Deion Sanders will be hard at work the next few weeks preparing for the opening of the Transfer Portal on January 2nd. It was clear with Colorado's 3-9 season in 2025 that this roster needs an injection of talent at a multitude of spots.
The Buffs weren't good enough this year. The pieces didn't fit the way Coach Prime thought they might, and all the goodwill that was built from 2024's 9-4 season was thrown out the window.
Now, the question is whether Sanders can rebuild it. Can he resurrect the Buffaloes' program once again? Or was 2025 a sure sign of the beginning of the end for the Coach Prime era in Boulder?
While Sanders will be working hard to build the roster again in the portal, he does have some pieces to build around for next season that are already on campus. Let's examine the five most important players for the Buffs to hang on to through the Transfer Portal cycle.
Deion Sanders cannot let these five Colorado players leave
5. London Merritt/Alex McPherson
Colorado has an impressive pair of young bookends for the defensive line moving forward in London Merritt and Alex McPherson, two high school recruits who blossomed quickly and became contributors on a veteran defensive line.
Defensive coordinator Robert Livingston said earlier in the season that those two players are building blocks for the future of the Buffs' defense. The question will be whether or not Livingston is the one who is building a defense around them, or if Sanders will be looking for a new defensive coordinator.
4. S Tawfiq Byard
There were a lot more misses than hits in Colorado's Transfer Portal haul last offseason, but one of the biggest hits was redshirt sophomore safety Tawfiq Byard, who transferred to Colorado from USF and immediately became one of the best defensive backs in the Big 12.
Byard was Colorado's leading tackler in 2025 and produced three takeaways. He could be highly sought after if he re-enters the portal, and could also draw some NFL Draft interest. If Sanders can retain Merritt, McPherson, and Byard, the Buffs will have some nice building blocks for next season's defense.
3. OT Jordan Seaton
Franchise left tackles don't grow on trees, and Jordan Seaton is as good as it gets. He's almost certainly going to be a high draft pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, but with one more season of college football left, where Seaton will choose to play in 2026 is a mystery.
Rumors have been swirling about Seaton's future, and if he chose to enter the portal, he would instantly become one of the biggest available names. He would command a salary that Colorado can't match.
Colorado's offensive line was better in 2025 than in 2024, but it still has work to do moving forward to become what Sanders wants. Having to replace Seaton would be an unexpected blow and a major setback for next season.
2. WR Omarion Miller
Many around the program were calling for an Omarion Miller breakout season this year, and the junior WR did not disappoint. Miller led Colorado this year with 44 catches for 807 yards and eight touchdowns. That was in spite of inconsistent QB play throughout the season.
Miller showed an early rapport with freshman QB Julian Lewis, too, which only adds into the potential excitement for next season.
1. QB Julian Lewis
Could it be anyone else? The only reason for optimism over the last few weeks of the season was getting to watch Lewis play. Sanders made the correct decision to sit Lewis in the season finale against Kansas State in order to preserve his redshirt year.
While Lewis' potential would make him highly valued in the portal, he has indicated no interest in leaving Boulder.
Lewis returning for next season is the most important piece of offseason business for Coach Prime. He's reason enough for optimism that Colorado can get back on track in 2026.