How can Colorado’s Group of Five talent translate to Power Four?

Danny Scudero reaches for a touchdown catch during the Buffaloes Black and Gold Spring Game at Folsom Field on Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Photo via Jacob Hock/Sko Buffs Sports)

Life comes at you fast, and the game will only speed it up. 

In the last five years, 28 athletes transferred from a Group of Five school to a Power Four program and were in the nation’s top 20 in rushing, receiving, total tackles or tackles for loss. Only one athlete matched or improved their raw numbers. 

Running back Ahmad Hardy had nearly 300 more rushing yards and three more touchdowns after transferring from ULM to Missouri. He finished 12th in the nation for rushing yards with 1,351 at the University of Louisiana-Monroe before improving to second in the nation in rushing yards. 

None of the other 27 top 20 athletes matched their finish in a Power Four conference.

This year, the Colorado Buffaloes have two such players: Danny Scudero led the nation in receiving yards while Gideon ESPN Lampron was 16th in the nation in total tackles and fifth in FBS in tackles for loss. Both players have high expectations to get near last year’s totals.

Scudero finished with 1,297 receiving yards on 88 catches for 10 touchdowns for San Jose State. His 88 catches were good for fifth in the nation, while 10 touchdowns were the 12th-best tally. Lampron had 119 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks last year for Bowling Green.

Even if Scudero and Lampron can get 75% of their total tallies last season, their impact would be felt. Only four running backs or receivers got within 75% of their top20 after transferring from the Group of Five to a Power Four school. Good for Scudero, as FAU transfer LaJohntay Wester is among those names.

Wester transferred from the Owls in 2023 after posting 1,168 receiving yards and eight touchdowns to Colorado. While he didn’t quite match the same number, he still brought in 931 receiving yards and joined Hardy as the only other player to improve his touchdown number, increasing the mark to 10.

There is precedent in Boulder, Colorado, under head coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders no less, for Scudero to find plenty of success on the field and in the stat sheet.

Gideon ESPN Lampron was named to the Butkus Award and Bednarik Award watchlists. (Photo via Gideon Lampron/People Magazine)

Defensively, only Darius Muasau was able to follow up a top 20 total tackles nationally with 75% production. No player was able to follow up a national top 20 tackles for loss season with another within 50%. 

History doesn’t bode well for Lampron, suggesting that he may not be able to yield another season of 17.5 tackles for loss and 119 total tackles at the Power Four level. On the bright side, however, new defensive coordinator Chris Marve was brought in as the linebackers coach and has a special touch with the position group.

“Coming from Coach Marve is establishing our identity,” Lampron said after CU’s first week of fall camp in Colorado Springs. “[We’re] always playing fast and ferociously every snap.”

The Buffs have brought in 43 transfers from the portal, fewer than half of whom are from another Power Four program. Lampron and Scudero highlight that group because they’ve been near the top in terms of statistics, but they, along with every other transfer, will fill a role. 

Individually, leaping to the Power Four level means a drop in production is to be expected, but it doesn’t mean Colorado as a team can’t win its games.