As fall camp is right around the corner, head coach Deion Sanders' continues to add more assets to Colorado's roster.
The roster has changed drastically since the spring game on April 22 as a wave of players departed the program into the transfer portal and a plethora of transfers (and 17 freshmen) have been brought this summer on to reinvent the program.
Sanders has 78 scholarships filled and 7 available to reach the 85-scholarship limit.
Transfer/JUCO additions since Sanders was hired: 51
RELATED: COLUMN: Coach Prime drama in high gear as Buffs flock to transfer portal | Breaking down Colorado's mass transfer portal exodus | Colorado Scholarship Distribution Chart | CU Transfer Portal Departures and Draft Entries
Below are all the new additions since spring ball concluded:
Updated July 10, 2023 1:03 p.m.
After turning heads at Colorado's post-grad camp on May 30, OL Jeremiah McCrimmon is committing to Colorado.
From Apex, North Carolina, McCrimmon moved around in his first two collegiate years. He first joined Mississippi State as a PWO in the fall of 2021. He took a redshirt his freshman year with the Bulldogs, then transferred to Coahoma Community College in 2022 and saw action in several games as a second-year freshman.
From Coahoma C.C., he found a new opportunity with the Buffs for the 2023 season.
At 6-foot-6, 304 pounds, McCrimmon provides offensive line coach Bill O'Boyle's group some additional size and depth. The Buffs' offensive line now has 14 scholarship players with McCrimmon's commitment.
Maine DL Khairi Manns was an explosive asset for the Black Bears last year recording 43 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. Kansas and Colorado were his final two schools and Colorado was the ultimate winner for Manns.
In 2021, he was one of Maine's most productive defensive linemen posting 42 tackles, 6 tackles for loss and 3 sacks.
Measuring in at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Manns comes to Colorado with two years of eligibility remaining and is the Buffs' sixth DL addition this spring.
Sanders and his staff successfully swayed Houston RB Alton McCaskill to Colorado after his visit to Boulder.
McCaskill was the All-AAC Rookie of the Year in 2021 after rushing for 961 yards with 16 touchdowns. After he led the Cougars running back room in yards and scoring, he was out the entire 2022 season due to an ACL tear.
Coming out of Oak Ridge High School in Texas, McCaskill received offers from schools such as Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida State and 26 other programs
He is the first running back addition on CU's roster during the spring window and the fourth scholarship back on the roster along with freshman Dylan Edwards, Anthony Hankerson and Kentucky transfer Kavosiey Smoke.
Northwestern State WR Javon Antonio was one of the Demons’ most productive pass catchers last year recording 64 catches for 684 yards and a team-high 6 touchdowns. Antonio was named to the Southland Conference All-Second Team last year.
In 2020, his debut season with the Demons, Antonio recorded 521 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Antonio will be entering his senior season with the Buffs adding some solid experience to the now 12-man WR room.
Florida State defensive back Travis Jay did not take the field in 2022 and has played in just 16 games in his career, but he comes to Colorado having once been a highly-coveted high school prospect. Jay was a four-star recruit in the 2019 class and ultimately earned offers from programs such as Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, Miami and Florida before deciding to stay close to home and play for the Seminoles.
Jay has played in 16 games throughout his career with three starts. He has collected 43 tackles in that time plus 3 interceptions and a forced fumble.
The 6-foot-2 defensive back is the fifth FSU player to join the Buffs this offseason alongside defensive lineman Bishop Thomas, edge rusher Derrick McLendon, linebacker Brendan Gant and fellow defensive back Omarion Cooper. All five players committed to CU this spring.
Jay is currently ranked as a 3-star transfer by Rivals and the 732nd-rated player on the list.
Colorado DE Chance Main left the program after the 2022 season, but he was granted a medical hardship waiver and entered the transfer portal on March 24.
Main was an important piece to the Buffs’ defense last season as he played in 12 games and recorded 27 tackles, 2.5 TFL and a .5 sack. He made his first start for Colorado against UCLA.
Main bulked up during the offseason, going from 240 pounds to 270 pounds. "I am not the same," Main said in a tweet announcing his decision. "What you saw last year is not what you’ll see this year."
JUCO DL Zach Blackwood started his college career at Northern Arizona then moved to Garden City C.C in Kansas.
Coming out of Desert Edge High School in Goodyear, Ariz., he signed on with Northern Arizona in 2021. He took a redshirt at NAU and then his production skyrocketed at Garden City as he finished the 2022 season with 42 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 6 TFL last season over 9 games.
Over the last year 18 schools have offered Blackwood, including Sanders when he was at Jackson State. Colorado was his only Power 5 offer.
Missouri defensive end Arden Walker was one of the best players in Colorado in the in the 2021 class, ranking sixth in the state.
As a true freshman, Arden saw action in four games and recorded 5 tackles. Last season, his action increased as he played in 12 games with two starts. He finished with 6 tackles and 1.5 TFL.
Before Mizzou, Walker trained alongside Denver Broncos pass rushers with his father Arthur Walker. His dad played with the Buffs in 1989 and was an all-conference defensive lineman.
Ole Miss DE and three-star transfer JJ Hawkins is making the move from the SEC to Colorado after his official visit over the weekend.
At Mississippi, he took a redshirt in his first season with the Rebels. In 2022, he saw action in four games and recorded 1 tackle, 1 tackle for loss and 1 sack.
He'll have three years to develop within the Buffs’ defensive line.
Liberty OL Reggie Young played for multiple programs in his five-year college football career.
Coming out of Edna Carr High School in New Orleans, Louisiana, Young started at Iowa Central Community College, moved to Northwestern State, and joined Liberty in 2022 as a transfer.
Young is the Buffs' 13th scholarship OL on the roster.
FSU DT Bishop Thomas saw limited action during his one year at FSU playing in two games last year and posting 1 tackle. He comes to the Buffs with four years of eligibility and plenty of time to develop alongside the Buffs deep DL group.
Bishop was four-star prospect -- ranking 25th at his position -- coming out of Bishop Moore High School in Orlando, Florida.
He's CU's fourth FSU transfer to join the team in the spring window.
Southern Utah safety Rodrick Ward rose the occasion at his previous home landing an All-WAC second team selection in 2022 following a season with 52 tackles and 4 interceptions.
Prior to SUU, Ward spent a year at Mt. San Jacinto College near Palm Springs, California where he he recorded 35 tackles in 9 games in 2018.
Ward led the conference with 11 pass breakups and tied for first with his 4 interceptions last year.
Baylor receiver Jaylen Ellis decommitted from West Virginia an hour before he committed to Colorado.
Injuries hindered Ellis during his four years at Baylor, but last season was his best year playing in five games and posting 3 catches for 154 yards receiving and a touchdown. In his career, he appeared in 16 games with one start.
Coming out of Round Rock, Texas, Ellis was ranked 51st at his position in the 2019 class and received 24 offers from programs like Oregon, Michigan, Colorado and others.
Ellis has two years of eligibility remaining to further develop his skills with Sanders and his staff.
Washington edge Sav'ell Smalls, a current Rivals200 transfer and the 48th-ranked player in the 2020 class, verbally committed to CU on Tuesday after his visit over the weekend.
Smalls was a reserve with the Huskies, accumulating 32 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and 3 QB hurries over 29 games. As he moves into his junior season, he'll likely have a more elevated role with the Buffs.
Smalls will be the sixth addition to a Buffs' edge group that includes grad transfer Jordan Domineck, juniors Deeve Harris, Derrick McLendon, Joshka Gustav and true freshman Taje McCoy.
In his commitment graphic, Smalls included an image (right) from when Sanders coached him at the Under Armour All-American game.
Auburn freshman WR Tar'Varish Dawson Jr. committed to Cincinnati not long ago on April 22. However, his recent visit to Boulder pushed him to flip his commitment to Colorado.
Dawson played in four games in his one-year stint at Auburn. He finished with 2 catches for 30 yards and 10 rushing yards on 2 attempts. He entered the portal with a three-star Rivals transfer rating.
Both Omarion Cooper and Dawson were coached by CU's director of player development James Chaney at Lehigh Senior High School. Despite his size, his speed and two-way ability are what made him a desirable player, ranking him as the 17th-best ATH in Florida. While playing at wide receiver and safety at Lehigh, he collected offers from Georgia Tech, Florida State, Miami, Illinois and 19 other programs.
Below are him and Cooper over the last weekend.
Florida State junior CB Omarion Cooper is the third Seminoles player this spring to make the move to Colorado. Among the many Florida faces being added to the roster, Cooper brings two years of experience to the Buffs’ stacked cornerback room.
During his time at FSU, he won the Devaughn Darling Defensive Freshman of the Year award in 2021 after recording 2 interceptions, 16 tackles and 4 pass breakups in his freshman season. One of those interceptions and the 4 pass breakups came against Miami, which led to him being recognized as the ACC Defensive Back of the Week and Rookie of the Week.
He appeared in 20 games and started in seven in his two years with the Seminoles. Four starts came last year as he finished his sophomore season with 14 tackles, 1 interception and 1 forced fumble.
Cooper was a sought after three-star prospect coming out of high school ranked as the 73rd-best player in Florida and 49th at his position. Colorado's new director of player development James Chaney, coached Cooper at Lehigh Senior High School in Lehigh Acres, Florida helping Cooper make a quick decision on his next program after entering the portal on April 28.
OL Kareem Harden is a 6-foot-4 and 315 pound redshirt freshman. He played in eight games in 2022 at Butler Community College.
He has room to grow into offensive line coach Bill O'Boyle's interior, but his size shows promise to provide some quality protection.
Sanders and his staff keep the Florida pipeline going with their first offensive addition, OL David Conner. Conner comes to Colorado with four years of eligibility and solid size to provide some depth on the offensive line.
Conner was a three-star prospect coming of out Deerfield Beach High School in Florida and is a three-star player in the Rivals transfer portal rankings.
Alabama CB Jahquez Robinson began to gain some reps at corner last season recording 1 TFL, 1 sack and two tackles over six games.
Alabama's secondary ran deep with names like DeMarcco Hellams, Brian Branch, Jordan Battle, Kool-Aid McKinstry and others in 2022. Coming into the Crimson Tide as a four-star from Jacksonville, Florida in 2020, he continued to compete for a more active role.
He visited CU fro Colorado's Black and Gold game on April 22 and he is now officially making the move to Colorado as a redshirt sophomore.
With the addition of Robinson, Colorado currently has 5 cornerbacks which include sophomores Travis Hunter and Kyndrich Breedlove and true freshman Cormani McClain and Carter Stoutmire.
Tennessee DT Amari McNeill saw some action with the Volunteers last season recording 3 tackles and 1 pass breakup over six games as a redshirt freshman. A three-star recruit out of Suwanee, Georgia in 2021, he was recruited as an offensive tackle, but then quickly switched to the defensive side of the ball.
McNeill comes to Colorado with three years of eligibility remaining. At 6-foot-4 and 285 pounds, he provides quality size for an interior defensive lineman.
FSU LB Brendan Gant and Old Dominion DT Chazz Wallace have followed FSU DL Derrick McLendon with their Colorado commitments on Wednesday. All three visited Boulder for the spring game last weekend.
Gant originally was a four-star safety prospect in the 2019 recruiting class out of Lakeland, Florida. He played in 43 games with six starts over four years at Florida State (totaling 68 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, a sack and an interception) and has one year of eligibility remaining. He played 178 defensive snaps last fall for the Seminoles.
Chazz Wallace is reuniting with his former Old Dominion teammate Deeve Harris.
Wallace was a two-star recruit from the 2020 class. He played in 10 games with one start last season for Old Dominion, totaling 20 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and a half sack.
He has 45 career tackles to go with 3 TFL and 2.5 sacks. He'll have two years of eligibility.
Derrick McLendon, who was the first transfer addition to announce Wednesday, played in 38 games over the last four years at Florida State, emerging as a full-time starter last season for the first time.
He had 37 tackles, 5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks for the Seminoles in 2022.
Despite his experience, he has two years of eligibility remaining as he only played in four games in 2019 (redshirting) and with the free COVID year from 2020
With limited depleted depth on the defensive line as of now, McLendon should have a good chance to earn a starting role with the Buffs.
Kentucky S Vito Tisdale committed to Colorado on April 22 --- the Black and Gold spring game.
He experienced a severe knee injury during spring ball last season that put him out for the fall. Before the injury he was very active for the Wildcats' secondary playing in 19 games and recording 41 tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack.
