It’d be ‘surprising’ to see Colorado true freshman DB start

It’d be “surprising” to see true freshman Colorado football defensive back Carter Stoutmire start alongside star transfer Travis Hunter during the 2023 season according to Buffaloes Wire’s Matt Wadleigh — who sees Florida State transfer Omarion Cooper as the likeliest DB to get the nod.

“With the TCU Horned Frogs being the first opponent for the Buffs, it would be surprising to see the true freshman win the battle, but then again, Sanders lets the play do the talking,” Wadleigh prefaced before saying, “It’s an extremely tight race, and Coach Prime even joked that whoever gets off the bus faster will get the spot. Nonetheless, both players will likely get ample playing time, and having too much talent is never a bad problem.” Deion Sanders did indeed joke that whoever is the first off the bus will get the nod. In all seriousness, though, he sees the race as too close to call.

“It’s gonna go right down to the end,” Sanders said on August 29 (h/t BuffZone). “It may go down to see who gets off the bus – the first one off the bus. That’s how tight it is right now. We’re comfortable with both of their production, but we just don’t know which one may get the nod.”

Colorado football secondary will buoy Buffaloes’ defense that has question marks up front

There are questions in the Colorado football secondary evidently, but most surround the choice Coach Prime will go with at his cornerback slot; not whether or not the unit can handle Pac-12 receiving corps.

The questions surrounding the Buffs up front are far more pressing and could cast a shadow on CU’s season. If the overhauled transfer trenches — which include many FCS imports who’ll be facing a different level of competition than before — cannot handle opposing OLs and rushing attacks, the defense will have a hard time keeping offenses off the field.

In turn, that will take the ball out of Shedeur Sanders’ hands and keep interception opportunities away from Hunter and the rest of Colorado’s secondary. There’s the blueprint for every Buffs opponent in 2023.