It isn't flashy. It's not making national headlines. But if you’re tracking how Coach Prime is reshaping Colorado’s offensive line room, this one should matter to you.
Former UCLA offensive lineman Walker Andersen committed to the Buffs on Saturday, giving Colorado another big body with long-term upside and four full years of eligibility remaining.
Andersen, a redshirt freshman who didn’t see game action in 2024, became Colorado’s eighth offensive line transfer this cycle—and the fourth added this spring alone. His commitment comes on the heels of an official visit to Boulder and just days after receiving a scholarship offer from the Buffs.
Not bad for a former zero-star recruit who had been flying completely under the radar.
From UCLA to developmental prospect
Let’s start with the basics: Andersen was listed at 6-foot-5, 290 pounds by UCLA but reportedly measured closer to 6’8", 335 pounds during his recruitment. Even if the truth is somewhere in the middle, there’s no denying he fits the physical profile Colorado’s staff has prioritized—tall, long, and moldable.
At El Dorado High School (Placentia, Calif.), Andersen was named CIF Division 7 First Team, league Lineman of the Year, and an Orange County All-Star. He also lettered in track and field. Despite his accolades, he arrived at UCLA unranked and raw. That didn’t change much last fall, when he redshirted and never cracked the Bruins’ rotation.
But here’s where things shift: Andersen now joins a program under Coach Prime that has made developing talent in the trenches a mission. He won’t be asked to contribute immediately—at least not on Saturdays. Instead, he’ll be a long-term project in an OL room that’s been completely overhauled over the past six months.
Depth piece today, potential starter tomorrow
Andersen becomes transfer No. 29 for Colorado this offseason, and the Buffs’ ninth addition to the offensive line—joining names like Larry Johnson III (Tennessee), Xavier Hill (Memphis), and Andre Roye Jr. (Maryland).
He’s not jumping them on the depth chart. At least not yet.
This is a developmental take. The kind of addition that programs with vision make. Andersen isn’t here to fix 2025. He’s here to become something by 2026 or 2027. Colorado has the luxury to take that bet now, especially after losing Cash Cleveland, Hank Zilinskas, and Kahlil Benson to the portal this spring.
The Buffs also brought in two NFL veterans to help run the OL room: Andre Gurode and George Hegamin, both of whom bring experience, technique, and a no-nonsense approach to a unit that desperately needed it.
Why this move matters
Colorado’s spring game showed progress in the trenches, but Coach Prime was still candid afterward about his concern with depth and durability. In a physical conference like the Big 12, the Buffs simply can't afford to trot out five starters and hope they stay healthy. They need 10 guys who can compete. They need swing tackles. They need guards who can move. They need players like Walker Andersen—projects with potential.
Andersen’s bio reads more like a preferred walk-on than a future Power Four starter, but the reality is he checks boxes that are hard to teach: size, frame, athletic background, and a willingness to work. With four years of eligibility, a Power Four weight room already under his belt, and a clear lane for development, this is a calculated depth play with upside.
These are the types of additions that don’t win headlines in May—but might just help us win games in November.
Final thoughts
If you missed the early buzz, I covered Andersen’s visit last week, highlighting why his size alone made him worth watching. Now that he’s committed, we’ll see if Colorado’s staff can unlock what UCLA didn’t.
He’s not the five-star fans clamor for. But he’s the kind of player that winning programs develop. And if there’s one thing Coach Prime has made clear—it’s that nobody cares where you came from. Only where you're going.
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