what will make winning sustainable at CU in the NIL era.
Deion has changed everybody's mind and convinced the college football world that he knows what he's doing and he's here to stay. Julian Lewis will be the first beneficiary of this newfound strength after Shedeur took repeated hits during the formative year Colorado gutted through in 2023.