BOULDER – The Colorado football team played their 2024 spring game on Saturday, showcasing glimpses of what next season may look like.
While the roster changed from last year’s spring scrimmage, the weather was virtually the same. Rainy conditions and temperatures in the 30s kept the intrasquad exhibition short, occasionally impacting play. However, the Colorado faithful provided the second-largest attendance for a spring game (behind last year’s) and the players came to play.
“The weather wasn’t the best for what I like to do: throw the ball,” CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders said after the game. “So, it was definitely tough out there. We fought through it.”
The scoring system for the match was specialized, working in favor of the offense (in white) versus defense (in black) format by rewarding points for sacks, long plays, and other occurrences that don’t warrant points during regular play. The offense won the contest 29-24 after several drives featured the entire depth chart.
Offensively, Sanders led the way, finishing 11-of-14 on the day for 116 yards and a touchdown. Sanders continuously looked for a familiar face in Travis Hunter, who caught four passes for 27 yards. A new connection looked to be in the works, though, with transfer addition LaJohntay Wester catching three passes for 66 yards and the first touchdown of the afternoon.
“I watched the LaJohntay Wester [Pro Football Focus film] and I went after him,” Sanders said about recruiting the form Florida Atlantic wideout to Boulder.
While Sanders did his thing, fans saw backup quarterback Ryan Staub in action and caught their first glimpses of transfer quarterbacks Walter Taylor III and Destin Wade in the few drives they received.
Still, the most anticipated aspect of the offense came in the trenches. The offensive line provided fair pocket protection throughout the scrimmage, only allowing a few sacks (via touch, QBs weren’t being hit) and providing a decent run game.
Impressively, they allowed redshirt freshman Isaiah Hardge to have a big game, including a 40-yard touchdown. Usually a defensive back sporting No. 23, Hardge rocked No. 17 as the first-string running back. Hardge had to step up on the offensive side of the ball With Micah Welch and Charlie Offerdahl injured and the recent running back transfers yet to join campus.
“Isaiah is an athlete,” head coach Deion Sanders said. “This is a kid who came in as a receiver, flipped over to defensive back because we were desperate at that position. He went back and blessed us and played running back for us and got it done…I love the young man. I really do. He went out there and displayed his versatility tremendously.”
While the offense played well, the defense provided stops on multiple drives. Linebacker Jeremiah Brown notched a game-high seven tackles alongside a forced fumble. The defense got into the backfield a few times, with Tristan Marois, Shane Cokes, Nakhil Webb Walker, and Amari McNeill recording sacks. Walker, a sophomore outside linebacker, finished with two tackles for loss.
Overall, the Buffs showed their talent amid the falling raindrops. However, predictions for next year remain cloudy with such a small showcase of the playbook and the transfer portal merry-go-round still in full swing.
Cover photo by Roberto Patrick Gerra/Sko Buffs Sports
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