Buffs Will Need Difference-Makers To Step Up

RB Dylan Edwards has the potential to be a difference-maker for CU.

August 20, 2023 | Football, Neill Woelk

By: Neill Woelk, Contributing Editor

BOULDER — Impact players. Difference makers. Playmakers.

Every team needs them to be successful.

Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders' Colorado Buffaloes won't be any different when they open the season Sept. 2 at TCU.

No doubt, every player on the field needs to contribute. But there are some who will be expected to be critical performers in clutch moments, players who will make the difference, players whose performance will go a long way in determining how successful the Buffs will be this year.

Some have already become quite familiar to CU fans. They have grabbed headlines almost since the day they arrived.

Others are somewhat less-celebrated — but their production will be equally critical.

Here are some of those impact players whose performance will be key for the Buffs.

QB Shedeur Sanders — There may be no more important position in sports than quarterback and the Buffs have an elite-level player here.

Sanders put up big numbers in two years at Jackson State but the question among national pundits when he arrived in Boulder was whether he could do the same against Power 5 competition.

Spring ball and fall camp strongly suggest the answer is affirmative. Sanders has shown all the traits necessary for success at the position. He makes excellent decisions, takes care of the ball, moves through his progressions quickly and clearly possesses a great football IQ. His instincts are sound and his physical abilities are outstanding: strong arm, an ability to extend plays with his feet while never taking his eyes off the action downfield, and excellent vision.

There will no doubt be some growing pains, but all indications are he is ready for a successful season.

DB/WR Travis Hunter — Another obvious member of this list, but that by no means diminishes his potential.

Hunter has truly elite athletic ability, the kind that continues to stun his coaches on a daily basis.

As a cornerback, he gives Colorado the luxury of knowing one side of the field will be shut down. His length and speed make him a terrific one-on-one defender and his instincts make him a threat to make plays on balls that are thrown anywhere in his general vicinity.

Offensively, he has taken raw talent and turned it into refined receiver skill. His route running has dramatically improved in fall camp and it is clear that he and Sanders operate on a special wavelength.

The only question about Hunter is how many snaps he will be able to play in a game. What isn't a question is that he will have the ability to impact the game on every one of those snaps.

RB Dylan Edwards — We'll stick with the offensive side of the ball here, where a true freshman is showing signs of emerging from the pack as the Buffs' No. 1 back.

Edwards is not only straight-line fast, he also has excellent acceleration, great feet and the lateral quickness to make defenders miss. He can take short passes and turn them into long gains and has another gear when he hits the second level.

He isn't big (5-9, 170). He's not a power back. But he is getting better at running between the tackles, and he needs just a tiny hole to make something happen. Even if he's not the starter, he has the potential to be a game-breaker.

OT Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan — "Tank" is one of two returning starters on Colorado's offensive line and the Buffs will need the 6-10, 320-pounder to be a reliable blind-side protector for Shedeur Sanders'.

He has made good progress this year under the direction of O-line coach Bill O'Boyle. He has improved his pass protection skills and has benefited from working daily against Colorado's speedy edge rushers. He is also a solid run blocker. But his continued development will no doubt be a critical piece of Colorado's offense.

ILB Marvin Ham II — The fifth-year junior earned four starts last year for the Buffs and had 13 tackles in 195 defensive snaps. But he was by no means a guaranteed "keeper" for the new staff — in fact, they have admitted that they pressured Ham early to find his way to the transfer portal.

But Ham refused to take the bait, and has now become one of the Buffs' most reliable defenders. He will be a key cog inside in Colorado's run defense and he's showing an ability to get to the passer as well. The Buffs will need him to be a consistent presence inside; so far, he's showing that kind of potential.

S Trevor Woods and S Shilo Sanders — We're putting two players here because the Buffs need at least one of them to become a big-time playmaker on the back end.

Safety might be one of the most important positions in coordinator Charles Kelly's defense (he's also the safeties coach). The Buffs will use as many as four safeties in some situations and they utilize them in every possible manner — in coverage, rushing the passer and playing the run.

Both Sanders and Woods have had good camps. Consistency will be the key for each.

WRs Jimmy Horn Jr., Javon Antonio and Xavier Weaver — Another group from which at least one needs to emerge as a playmaker.

But the difference here is that every one of these guys has that potential and it won't be a surprise to see each have a big game or two as the season progresses.

All have good hands, excellent speed and solid route-running ability. And, each has had a day or two in camp when they seemed to mesh perfectly with QB Sanders.

This group will be a difficult one for opponents to defend because each has the ability to go deep, run routes across the middle or turn short passes into long gains. Throw Hunter into the mix and it is a potentially lethal group.

Edge rushers Arden Walker, Taijh Alston, Jordan Domineck, Derrick McLendon and Khairi Manns — In a perfect world, two or three of these guys would become elite pass rushers off the edge.

The Buffs need at least a couple of them to become consistent, reliable players who can put pressure on the quarterback, drop into coverage when necessary and not be bullied in the run game.

All have had their moments in camp. All have potential. But if one or two can step up and take their game up a notch, the Buffs' pass rush will benefit greatly.

DLs Shane Cokes, Amari McNeill and Leonard Payne Jr. — Again, the perfect scenario would be to have all three of these players become big-time run defenders who also have the ability to push the pocket.

Cokes has been the most consistent, but it would be great if he can get some help inside. This is a position where depth is critical and along with a couple of standouts, Colorado will also need a couple other players to step up and become reliable reserves.

ILBs Demouy Kennedy and LaVonta Bentley — Both are transfers from quality programs (Alabama and Clemson) and both have the ability to be consistent contributors. Kennedy has excellent speed and can be utilized in a variety of ways. The Buffs will need one of these guys to step up and become a dependable, every-down guy.

OGs Jack Bailey, Jack Wilty and Landon Bebee — CU's interior line has to be able to produce some holes for tough yardage from the run game and provide QB Sanders with some protection. Consistency and reliability from one or two of these guys will be critical.