Colorado football loses Nick Saban recruit, could return former Florida OL

Colorado football lost former Nick Saban recruit Demouy Kennedy, a Theodore, Alabama product who signed with the Crimson Tide ahead of their 2020 national championship season -- though he redshirted during Alabama's historic season -- but could regain former Florida offensive lineman David Conner, a Deerfield Beach (FL) product.

"A couple of Colorado football roster notes: LB Demouy Kennedy, who transferred from Alabama last year, is no longer with the Buffs," BuffZone's Brian Howell prefaced before saying, "OL David Conner, a Florida transfer last year, is not on the spring roster, but there's a chance he could return at some point."

As Howell notes, Kennedy would've been a factor at linebacker had he stayed. Kennedy chose to leave on his own terms.

"Would have competed for a spot at linebacker, but he chose to leave from my understanding," Howell wrote. Kennedy was someone former defensive coordinator Charles Kelly recruited from his home state.

'Plenty of questions' at linebacker position for Colorado football

As Howell previously noted, the Colorado linebacker room still has plenty of questions beyond LaVonta Bentley.

"LaVonta Bentley, a Clemson transfer a year ago, is slated to return after leading CU with 69 tackles, finishing second with 11 tackles for loss and tied for the team lead with five sacks," Bentley prefaced before saying, "There are plenty of questions beyond Bentley, however.

"Alabama transfer Demouy Kennedy was highly touted going into last year but was never fully healthy and played sparingly, finishing with 13 tackles. Brendan Gant, a Florida State transfer last year, is out of eligibility, but was limited to four games because of injuries and hopes to get a medical hardship waiver and come back this next season. The other three linebackers on scholarship are all redshirt freshmen who didn’t appear in any games this past season: Victory Johnson, Morgan Pearson and Kofi Taylor-Barrocks."

There are now more questions with Kennedy officially off the team; something that was expected when new defensive coordinator Robert Livingston officially replaced Kelly in February.