Deion Sanders didn’t mince words after his son, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, was hit 17 times, tackled 13 times and sacked seven times in a loss to UCLA last fall.
“The big picture is you get new forwards,” Deion Sanders said after the Oct. 28 loss. “That’s the picture and I’m going to paint it perfectly.”
Despite being the nation’s most sacked quarterback (52nd) last season, Shedeur Sanders was still able to complete 69.3% of his passes (eighth-best in the FBS) and throw for a school-record 3,230 yards in addition to 27 touchdowns in his first year at the FBS level. As impressive as his individual season was, the inconsistency in his protection of the offensive line hurt the overall success of this offense.
The constant pressure limited Sanders’ ability to make aggressive shots downfield and create off schedule. Most importantly, leaky protection often resulted in negative plays: sacks, fumbles, turnovers, etc.
Deion Sanders made good on his promise to bring in a new forward through the transfer portal, but can the Buffs significantly improve the offense in just one offseason? Here’s why they can.
Colorado’s offensive line overhaul ‘was expected’
Hank Zilinskas survived the purge. Others were not so lucky.
The second-year center is one of three Colorado forwards who returned to action from last season (Ben Reznik and Kareem Harden are the others).
Last year’s starting left tackle (Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan) and starting center (Van Wells) are headed to Oregon State. Jack Bailey, who started all 12 games at left guard for the Buffs last season, transferred to Northwestern and Savion Washington is now at Syracuse after starting nine games at right tackle for Colorado.
This group was largely responsible for Sanders being sacked on 10.2% of his dropbacks (FBS average is 6.1%) and pressured on 36.8% of his dropbacks last season.
Needless to say, this Colorado offensive line won’t be the same in 2024.
Zilinskas is the only returning offensive lineman expected to start this fall after showing real promise last season as a true freshman. The 6-foot-2, 295-pound center played in 11 games (two starts) for the Buffs in 2023, allowing just one sack on 104 pass-blocking attempts, according to Pro Football Focus.
More: Colorado football center Hank Zilinskas reaping the rewards of ‘old school’ mentality
“Hank (Zilinskas) was here a year ago, got some reps, but then he watched this winter when we brought in like six guys around him,” Colorado offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said on April 25. working, he was resilient, he’s tough, he kept learning, he kept developing and he grew. He did all the things you want a young man to develop.
“It’s a credit to him and I think if we had to play tomorrow he would probably be the guy there.”
Zilinskas received praise and a starting spot this spring despite an experienced transfer being hired for his position.
Former UConn center Yakiri Walker appeared in all 12 games for UConn, playing a total of 797 snaps, last season and should provide stability at the position along with Zilinskas. With the addition of guys like Walker, the level of competition on the Buffs’ offensive line has increased immensely.
“Having guys come and go was expected with the performance we had last year,” Zilinskas told the Coloradoan in May. “I wasn’t surprised by it or anything, but I think there’s a lot of good things that come from it. A lot of the guys that transferred came from all over college football, so they bring a lot of experience and different perspectives on what they saw where they played.
“For me, being able to learn from them and try to help them as well, I think is very beneficial.”
What will Colorado’s revamped offensive line look like?
Deion Sanders and his recruiting staff have not only added talent to this offensive line, but they have also added experience.
Perhaps Colorado’s biggest transfer in the trenches was former UTEP guard Justin Mayers, PFF’s top rated interior OL room in the Big 12 for 2024. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound graduate transfer chose the Buffs over Mississippi State, Pitt, South Carolina, Texas Tech and others after starting all 12 games at left guard for the Miners last season.
Since 2022, Mayers has allowed just two sacks in 846 pass-blocking snaps and has an 86.3 pass-blocking grade, according to PFF. He is projected to start at left guard in 2024 and will be a huge upgrade from last season’s situation.
The other starting point guard will be Tyler Brown or Tyler Johnson, who will make their Colorado debut this fall.
Brown was ruled ineligible for the 2023 season due to the old two-transfer rule after starting 13 games on the offensive line for Deion Sanders at Jackson State in 2022, earning AP third-team FCS All-American honors.
Johnson was the #5 interior offensive lineman in the transfer portal after spending the past two seasons in Houston as the Cougars’ starting point guard. In 890 pass-blocking snaps, Johnson has allowed just two sacks and has a pass-blocking grade of 84.9, according to PFF.
Indiana transfer Kahlil Benson is expected to start at right tackle for Colorado and brings a wealth of playing experience to this OL unit. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound junior has 17 career starts (12 in 2023) and allowed just one sack in 424 pass attempts last season.
The No. 1 offensive tackle in the class of 2024, Jordan Seaton, will be tasked with protecting Sanders’ blindside as a true freshman. Its development throughout the year will help determine this unit’s ceiling.
Fortunately for Seaton, he will be surrounded by seasoned veterans who want to see each other succeed.
“We have a lot of guys on the offensive line that have great attitudes toward each other,” Shedeur said after Colorado’s April 27 spring game. “Sometimes there is friction, but we always work it out and we are always family.
“They won’t let what happened last year happen again.”
Colorado’s offensive line has “a great mix of development prospects”
Colorado’s projected starting offensive line looks strong on paper, but what happens when the inevitable injury strikes? The Buffs will be ready with reinforcements this time.
That hasn’t typically been the case in 2023 and is part of the reason Colorado has limped to 1-8 over its last nine games. The Buffs’ recruiting staff got a new OL starting unit through the transfer portal, but also important depth pieces for when the wear and tear of a long season sets in.
Michigan State transfer Ethan Boyd committed to Colorado last month after playing in all 12 games (three as a starting right tackle) for the Spartans in 2023. The 6-foot-2, 326-pound OL has logged 313 snaps offensive totals in the Big Ten last fall.
Then there’s the duo of Payton Kirkland and Zach Owens, both of whom transferred to Colorado with four years of eligibility remaining.
The 6-foot-2, 366-pound Kirkland spent his freshman season at Texas and didn’t see any action in 2023, but he had more than 50 offers out of high school as a former four-star recruit.
Owens was also a four-star recruit in the class of 2023 before committing to Clemson. The 6-foot-3, 380-pound OL, nicknamed “Flapjack,” played in two games for the Tigers last season but preserved his eligibility by redshirting.
Any of these highly touted prospects could be an option for new offensive line coach Phil Loadholt in the event of an injury or if Seaton needs more time to acclimate to college football.
“They (Colorado) have a great combination of development perspectives,” On3 National Recruitment Analyst, Phillip Dukes said the Colorado. “You look at a guy like Payton Kirkland, a huge, developing guy, you bring him in, train him and then you’re able to get him ready for the bright lights. him now. Last year, you would have to start it. Now you have time to develop it.
“You get a guy like ‘Flapjack,’ another huge guy. Now think about your bookend tackles, those two guys don’t need to play this year. You already have guys that are in front of them, but I guarantee if you got those two guys last year, they’re both starting or actually in your rotation. Maybe they’re both your sixth or seventh guy. Now they’re your eighth or ninth guy, which makes a lot of difference when it comes to playing in a conference like the Big 12. “
The talent level on Colorado’s roster has improved significantly, and the Buffs’ offensive line spacing may have taken its biggest leap this offseason. This should bode well for Shedeur’s final college football season before the 2025 NFL Draft.
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This article originally appeared in the Fort Collins Coloradoan: Why Shedeur Sanders will be better protected by Colorado football’s OL
