Colorado head coach Deion Sanders and his staff continue to reshape the Buffaloes roster heading into 2025, this time adding veteran linebacker Shaun Myers from North Alabama.
While the transfer portal has quieted in Boulder, this latest move might fly under the radar — but it shouldn’t.
Myers committed to Colorado on Friday after three seasons in the FCS with the Lions, where he served as a team captain and led the defense with a high motor and even higher football IQ. At 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, Myers isn’t the most physically imposing linebacker, but he makes up for it with preparation, communication, and the ability to diagnose plays before they develop.
“I take the most pride in being an intelligent football player,” Myers told 247Sports. “I’ll be there a step faster because I know what’s coming.”
That quote should stand out to Buffs fans who watched Colorado struggle with defensive alignment and missed tackles in key moments last season. Myers’ tape shows a player who plays downhill, gets teammates in the right spots, and rarely looks out of position.
Filling a need in the middle
Colorado needed another linebacker, and while they previously added Martavius French (UTSA) and Reginald Hughes (Jacksonville State), the depth chart remains relatively thin in the middle of the defense.
Myers is the first portal addition at linebacker this spring, and his commitment pushes Colorado’s total to 32 incoming transfers this offseason. According to 247Sports, that’s good enough for the No. 19 transfer class nationally.
Myers was rated as the No. 103 linebacker in the spring portal cycle, according to 247Sports, and earned a three-star grade. That may not blow anyone away on paper, but he’s not a raw project either. He’s a senior with over 100 career tackles, a former JUCO All-American, and a proven communicator on defense.
Still, not every fan is thrilled with the current additions. The big names like Nikhai Hill-Green and Colton Hood are being replaced with players from smaller schools. But this is a different phase of the rebuild. Players like Myers, DB Teon Parks (Illinios State), and RB DeKalon Taylor from UIW aren’t just roster fillers.
These are experienced, overlooked playmakers from programs where they were stars — and leaders.
Until Colorado establishes itself as a consistent threat in the CFP, this strategy may be the best option. If last season’s defensive woes taught us anything, it's that leadership and discipline matter just as much as athleticism.
The controversial hit
Myers also made national headlines for the wrong reasons two seasons ago. His hip-drop tackle against Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis resulted in a devastating leg injury that ended the Seminoles star’s college career (who also recently retired from the NFL).
Whether you liked the tackle or not, that moment shows the intensity Myers brings — he didn’t shy away from a moment against an unbeaten Florida State team. Myers notched six tackles, including one for loss, against a legitimate CFP team. He didn’t look out of place. He looked like he belonged.
That season in 2023, Meyers was clearly one of the best players on the field for the Lions and served as a vocal leader on defense. He recorded 58 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and two interceptions in just 11 games.
Since Coach Prime struck out swinging on BYU transfer Harrison Taggart, the addition of Meyers helps Colorado not leave the spring transfer portal empty-handed.
An experienced presence
Myers arrives in Boulder with just one year of eligibility, which means this isn’t a long-term addition. This is a plug-and-play linebacker — someone who can step in and contribute immediately alongside recent additions French and Hughes.
Coach Prime made it clear this offseason that he wanted more leadership on defense, and Myers checks that box, too. He was a captain at UNA, and his interviews reveal a guy who studies film like his life depends on it.
Big 12 ready?
The reality is this: Colorado’s defense is about to be tested weekly by some of the best quarterbacks in the country. And while it’s tempting to fixate on the portal misses, guys like Shaun Myers are going to be the difference in keeping Colorado in the game, if the offense struggles at any point.
Myers won’t make the headlines, but he might be the glue guy this defense needs come November.
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