With Coach Prime at the helm and fresh talent on board, the Buffs are fired up and ready to shake up the 2025 season. Big changes are coming to Colorado this season. HC Deion Sanders won’t have his son, Shedeur, leading the offense anymore. The adjustment won’t happen overnight, but the Buffs are still riding high after a breakthrough year Boulder hasn’t seen in ages. To keep that energy alive, CU has made some smart moves in the transfer portal. QB Kaidon Salter arrived from Liberty, bringing fresh fire and playmaking skills. WR Sincere Brown from Campbell added speed and experience to the lineup. On defense, massive 320-pound tackle Jehiem Oatis from Bama is ready to anchor the line. These key pickups set the stage for a new era, one built to tackle the challenges ahead.
Not only this, just days after hosting Walker Andersen for a visit and handing him an offer, CU sealed the deal with a major commitment on Saturday. Andersen, a towering OL with 4 years of eligibility left, becomes the Buffs’ 8th transfer portal pickup this offseason—and their 4th big addition up front this spring. Listed at a massive 6-8 and 335 pounds (though UCLA sized him closer to 6-5 and 290), Andersen didn’t take the field for the Bruins in 2024 despite being on scholarship. Hailing from El Dorado High in Placentia, California, he turned heads as an unranked prospect and now brings his raw power and potential to Boulder. With Andersen joining Coach Prime’s squad, the Buffs are beefing up their line in a serious way.
Now, NFL legend Matt McChesney didn’t hold back on his take about Colorado snagging Walker Andersen from UCLA. On the May 29 episode of Zero 2 Sixty, McChesney weighed in on the commitment with sharp insight. “I mean, another huge, huge kid — he’s got four years of eligibility left, right? So, four years of eligibility tells me that he wasn’t ready for UCLA exactly. Yep, because, I’m sorry, but when you see a guy go, ‘I have four years of eligibility left,’ and I’m in the transfer portal, he just got cut, you know what I’m saying? Or the tampering level was through the roof.” McChesney’s words hint at the tough realities behind the scenes — and how Deion Sanders pulled off a bold heist, stealing talent from DeShaun Foster’s turf.
LA: Super Bowl LIX – Radio Row Deion Sanders speaks to members of the media on Radio Row at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana on February 7, 2025. Super Bowl LIX will take place Sunday Feb. 9, 2025 between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. Photo by Anthony Behar/Sipa USA New Orleans New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Con Louisiana USA NOxUSExINxGERMANY PUBLICATIONxINxALGxARGxAUTxBRNxBRAxCANxCHIxCHNxCOLxECUxEGYxGRExINDxIRIxIRQxISRxJORxKUWxLIBxLBAxMLTxMEXxMARxOMAxPERxQATxKSAxSUIxSYRxTUNxTURxUAExUKxVENxYEMxONLY Copyright: xAnthonyxBeharx Editorial use only
Matt McChesney laid it out plain and simple on the changing game of college football. He explained how the rise of contracts has turned agents into major players, saying, “I’m a college football agent now, which is pretty cool.” It’s a booming business where his earnings depend on the athlete’s success — a true partnership. Reflecting on Walker Andersen, Matt shared that with over 500 players placed in college, his perspective is sharp. He believes Andersen, with 4 years of eligibility left, likely struggled at UCLA. “The staff told him, ‘We don’t have a spot for you anymore. You can stay and practice on scout team, or hit the transfer portal and see what you can see,’” said Matt. Andersen chose the portal, and now, Boulder’s getting a massive addition — literally. McChesney emphasized, “This is consistent in Boulder now — they are massive.”
Then McChesney didn’t hold back when breaking down what’s happening in Boulder. He pointed out the obvious — the Buffs are building a wall up front. “Yeah, large. They are big up front. They are huge,” he said. According to Matt, if you’re not pushing 6’6″ and 320 pounds, you might not even get a look. “That’s just a fact,” he added. But McChesney also made it clear — size isn’t everything. “I don’t really agree with that. I don’t know if all size metrics make good offensive linemen,” he said. He wasn’t shy about calling out the flaws either: “I think a lot of big offensive linemen are fat slobs. Now, that’s coming from — I’m not saying this kid is — I’m saying in general.”
So, from his D-line perspective, it’s not the 6’8″, 350-pound giants that worry him. “I’m more worried about the 6’5″, 310-pounder that can really move and get on your a– and play hard.” For Matt, grit beats size every time.
The NFL legend sees the bigger picture when it comes to CU’s latest O-line addition. He emphasized that bulking up the trenches only works if the big guys are in shape. “That’s part of this — making sure all these big dudes are in shape,” said Matt. And he’s confident the Buffs’ staff knows how to get it done: “They’ve done a good job with that in the past.”
As for Walker Andersen, McChesney views him as another piece of the puzzle. “This is just another depth addition. He can come in and compete, and he’s got a lot of legs underneath him.” And while things didn’t pan out at UCLA, Matt believes that could be a blessing in disguise. “Maybe UCLA just didn’t do a good enough job, and it wasn’t a good fit. This could be his shot at redemption — right here in Boulder,” said the NFL legend.
Now, as Deion Sanders gains serious momentum in Boulder, Walker Andersen’s arrival adds even more fuel to the fire.
Is Deion Sanders stacking the line?
Deion Sanders is making serious waves in the portal. Walker Andersen becomes transfer addition No. 29 for CU this offseason — and he’s not coming alone. His commitment boosts CU’s transfer class to No. 19 in the nation and 2nd-best in the Big 12, per 247Sports. Andersen now joins a powerful wave of spring O-line pickups, including Tennessee’s Larry Johnson III, Maryland’s Andre Roye Jr., and Memphis’ Xavier Hill. Earlier in the winter, CU bulked up with Aki Ogunbiyi (Texas A&M), Zarian McGill (Louisiana Tech), Mana Taimani (Ole Miss), and Zy Crisler (Illinois). Deion Sanders isn’t just building depth — he’s constructing a wall.
Deion Sanders isn’t just stacking talent—he’s revamping the brains behind the brawn. Colorado’s O-line is getting a full makeover, starting with a new-look coaching staff. Recently promoted analyst Gunnar White now leads the charge, teaming up with 2 former NFL standouts, George Hegamin and Andre Gurode. However, their mission? Fix the Buffaloes’ biggest problem up front.
Although the line held its own in April’s spring game, Sanders didn’t hide his concerns about depth. That’s where Walker Andersen comes in. With a massive frame and the flexibility to slide between tackle and guard, he’s exactly the kind of plug-and-play lineman Sanders wants in the trenches. Now, let’s see if Andersen lives up to the hype or not.
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