Colorado football spring practices begin March 2, and although the spring session won’t be capped off with a joint scrimmage with another program, there is plenty to be excited about as the Buffaloes head into year four under Deion Sanders.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Lewis is entering his first full year as the Buffs’ starter, and Brennan Marion is taking over as offensive coordinator, which are two major storylines, as is the complete revamping of the starting defense.
Needless to say, several starting spots are up for grabs this spring, making every spring practice that much more important.
Here are five reasons why Buff Nation should be excited for Colorado’s 2026 spring camp.
A brand new defense
Nearly all of Colorado’s defense will be new heading into the fall, making spring camp the most important period for determining who will lock down starting positions. Both starting cornerbacks, starting linebackers, safeties and the entire defensive line will be new. Those who make a name for themselves this spring will set the tone for the upcoming season.
The “Go-Go” offense in effect
Brennan Marion might be the biggest addition of the Colorado Buffaloes‘ offseason. He is a prolific recruiter and pioneered his own offense that will hopefully make its mark in Boulder this fall. This spring is critical for the entire offensive group to get a crash course in the “Go-Go” offense. It should be exciting to see which players begin to flourish within the new scheme this spring.
Julian Lewis’ second season
When the offseason began, Lewis’ potential development going into year two was by far the most intriguing aspect of Colorado’s 2026 season. That is still very much the case, and now Lewis is surrounded by talented playmakers and an offensive coordinator, Brennan Marion, who should help him become the best version of himself. How fast Lewis can pick up Marion’s Go-Go offense this spring is something to watch.
Revamped wide receiver room
Deion Sanders’ three seasons as head coach have each featured talented wide receiver rooms. Last year, the group’s production was underwhelming, and the additions this past offseason aim to fix that. Biletnikoff semifinalist Danny Scudero, Texas transfer DeAndre Moore and Miami (OH) transfers Kam Perry are all highly productive players who should seamlessly fit into the Go-Go offense. All three, along with Joseph Williams, will make Lewis’ life a lot easier.
Team leadership
Perhaps the most glaring problem within the Colorado program was its lack of player leadership. There were slim to none true team leaders, and accountability seemed lacking. Sanders and his personnel department amended that this offseason, bringing in several proven leaders, namely former team captains like New Mexico State’s Naeten Mitchell and Tyler Martinez, as well as Vanderbilt’s Randon Fontenette.
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado football spring football 2026: Five storylines to watch
