It would be nearly impossible for the Colorado football defense to be worse in 2024 than it was last season.
Deion Sanders’ Buffaloes allowed 34.8 points per game, which ranked 121st among FBS teams, worse than schools like Louisiana Tech, Tulsa and Kent State. Opponents scored at least 35 points in six of Colorado’s 12 games a year ago.
That’s an easy way to lose the final six games of a season.
The Buffaloes were ran on (176.4 rushing yards per game, second worst in Pac-12) and thrown against (276.9 passing yards, third worst in Pac-12) with relative ease.
Things should be much different for Colorado this fall after recruiting a handful of productive and experienced transfers to Boulder. In fact, the Buffs have the personnel (on paper) to deploy one of the Big 12’s best defenses in their return to the conference.
Here are the five most pivotal Colorado football defensive players in 2024:
Chidozie Nwankwo
It all starts up front for Colorado football in 2024. The Buffs’ defensive line was a major weakness last season and that’s why Nwankwo is so valuable to this team. Over the last four seasons at Houston, the 5-foot-11, 290-pound DL racked up 94 tackles (13 tackles for a loss) and five sacks across 40 games (33 starts). Nwankwo’s ability to shed blocks and diagnose plays at or near the line of scrimmage makes him an elite interior disruptor.
More: Why Colorado football’s Chidozie Nwankwo is the ‘Block Bully’: ‘Can’t double-team him’
His strength and physicality have also helped him earn the fitting nickname “Block Bully.” If Colorado can significantly improve its run defense in 2024, Nwankwo will be a major reason why.
B.J. Green
No active Power Five college football player has more career QB pressures than Green (107), according to Pro Football Focus. Enough said. The No. 7-ranked DL in the transfer portal set career highs in tackles (39), tackles for loss (11.5) and sacks (six) last season at Arizona State. Colorado football coach Deion Sanders already has a pair of projected first-round NFL draft picks, but he believes Green could join that group.
More: Arizona State transfer B.J. Green is a major addition to Colorado football: 3 reasons why
“I think B.J. Green could be one of those guys (drafted in the first round), and I think he will be one of those guys because he wants it that much,” Sanders said at Big 12 media days. “They raised him right at Arizona State. For him to come over now, it’s phenomenal. His work ethic, the way he approaches and attacks the game is phenomenal.”
Nikhai Hill-Green
Another transfer? Another transfer. Hill-Green projects to start at linebacker for the Buffs this fall after leading Charlotte in solo tackles (48) a year ago. The former Michigan linebacker played in all 14 games (six starts) for the Wolverines in 2021, racking up 50 total tackles and helping them reach the College Football Playoff (where they lost to Georgia). Hill-Green’s experience and high football IQ will be invaluable at the second level of Colorado’s defense.
More: New Colorado football player Nikhai Hill-Green is ‘plug-and-play guy’ for Buffs’ defense
“I understand schematics and what offenses are trying to do to our defense,” Hill-Green told the Coloradoan in May. “I understand that I’m a piece of a puzzle so I know how to manipulate the game a lot to get mismatches and so does (defensive coordinator) Robert Livingston.”
Shilo Sanders
There might not be anyone happier about the transfer additions to Colorado’s defense than Shilo Sanders. After leading the Buffs in tackles (70) and becoming the only defensive back in the country with four or more forced fumbles last season, Shilo wants to create even more turnovers in 2024. He now feels that he has the personnel around him to do it.
More: Shilo Sanders can ‘play free now’ for Colorado football in 2024 thanks to additions
“With all the new players we got, even the defensive linemen and linebackers, I can really play free now,” Shilo told the Coloradoan at Big 12 media days. “I can take a proper drop, start at 15 yards, get back deep, go get the go-balls and be rangy.”
Travis Hunter
It’s safe to assume that the Big 12 preseason defensive player of the year is pivotal to his team’s success. That’s exactly the case with Hunter, who played more snaps from scrimmage in the regular season than any other player in FBS despite missing three-and-a-half games due to injury. The 2023 Paul Hornung Award winner — given annually to the most versatile player in major college football — became the first Buff to be named first-team All-American since 2010 after he tied for the team lead in interceptions (three) and pass breakups (five) to go along with 30 tackles.
Much like Shilo’s situation, transfer additions should help Hunter unlock even more of his game. “When you’re talking about bringing (Preston) Hodge and (DJ) McKinney in, these guys are unbelievable and you can put Travis (Hunter) at the nickel,” Deion Sanders said on April 18. “All of those…
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