Recapping a wild day of CU Buffs players entering the transfer portal

Unprecedented — a word we’ve heard a lot in recent years — is the best way to describe what has happened at Colorado since head coach Deion Sanders was hired in December.

The Buffs are nearing a complete turnover of last year’s roster and have added nearly 30 transfer players so far, including standouts such as two-way phenom Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders and Jimmy Horn Jr.

Following the conclusion of CU’s spring football game on Saturday, the floodgates opened again as 18 Buffs (by my count as of Monday evening) from the 2022 season have entered the transfer portal.

Below is a quick recap of who’s leaving:

WR Chase Sowell (entered Sunday)

Set.p 24, 2022; Boulder, Colorado; UCLA Bruins defensive back Jaylin Davies (24) and defensive back Stephan Blaylock (4) break up a pass to Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Chase Sowell (15) in the second half at Folsom Field. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Sowell didn’t see the field much in his lone year at Colorado, recording two catches for 23 yards.

READ: Freshman CU Buffs WR Chase Sowell enters transfer portal

WR Montana Lemonious-Craig (entered Sunday)

Oct. 15, 2022; Boulder; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig (1) pulls in a touchdown past California Golden Bears cornerback Collin Gamble (21) in overtime at Folsom Field. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Perhaps the most unexpected departing player of this bunch, Lemonious-Craig announced he’ll be looking for opportunities elsewhere one day after exploding for over 150 receiving yards in Colorado’s spring game.

READ: Following huge spring game, Montana Lemonious-Craig enters transfer portal

LB Shakaun Bowser

Bowser didn’t see any game action in his freshman year last fall.

IOL Jackson Anderson

Jackson joined the Buffs’ as a part of Karl Dorrell’s 2021 recruiting class but didn’t see the field during his two years at CU.

S Tyrin Taylor

Oct. 15, 2022; Boulder; Colorado Buffaloes safety Tyrin Taylor (5) celebrates his interception n the first quarter against the California Golden Bears at Folsom Field. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Tyrin Taylor played in 24 carer games with nine starts throughout his two years with the Buffs.

CB Jason Oliver

Oliver recorded 11 total tackles in his true freshman season last fall.

WR Jordyn Tyson

Oct. 29, 2022; Boulder, Colorado; Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back Jean Boyd III (31) tackles Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (4) in the second half at Folsom Field. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The biggest bright spot from last year’s team, Tyson found the end zone five times and was once the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week.

READ: Freshman CU Buffs WR Jordyn Tyson to look for opportunities elsewhere

ATH Oakie Salave'a

Salave’a, the son of Buffs great Oakland Salave’a, saw a few snaps in the Buffs’ spring game on Saturday.

LB Devin Grant

Nov. 13, 2021; Pasadena, California; UCLA Bruins running back Zach Charbonnet (24) is tackled by Colorado Buffaloes linebacker Devin Grant (44) in the second half at Rose Bowl. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Grant came on strongly at the end of his 2021 season and followed that with 15 total tackles in 2022.

RB Deion Smith

Sept. 2, 2022; Boulder; Colorado Buffaloes running back Deion Smith (20) runs in the first quarter against the TCU Horned Frogs at Folsom Field. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Colorado’s leading rusher from last season was one of the longest-tenured remaining players.

OT Alex Harkey

Harkey came to Colorado last year as a junior college transfer.

LB Aubrey Smith

Colorado linebacker Aubrey Smith (32) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Denver. AP Photo/Bart Young

Smith had just earned his No. 32 last week.

WR Grant Page

The local product Page redshirted last fall during his freshman season.

DL Aaron Austin

Austin was mostly used on special teams last season and played in 11 games.

S Xavier Smith

Smith, a three-star class of 2022 recruit, didn’t see the field in his freshman season.

RB Victor Venn

Venn, a true freshman, was given a few rushing opportunities in Colorado’s spring game.

S Jeremy Mack

Sam Adams II #28 of the Washington Huskies is tackled by Jeremy Mack Jr. #3 of the Colorado Buffaloes during the fourth quarter at Husky Stadium on Nov. 19, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. Steph Chambers/Getty Images

The former JUCO transfer was a bright spot in the secondary of last year’s team.

WR Ty Robinson

Sept. 25, 2021; Tempe, Arizona; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Ty Robinson (80) runs with the ball against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the second half at Sun Devil Stadium.

Robinson’s upside has always been high, but he’s now out of Boulder after two seasons.

Further reading

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