We might not have Travis Hunter or Shedeur Sanders anymore, but make no mistake—Coach Prime’s 2025 Colorado Buffaloes are stacked with NFL-caliber dudes.
As fall camp kicks off in Boulder, ten Buffs have already found their names on the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 watchlist—a prestigious preview of who’s on scouts’ radars for the 2026 NFL Draft.
We can see the fire of a roster built to be better across the board—even without the household names.
Let’s break it down.
Salter, Hayden and the backfield makeover
Kaidon Salter didn’t come to Boulder to sit. The Liberty transfer and former Conference USA Player of the Year is locked in a QB battle with freshman phenom Julian “JuJu” Lewis, but don’t sleep on Salter’s arm—or his legs.
Right behind him is Dallan Hayden, a former Buckeye who battled injuries in ‘24 but still flashed enough juice to get back on the radar. With Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk now coaching Colorado’s running backs, Hayden could finally explode.
Big men making big noise
This is where Coach Prime’s offseason strategy really shines. Guys like Xavier Hill (Memphis) and Zy Crisler (Illinois) bring Power Four size and experience to an offensive line that had to improve.
Hill’s versatility makes him the anchor we’ve been craving, while Crisler—a 6-7, 340-pound monster—has the kind of frame scouts drool over.
On the other side of the trenches, Alabama transfer Jehiem Oatis and returning force Amari McNeill give CU a combo of raw strength and savvy interior play.
New leaders on D
Linebackers Reginald Hughes and Martavius French aren’t just tackling machines—they’re tone setters. Hughes exploded last year at Jacksonville State with 83 tackles, while French dominated at UTSA with 17 tackles for loss.
Meanwhile, cornerbacks DJ McKinney and Preston Hodge are here to keep the secondary’s reputation intact. With Travis Hunter now in the NFL, someone had to step up. And McKinney? He might already be CB1.
A complete team
Ten players on this list. Ten guys who could very well be drafted next April. And what’s wild? That’s probably not even the full story.
Coach Prime said it best after revealing his cancer battle: “I got work to do. We gotta win the darn championship.”
And looking at this roster—this depth, this hunger—it’s not just hype anymore. It’s possible.
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