With his position coach off to another school, Christian Gonzalez has entered the transfer portal.

The second-year cornerback announced on social media this week that he intends to leave the program. “Thank you for all of the support and all the love over the past two years,” he wrote. “I also want to say thank you to the coaching staff and everyone who helped me make a mark in the Pac-12. After long talks and consideration with my family, we have decided that it is best that I move on from the University of Colorado.”

Gonzalez’s departure marks a significant blow to the Buffaloes’ defense. Arguably the program’s most talented player, Gonzalez had 53 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and five pass breakups. He had 25 tackles in six games—all starts—as a true freshman in 2020, adding five pass breakups.

A 4-star recruit out of the 2020 class, per the 247 Composite, the Texas native chose Colorado over offers from more than 20 Power Five programs. But Gonzalez committed to a different coach than the one who he played his first two years for. At the time of his commitment and his signing, Mel Tucker was coaching the Buffs.

Tucker wouldn’t leave for Michigan State until a few months later. Gonzalez is now the seventh player from that 23-man signing class to exit the program.

On Thursday, Oregon officially announced the hiring of former Colorado corners coach Demetrice Martin as the program’s new corners coach.