Colorado Buffaloes predicted to lose only two players on Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter’s level

The Colorado Buffaloes are at a talent disadvantage in 2025 following the departures of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter to the NFL. There are only two members of the current roster considered to be in their league talent-wise: 4-star true freshman quarterback Julian Lewis and sophomore left tackle Jordan Seaton.

“Life after Shedeur and Travis was always going to be a challenge. The pair ranked as one of the most dynamic over the past few years and are both on NFL rosters now. While offensive tackle Jordan Seaton and true freshman quarterback Julian Lewis both match the pedigree of the pair, there's no one on the roster with surefire college football production,” CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah wrote while discussing the program’s talent woes after a 1-2 start.

The potentially bad news for Deion Sanders? He may be in danger of losing both of them, according to Pro Football Network’s Joseph Cox.

“Lewis was a four-star recruit who came to Colorado this year. But so far, Lewis has spent his time sitting and watching. He is 2-for-4 passing on the year for 8 yards so far. Particularly if Deion Sanders sticks with Week 3 starter Ryan Staub as his top QB, sophomore Staub definitely blocks the freshman Lewis from seeing more time in the years ahead,” Cox wrote.

“Seaton, who was a massive prospect heading into last season, started every game for Colorado in 2024 as a true freshman. The massive tackle will have an opportunity to see playing time for virtually any power conference school. The 6’5″, 330-pound Seaton has both the size and the skill set to be a significant starting tackle at almost any program. He’d be hard to replace if he decided to leave Colorado for the transfer portal.”

Colorado finishing with a losing record in 2025 could have potentially everlasting effects in Boulder.

Coach Prime is already too unhealthy to handle the day-to-day rigors of recruiting, having dealt with nearly fatal bladder cancer this past offseason and amputation of his toes in prior years due to blood clots in his leg.

Losing enough of the recruits he boasted about could make him realize that college football moves too quickly for him to see success going about his business the way he’s been going about it.

Lewis and Seaton are the two recruits who can force Coach Prime to reconsider this gig if he loses them.