Colorado’s offensive line will shape Buffs 2026 offense
Updated: Aug 11
Last season, the Colorado offensive line ranked 57th in the nation (per Pro Football Focus), a middle of the pack grade. Only nine programs allowed more sacks than the Buffaloes last year, allowing 38 sacks, losing nearly 300 yards.
This season, under new offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, violence and physicality on the offensive line has been a big priority.
“The physicality of the unit is amazing,” Ohio State transfer Jayvon McFadden said. “I think everybody in the room wants to push the person that’s behind them or might be in front of them.”
Though the Buffs lost five-star tackle Jordan Seaton to the transfer portal, head coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders brought in new talent to revamp the line under the new system.
“There's a lot more aggression, there's a lot more violence happening up front," offensive line coach George Hegamin said. "When the scheme speaks to violence, and you've got guys that like being violent, you get violence."
Because of the amount of motion, deception and options on each play, the offensive line has a unique job of being ready for whatever the quarterback decides to do.
“We don't know if we're gonna throw it or run the ball, so we just treat it like run every time," third-year offensive lineman Yahay Attia said. "That's what makes us so physical. We can't just take a rep off."
Through the early part of fall practice, nobody has let up. The amount of talent in the offensive line has encouraged the coaches to rotate their offensive linemen, trying them out in different positions.
“It's a great problem to have," offensive line coach Gunnar White said. “I would much rather have the 'all right, we've got too many bullets' than the 'not enough' situation.”
With the depth and versatility from all the entire unit, Sanders and staff may be looking to rotate the offensive line.
“Defensive lines, they do it all the time — so why can't the offensive line?” White said. “I can't make promises whether we're going to do that or not, but I think we have the guys to be able to do that."
Having the option to rotate players from tackle to guard and left to right also speaks to the depth of this unit.
“I have enough guys on the field that all want to play, and so there should never be a drop-off," assistant offensive line coach Andre Gurode said. "If I've got guys that are rotating in, everybody's hungry. Everybody's ready to play.”
“When you're able to have eight to nine guys that can really start, you have to find a way to get them reps,” Sanders said. “One guy goes down to practice, next man up, but we have the depth that you could do that.”
One of the most important positions of the offensive line is the center, where Houston transfer Demetrius Hunter is projected to be the starter for the Buffs come Week 1. Hunter only allowed two sacks across the last two seasons and led all Cougars with 730 offensive snaps played.
The reliability of the center position will help anchor the entire offense this coming season.
“We have three really good guys, veteran guys who have played the position, have played in big games, who understand what to do, understand communication and understand protections,” Marion said. “And what does that do mostly? That helps our young quarterback.”
Attia and third-year transfer Sean Kinney are also pushing to be starters week one.
“We want to see somebody take that role," Hegamin said. "We do believe that we've got the guy in the room — it's time for that guy to show up and stay up."
The heated competition has led to some tempers flaring, but it has gained some praise from Coach Prime.
“Practices have been wonderful and very competitive,” Sanders said. “Sometimes it goes a little far, but I'm pleased with the effort.”
Among those fighting for a spot is Sacramento State transfer Jose Soto, who Marion brought with him when taking the offensive coordinator job. His familiarity with the “Go-Go” style offense may give him an edge over another three-star transfer, McFadden.
McFadden comes from Ohio State, where he only participated in two games last season. Soto played in all 12 of the Hornets’ games last year and didn’t allow a sack or quarterback hit during conference play.
Rutgers transfer Taj White, Cal transfer Leon Bell and last year’s right tackle starter Larry Johnson III are all battling for a spot on the end of the offensive line.
White started all 11 games for the Scarlet Knights last season and was a reliable piece on a potent offense.
Bell blocked for Cal last season, who helped his quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele complete a historic season for the school. Bell started in eight games for the Golden Bears.
Johnson started in eight games as well for the Buffs and returned after only allowing one sack last season but missed the final three games due to injury.
These position battles at the beginning of fall practice will help shape the entire offense as it falls into place.
“We built a new offensive line in front of [our quarterbacks]. We put better skill players on the outside,” Marion said. “In the running back room, we have guys that can get downhill and get yards and get those tough yards.”
With an almost entirely new offensive line, Sanders and Marion will look to help put Lewis and the entire offense into a position to succeed when they act like a unit.
“[Since the Spring, the biggest area of growth is] the unity, togetherness, and them really understanding one another, understanding what the coaches desire, and getting a feel for tempo in the way we practice,” Sanders said.
With the heated competition and week one just three weeks away, White says the offensive line won’t be solidified until the “night before the game."
Colorado’s offensive line will have its work cut out for them operating under the “Go-Go” system that uses a fast tempo and its fair share of motion and run-pass-options. There’s plenty of talent on the line, and both Coach Prime, Marion and White have begun to mold them into a respectable unit.
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