The Colorado Buffaloes have big shoes to fill at linebacker

The Colorado Buffaloes’ defense was a pleasant surprise in the Big 12 in 2024. After an abysmal 2023 season, the unit was retooled around new defensive coordinator Rob Livingston and quickly asserted itself as one of the better groups in the league. With Nikhai Hill-Green and Lavonta Bentley lined up off the ball at linebacker to lead the way, the defense helped lead the Buffs to a 9-4 season.

Bad news a year later, those two veterans are no longer in the room for Livingston and Colorado, and they need to find at least two guys to step up in their wake. Bentley went to the professional ranks, where he had a short tryout for the Denver Broncos in the spring, while Hill-Green transferred to the Alabama Crimson Tide. At least that proves that the Buffs had elite talent in the building.

Despite that duo being excellent, the linebackers struggled against the best rush attacks they faced in 2024. North Dakota State ran for 157 yards, Nebraska put up 149, Kansas State 185 and Kansas had a mind-blowing 331 yards on the ground as they essentially eliminated Colorado from the Big 12 Championship Game. The unit shined against the other opponents, but when the big dogs lined up across from them, the production wasn’t the same.

Hill-Green finished the year with the second most tackles on the team (82), while Bentley finished fifth (55). Hill-Green also snagged two interceptions while Bentley forced a fumble and recovered two more. Those two are leaving behind huge shoes to fill for the defense.

Let’s take a look at how the linebacker unit is shaping up before the start of the season. For those who have missed it, we have already looked at the quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, offensive line and defensive line.

KEY DEPARTURES

Besides Hill-Green and Bentley, the Buffs didn’t lose anyone of great importance. Jaylen Wester, the brother of LaJohntay Wester, transferred to Western Kentucky after putting up 15 tackles and a forced fumble in a backup role. Brendan Gant, who started the Alamo Bowl, is also gone, but he was mostly used on special teams and as a reserve. He finished the 2024 season with 11 tackles.

NEW FACES – TRANSFERS

The Colorado staff has put practically all their eggs in the transfer basket at this position. Three new faces will be repping the black and gold this season via the transfer portal: Martavius French, Reginald Hughes, Shaun Myers and Kylan Salter, the brother of quarterback Kaidon Salter.

French, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound backer, made his way to Boulder from UTSA. He has one year of eligibility left and was rated as a three-star transfer. In 2024, he started 11 games for the roadrunners and recorded the eighth-most tackles for loss in the nation, with 17. He brings a good amount of experience and should be the guy who takes the reins as the leader of the unit.

Hughes, another three-star, will likely be the other backer alongside French when the Buffs take the field against Georgia Tech on Aug. 29 to open the season. He transferred in from Jacksonville State, and stands at 6-f00t-2, 240 pounds. In 2024, his lone season with Gamecocks, he earned All-Conference USA First-Team honors thanks to his 83 tackles, 9.5 tackles, 4.5 sacks and six quarterback hurries.

Expect these two to carry the load — at least to start the season. However, Myers and Salter can be serviceable in relief behind them. Myers made a big impact at North Alabama when he was on the field, but had his season cut short after just two games because of injury. Salter did not see the field much in his first two years at TCU, but has three years of eligibility left, so he could be more of a developmental piece instead of a win-now piece.

NEW FACES – RECRUITS

Colorado brought in one off-ball linebacker in this high school recruiting cycle in Mantrez Walker. The 6-foot-1, 225- pound recruit out of Georgia was rated as either a three or a four-star player depending on the site, one of the biggest gets for Coach Prime and Colorado in this recruiting cycle. He made the All-Region First-Team each of his final three seasons while competing against the top competition in Georgia, and led his team to a berth in the semifinals in 2024 where they bowed out to now-Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis.

Like many of the other young guys on the roster, Walker likely won’t start Week 1, but that doesn’t mean that he’s going to redshirt and never see the field. Prime has constantly emphasized that his high school recruiting classes are small because he wants to bring in freshman who can play right away and make an impact, and Walker has the tools to do so in relief of French and Hughes.

RETURNERS

Colorado has three returning backers from last season in Jeremiah Brown, Gage Goldberg and Bo LaPenna. Goldberg and LaPenna are depth pieces, as they were two guys who played just a handful of snaps, primarily on special teams.

Brown is the one returner who could make a good impact on this room. He has been with Coach Prime for the long haul, as he began his collegiate career back in 2021 at Jackson State. He made a big impact there, but converted to inside linebacker when he followed Prime to Boulder, and hasn’t been able to find a consistent role with the Buffs on defense. He played a lot in 2023, primarily on special teams and as a reserve, then only appeared in five games in 2024, one of those being the Alamo Bowl against BYU where he didn’t look his best.

Brown had 10 tackles, six being solo, and a pass deflection last season. Just like many of the other guys in the room, his best play comes in relief to the big guys, as his performances as a starter haven’t been the best.

PROJECTED STARTERS

ILB – Martavius French
ILB – Reginald Hughes

The two graduate transfers boast the most experience in this room full of new faces, and are the best options for Colorado in Week 1 against Georgia Tech’s potent rushing offense. The Yellow Jackets had the 32nd-best ground attack in 2024, and are returning both their mobile quarterback, Haynes King, and their top running back, Jamal Haynes, from a season ago.

This is the weakest link for Colorado defensively. Even with two great players last season, the unit still struggled against the best rushing offenses. Reports from Buffs’ preseason camp is that the offense is running the ball exceptionally well, which means that someone on the defensive side of the ball isn’t playing up to their standards. Defensive coordinator Robert Livingston said that Colorado’s defense is going to look a lot different this season, but he will need to change his scheme in ways that makes life easier for these new backers.

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