Colorado rebuilds its entire offensive line in a day with rush of transfer commits
Colorado coach Deion Sanders had a lengthy to-do list this offseason, but one thing stood alone at the top. Maybe it was bolded. Maybe it was underlined. Maybe there were several red circles drawn around it.
Rebuild the offensive line. A week after the transfer portal opened, the Buffs appear to have made tremendous progress toward that goal.
On Saturday Colorado received transfer commitments from former UConn center Yakiri Walker, former Houston guard Tyler Johnson, former UTEP guard Justin Mayers, and former Indiana tackle Kahlil Benson. That quartet started a combined 47 of a possible 48 games for their respective teams during the 2023 season.
And their addition comes on the heels of Thursday’s announcement that 5-star 2024 tackle Jordan Seaton will begin his college career in Boulder.
First-year line coach Phil Loadholt is already putting in serious work on the trail.
During the 2023 season, Old Dominion was the only FBS team to give up more sacks than Colorado, which had 56 in 12 games. Pro Football Focus charged the Buffs’ line with allowing 143 quarterback pressures and 20 quarterback hits.
Walker allowed 15 pressures in 435 snaps as a pass blocker, per PFF. Johnson gave up 10 in 425 snaps. Mayers gave up nine in 402 snaps. Benson gave up 37 in 424 snaps. Combined, they have allowed eight sacks in 2,962 snaps as pass-blockers over the last two seasons.
Walker checks in at 6-foot-2. He’ll have two years of eligibility. Johnson is 6-foot-5 and will be entering his sixth season. Mayers is a 6-foot-3 former all-conference honorable mention selection. He has one year of eligibility remaining. Benson stands 6-foot-6 and has two years of eligibility remaining.
“The big picture, you go get new linemen,” Sanders said after a 28-16 loss to UCLA on Oct. 28. “That’s the picture, and I’m gonna paint it perfectly.”
So far, so good.