Colorado football transfer DB added to cover other half of field Travis Hunter isn't on

Coach Prime's Colorado football program brought on Liberty transfer Preston Hodge over the offseason to cover the side of the field Travis Hunter isn't on, according to Mike Farrell Sports' Mark Pszonak.

"While Travis Hunter did his best to lock down one half of the field in 2023, the other half often became easy pickings for opposing quarterbacks," Pszonak prefaced before saying, "The Buffaloes knew that they had to resolve this issue and hope that Hodge’s addition will accomplish that. Coming off an impressive season with the Flames, when he finished with 48 tackles, two interceptions and eight pass breakups, it is a safe assumption that he will be tested immediately and frequently so all eyes will be on Hodge to see how he responds."

Hodge was listed as one of Pszonak's top transfer CBs in the nation and tabbed as a potential difference-maker in 2024. The Waxahachie, Texas native was initially recruited to Hugh Freeze's Flames in 2022 and stayed with the program upon Liberty's switch to former Coastal Carolina coach Jamey Chadwell.

Now, he'll be in an unfamiliar spotlight playing for one of the most-watched programs in the country for Coach Prime in Boulder.

Second Colorado football transfer haul just as important as Coach Prime's initial class

With the 40-40-20 system Deion Sanders deploys regarding his recruiting class makeup -- 40% to transfers, 40% to grad transfers, 20% to incoming high school recruits -- the transfer portal will always be the most important function to Coach Prime's Colorado roster-building.

Players like Hodge, Will Sheppard, and essentially the entire offensive line outside of Jordan Seaton serve as this cycle's saviors after Hunter, Shedeur Sanders, and a slew of others made up last year's transformed-over-night roster.

And make no mistake: the players added this year will be just as important for any CU jump from a four-win outfit to whatever they'll be as last year's players were to the Buffs becoming a multiple-win team.