Picture Folsom Field in 2025: the Flatirons still loom, the buffalo mascot still charges, but the sideline’s missing its two biggest rock stars. Travis Hunter, the Heisman-winning, two-way freak who could’ve moonlighted as an Avenger, is now catching fades and picking passes for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Shedeur Sanders, the quarterback with a Rolex wrist and a chip on his shoulder, is fighting for snaps in Cleveland’s crowded QB room. Both were drafted in 2025—Hunter at No. 2 overall, Sanders in a shocking fifth-round slide—and their jerseys are already retired, hanging like sacred relics in Boulder. Deion Sanders, aka Coach Prime, turned a one-win Colorado program into a national spectacle in just two years, but now his Batman and Robin are gone. So, what’s next for the Buffs? Is this still Prime Time, or are we staring at a flatline?
The Void Left by Two Legends
Travis Hunter: The Irreplaceable Unicorn
Replacing Hunter is like trying to replace Kanye and Jay-Z on Watch the Throne. The dude was a unicorn, announced at the NFL Draft as both a receiver and a cornerback, racking up over 60% of Colorado’s passing production alongside teammates Jimmy Horn Jr. and LaJohntay Wester. His stat line—1,000+ receiving yards and All-American cornerback numbers—made him a one-man highlight reel. No single player can fill those cleats, and the Buffs know it.
Shedeur Sanders: The QB Who Set the Bar
Shedeur’s no slouch either. Despite his draft fall, he threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns last season, setting 100 program records and earning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors. He wasn’t just a quarterback; he was the swagger, the guy who could thread a needle while dodging a blitz. His exit leaves a crater in the offense, and Colorado’s got to find someone who can at least keep the lights on.
The Quarterback Transition
Enter Kaidon Salter
Shedeur’s departure hands the keys to Kaidon Salter, a transfer from Liberty with the arm and moxie to keep the Buffs’ offense humming. Salter’s no rookie—he’s got starting experience and a knack for extending plays, which is clutch when your O-line’s still figuring out how to block. He’s not Shedeur, but he’s a “bridge quarterback” to hold things down until five-star recruit Julian Lewis, the heir apparent, is ready to take over.
Salter’s Mindset
Salter’s already shrugging off the pressure. At the spring game, he said he’s not chasing jersey retirements—just a Big 12 title and a playoff berth. Bold talk for a guy stepping into Shedeur’s shadow, but in Boulder, bold is the brand. Think of Salter as the DJ spinning remixes while Lewis warms up in the booth.
Rebuilding the Offense
The Receiving Corps
On the receiving end, Colorado’s tasked with replacing Hunter’s production, which is harder than getting Kanye to tweet something normal. Will Sheppard and Drelon Miller are the guys stepping up. Sheppard’s got the size and catch radius to be a red-zone menace, but his speed’s more “reliable sedan” than “Lamborghini.” Miller, if he stays healthy, could be the spark, with the potential to turn slants into SportsCenter highlights.
Recruiting Momentum
Colorado’s draft success—leading all schools with three wide receivers picked in 2025—gives them recruiting cred. Expect more pass-catchers to flock to Boulder like influencers to a Coachella afterparty. The Buffs’ passing game won’t be as explosive, but it’s not falling off a cliff either.
Defensive Outlook
Filling Hunter’s Shoes
Defensively, the Buffs are banking on new blood to maintain the swagger Hunter brought to the secondary. Safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig, who’s joining Hunter in Jacksonville as an undrafted free agent, leaves another gap. The spring game showed flashes of a rebuilt secondary, with transfers and young talent stepping up.
Recruiting Pipeline
Coach Prime’s recruiting pitch—“We Ain’t Hard 2 Find”—is still resonating, especially after Colorado’s 2025 draft haul made headlines. The defense, which showed grit last year, has enough pieces to keep opponents honest, even without Hunter’s lockdown coverage.
The Deion Factor
Coach Prime’s Magic
Let’s talk Coach Prime. Deion’s the X-factor, the ringmaster who turned Colorado into college football’s version of a Vegas residency. His blueprint—flashy recruits, transfer portal wizardry, and unrelenting hype—took a 1-11 team to relevance in two seasons. But he’s not infallible, and the jersey retirement saga proves it.
The Jersey Retirement Drama
Retiring Hunter’s No. 12 and Sanders’ No. 2 during the April 19 spring game sparked a firestorm. Colorado legends like Darian Hagan and Chad Brown called it “celebrating mediocrity.” Back in the ‘90s, you had to graduate to get your number retired, and neither Hunter nor Sanders had degrees when the ceremony went down. Hagan, who led CU to a national title, was “flabbergasted,” while Brown argued the move disrespects the program’s history.
Deion’s Clapback
Deion clapped back, saying Shedeur’s last name fueled the backlash and that Hunter and Sanders “saved” the program. Athletic director Rick George doubled down, claiming the duo changed Colorado’s trajectory. It’s classic Prime: unapologetic, divisive, and impossible to ignore. But the controversy hints at a bigger challenge—keeping the alumni on board. If Deion keeps alienating legends, Folsom Field risks turning into a reality show set instead of a football cathedral.
Fan Pulse on X
The Optimists
What’s the vibe on X? Fans are split like a bad rom-com. Some are hyped for the Salter era, posting “Prime Time 2.0” with buffalo emojis. They point to Colorado’s draft success—four players picked, including Hunter, Sanders, Horn, and Wester, plus four undrafted free agents—as proof the program’s on the rise.
The Skeptics
The pessimists, though, wonder if Deion’s magic fades without his star pupils. One X post joked, “No Travis, no Shedeur, no problem? Deion’s smoking something stronger than Boulder’s dispensaries.” Another speculated he’d bolt for an NFL gig if the Buffs flop. The noise is loud, but that’s what happens when you’re college football’s biggest circus.
The Big Picture
Not a Crash, Not a Crown
Real talk: Colorado’s not crashing and burning. Deion’s too good a recruiter, and the Big 12 isn’t the SEC. The Buffs won’t be Alabama, but they’re not slipping back to 1-11 either. Salter’s mobility could make the offense less predictable, especially if the O-line stops playing matador. The defense has enough juice to compete, and Deion’s charisma will keep the recruits coming.
The Long Game
If Julian Lewis lives up to the hype, Colorado could be back in the playoff conversation by 2026. For now, expect a scrappy, entertaining team that’s still must-watch TV, even without its headliners. Prime Time’s not over—it’s just on a new episode.
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