Colorado's cornerback play hasn't been good enough this season. The Buffaloes were always going to have a tough time replacing Travis Hunter at CB, but the fall was not expected to be quite as substantial as it has been.
Beat reporter Brian Howell pointed out just how dire things have been for Colorado's corners this season:
Per Pro Football Focus, there have been 58 cornerbacks in the Big 12 play at least 20% of the coverage snaps for their respective teams this year. Colorado has five corners on that list and in terms of coverage grades, they rank 22nd, 46th, 54th, 55th and 58th. #cubuffs
— Brian Howell (@BrianHowell33) September 29, 2025
RJ Johnson is the one ranked #22 - he's been solid, not spectacular. The rest have been downright bad, consistently getting beaten in coverage.
Coach Prime said after Colorado's loss to BYU that the corners have to play better. He reinforced that when talking to the media on Tuesday.
"95% of defensive backs play not to get beat," Sanders said. "5% play to make a play. I'm looking for that 5."
There's nobody better equipped to identify elite cornerbacks than Sanders. He is, by most accounts, the greatest cornerback in the history of football. Which is why it's all the more curious that he couldn't retain a CB with elite potential this offseason. One who transferred to an SEC program and has immediately gone from a backup at Colorado into a starring role that has him on first-round NFL Draft radars.
Former Colorado DB Colton Hood is thriving with Tennessee
Colorado fans probably didn't think much of losing Colton Hood to the Transfer Portal this offseason. Hood spent his first season at Auburn before transferring to Colorado last year. He was a reserve corner for the Buffs a year ago, earning one start and playing in all 13 games.
He made the decision to leave after the season, finding a home with Tennessee.
Hood wasted little time announcing himself, returning a fumble for a touchdown in Tennessee's season-opening win over Syracuse. He has emerged as one of the top corners in the country this season and is beginning to generate first-round NFL Draft buzz:
Tennessee CB Colton Hood has been incredible this season through five games for the Volunteers:
— FOX Sports Knoxville (@FOXSportsKnox) September 30, 2025
Rec. allowed: 7
Yards allowed: 56
Forced incompletions: 5
Passer rating when targeted: 40.9
Defensive TDs: 2
The Colorado transfer has been one of the most impactful additions in the… pic.twitter.com/gI9F90glrB
Perhaps it was a bigger NIL offer that forced Hood to depart Boulder for Knoxville. Perhaps it was Hood being unhappy with his role last season.
In any case, it's clear that Colorado could have used Hood this season.