Buffs Beat

Colorado Buffaloes Have One Glaring Weakness So Far In Spring Football

Following the losses of Nikhai Hill-Green and LaVonta Bentley, the Colorado Buffaloes' linebacker room is a question mark early this spring. Notable returners Jaylen Wester and Jeremiah Brown are joined by newcomers Martavius French, Reginald Hughes and others.

Jack Carlough

Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos head coach Deion Sanders against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos head coach Deion Sanders against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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While coach Deion Sanders believes the Colorado Buffaloes are a better overall football team compared to last season, there is one position group that remains somewhat of a question mark.

Last year's starting duo of LaVonta Bentley and Nikhai Hill-Green have both left the Buffs this offseason, making inside linebacker a potential concern heading into next season. Bentley is looking to crack an NFL roster while Hill-Green surprised many when he transferred to the SEC's Alabama Crimson Tide in December.

Colorado has landed three linebackers from the transfer portal so far this offseason: Martavius French (UTSA), Reginald Hughes (Jacksonville State) and Kylan Salter (TCU). As things currently stand, French and Hughes may be the best starting duo.

Reginald Hughes
Jacksonville State's Reginald Hughes sacks Southern Miss quarterback Tate Rodemaker during college football action at Burgess-Snow Field AmFirst Stadium in Jacksonville, Alabama September 21, 2024. (Dave Hyatt / Special to the Gadsden Times) / Dave Hyatt / Special to the Gadsden Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

After stops at Northwest Mississippi Valley Community College (2020-21), Ole Miss (2022-23) and Jacksonville State (2024), Hughes committed to Colorado in December. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound graduate student was a first-team All-Conference USA player at Jacksonville State last season with 83 total tackles, nine TFLs and 4.5 sacks.

French was also one of the best Group of Five linebackers in the country last season, leading the Roadrunners with 80 total tackles (52 solo). His 17 TFLs tied for the team lead, and only seven defenders nationally had more tackles behind the line scrimmage. Prior to his three seasons at UTSA, French began his college career with the Tennessee Volunteers (2020) and spent one year at Hutchinson Community College (2021) in Kansas.

While Hughes and French are both hoping to solidify themselves at the Power Four level, the true concern at inside linebacker is depth. Salter, the younger brother of Colorado quarterback Kaidon Salter, saw limited playing time in two seasons at TCU due to injuries but remains an intriguing newcomer.

"He's hungry to play," Kaidon Salter said of his younger brother. "He's had his ups and downs. He's been pretty much hurt all his college career. Colorado giving us the opportunity, we both just want to come here and work and be the best that we can be for our team."

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Returning linebackers include Jeremiah Brown, Jaylen Wester and Kyeran Garcia. Wester, the younger brother of former Colorado wide receiver LaJohntay Wester, impressed in limited opportunities last season, recording 15 total tackles, one pass breakup and a forced fumble. However, his size and skill set make him primarily suited for passing downs.

Brown has played for "Coach Prime" since 2021 when the two were together at Jackson State. In two years at Colorado, he has seen most of his action on special teams. Garcia is a former three-star prospect who redshirted during his true freshman season last fall.

Jeremiah Brown
Sep 16, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes linebacker Jeremiah Brown (42) reacts after a fumble against the Colorado State Rams during the first half at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-Imagn Images / Andrew Wevers-Imagn Images

Brown, Wester, Garcia and Salter all have upside, but Colorado will likely need French and Hughes to lead the charge.

Earlier this spring, defensive coordinator Robert Livingston spoke on Colorado's new-look linebacker room.

"I am excited to see the practices and see what they can do, make the calls, communicate," Livingston said. "Obviously that position is the quarterback of the defense. Somebody told me a long time ago, you don't really learn football in the classroom, you learn it on the field."

Incoming freshman Mantrez Walker, a former four-star prospect, is another player who could help Colorado's depth at inside linebacker.

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Jack Carlough
JACK CARLOUGH

Jack Carlough graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in journalism and minors in business and sports media. Born and raised in the Boulder area, Jack was the head sports editor of the CU Independent during his college career. More recently, he spent over three years as the managing editor of Colorado Buffaloes Wire, part of the USA Today Sports network. Other publications Jack has written for include the Boulder Daily Camera, Left Hand Valley Courier and SB Nation’s Ralphie Report.

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