BOULDER – The NFL draft has not been kind to Colorado football players as of recently.
Since the start of the century, there have only been 44 Buffaloes drafted, compared to the 56 players drafted from CU in the 1990s. With the arrival of Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders and a new spotlight on all things Boulder, they hope to recreate the magic displayed by the Buffaloes of the past.
Despite Colorado finishing the 2023 season with four wins and eight losses, multiple Buffs have declared for the NFL draft, including senior wide receiver Xavier Weaver and graduate linebacker Jordan Domineck. Among many other athletes this past year, both Weaver and Domineck transferred to Colorado for the 2023 season. They both brought much-needed leadership and production on the field for the Buffaloes this past season.
Upon arrival, Weaver quickly became Shedeur Sanders' favorite target, racking up 34 receptions, 461 yards, and two touchdowns in his first four games as a Buffalo. Weaver's electric start to the season helped Colorado win three out of their first four games, landing themselves inside the Associated Press top 25 for weeks two and three. Weaver led the team in receiving yards with 908, 150 more yards than any other Buffalo, and was tied for the most total touchdowns on the team by a non-quarterback, with six.
Weaver played his best football with Colorado, building off his previous two seasons at the University of South Florida where he racked up over 700 receiving yards and two or more total touchdowns in both seasons. Weaver's ability to consistently produce for the past three years has helped him be the only Buff to earn an invitation to the NFL Combine this season.
Domineck, another stud looking to get drafted from the Buffaloes, transferred from the University of Arkansas where he totaled 34 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in 2022. Domineck continued his dominant play at Colorado, starting in all but two games this season, recording 51 total tackles, five sacks, two pass deflections, and led the team with 12 tackles for loss.
During a mid-season interview on Coach Primes Playbook, Domineck was humble in stating, “I understand that I’m leaving a lot on the table… and I still have a lot to prove to myself.”
Coach Prime responded with, “I’m happy that he’s balling like he’s balling, but I wish to god we had him one more year.”
Domineck’s high expectations for himself and dedication to the game contribute heavily to his chances of having a career in the NFL. Coach Prime’s praise for Domineck and his other players speaks volumes to current scouts and coaches, considering his stature in the football world.
Realistically, neither Weaver nor Domineck are projected to be first round picks, which has unfortunately been a regularity for CU football players since 2011. Currently, the Buffaloes are in a 12-year drought since last having a first round draft pick and have not a single draft pick in the 2022 or 2023 NFL drafts.
Looking towards next year, transcendent stars Travis Hunter and the previously mentioned Sanders are both looking to shine on and off the field for Colorado before declaring for the NFL draft. Leading the team to a dominant winning season and bowl game could see Sanders and Hunter being top prospects in their respective positions. With the change in culture on campus and increase in media exposure, the Buffaloes are trending upward in the college football world.
“We here,” as Coach Deion Sanders has said.
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