Coach Prime has landed his ninth offensive lineman from the portal this offseason, and this one could make a serious impact.
On Friday, former Northwestern and USC offensive lineman Cooper Lovelace announced his commitment to the Colorado Buffaloes. At 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, Lovelace brings the size, experience, and nastiness you want in the trenches — and he might be one of the most underrated pickups of this entire cycle.
Colorado’s offensive line last year was better, but still struggled. The Buffs allowed a staggering number of sacks and couldn’t establish the run consistently. It’s been a major focus for Coach Prime and his staff.
Lovelace fits the bill of what OL coach Gunnar White is looking for: big, athletic, versatile linemen who are experienced and can adapt to multiple schemes.
Built for the Big 12
Lovelace is coming off a nine-start season at Northwestern, where he allowed just one sack all year. That’s in the Big Ten, folks — blocking future NFL pass rushers every week. Before that, he spent time at USC, where he rotated at both guard spots and played on special teams.
He’s a seventh-year senior (yes, you read that right), made possible by a JUCO path, a COVID year, and an extra season granted by the NCAA’s eligibility tweak for JUCO transfers.
But don’t let the long resume fool you — Lovelace isn’t just hanging around for an extra year of free school. This is a grown man who has battled through multiple systems, adjusted to different schemes, and lands in Boulder looking to finish his career on a high note.
Lovelace has versatility
During his time at Butler Community College, Lovelace played center, guard, and tackle. That versatility matters.
At Northwestern, he was a staple at left guard, starting nine games and logging heavy snaps against some of the top defenses in the country — including Michigan, Iowa, and Washington.
In 2023, he totaled 31 snaps across four games at USC, playing right guard and tackle. He also contributed on field goal and extra point units — not flashy stuff, but it shows his willingness to do the dirty work.
A new-look line is an understatement
Let’s put this into perspective: Colorado has now added nine transfer offensive linemen since the season ended.
Here’s the list:
Cooper Lovelace (Northwestern/USC)
Larry Johnson III (Tennessee)
Andre Roye Jr. (Maryland)
Walker Andersen (UCLA)
Xavier Hill (Memphis)
Zarian McGill (Louisiana Tech)
Zylon Crisler (Illinois)
Mana Taimani (Ole Miss)
Aki Ogunbiyi (Texas A&M)
That’s a whole new unit — and it’s likely that freshman left tackle Jordan Seaton is the only returning starter who will see major reps in 2025.
This isn’t just about depth. It’s a complete overhaul.
Colorado’s O-line now has Power Five experience across the board. It’s bigger, meaner, and more flexible. And with Lovelace in the mix, you’ve added a guy who’s already faced elite edge rushers and come out standing.
Don’t sleep on this one
There’s a reason South Carolina brought Lovelace in for a visit earlier this spring. There’s a reason 247Sports had him as the top JUCO interior lineman back in 2022. And there’s a reason he’s started games in both the Pac-12 and Big Ten.
Lovelace isn’t just a body. He’s a legit experienced option who brings leadership, maturity, and toughness to a unit that desperately needs all three.
Coach Prime knows games are won up front. And with Cooper Lovelace in black and gold, the Buffs just got one step closer to protecting Salter or Lewis and opening lanes for this new-look offense.
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