Can Colorado replicate their pass rush despite several key departures?

[ASFN Admin]

If it wasn't Travis Hunter or Shedeur Sanders making plays for the Colorado Buffaloes last year, it was the defensive line.

The Buffs' pass rush led the Big 12 with 39 total sacks on the season. BJ Green II led the team in sacks with 7.5. Green brought hardware home for his pass rush last year, earning All-Big 12 First-Team Honors. Green is now a likely NFL draft pick.

The two others below Green on the depth chart were Arden Walker, Taje McCoy and Keaten Wade. Out of the top four sack leaders for the Buffaloes last season, Green graduating and McCoy transferring leave room for players to step up on the edge.

For the big nasties in the middle, the Buffs brought in transfer Jehiem Oatis from Alabama and have Amari McNeill returning for his senior season.

With leading pass rushers out the door, who will step up in Colorado's pass rush? Will the pass rush be as dominant this season as it was last season? With the addition of Oatis, can the Buffs stop the run in 2025?

Here is our eighth pre-spring game position preview, a series in which we will examine all the major contributors across all position groups and break down how Colorado's roster might look. Let's take a look at one of the deepest position groups CU has heading into 2025.

Check out our other spring position previews: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Offensive Line, Cornerbacks and Linebackers.

DE Arden Walker​

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While two of the top three pass rushers last season left, Walker is still with the Buffs. The Colorado native had a career year in 2024, ending the season with 33 total tackles and six-and-a-half tackles for loss, along with his four-and-a-half sacks. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the second-highest ranked edge player in the Big 12. The ceiling is high entering his senior year, and he could be the pass rusher the Buffs need with Green leaving.

DT Jehiem Oatis​

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Oatis seemed like a star in his first two seasons with the Crimson Tide, before he opted out for the remainder of 2024 and entered the transfer portal. During his time in Tuscaloosa, he tallied 57 tackles and one-and-a-half sacks. The Buffs brought in the 6-foot-5 lineman in the winter and hope to see a resurgence from him to help the run defense.

DT Gavriel Lightfoot​

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With the Buffs having versatile options at tackle, Lightfoot provides the Buffs with their best run-stopping ability. Coming from Fresno State, in 2024, he tallied 37 tackles as he was the run-stopper for the Bulldogs. For a defense that allowed 151.4 rushing yards per game in 2024, his addition should help the Buffs stop the run.

DE Keaton Wade​

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After dealing with injuries in the spring, Wade is expected to have a major role in the pass rush this season. In 2024, he missed the first six games of the season and had a breakout second half. Injust 105 snaps, he tallied seven-and-a-half TFLs with four sacks. With Green and McCoy leaving, Wade can step into a more significant role, pending any setbacks.

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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Everything to know about Colorado's defensive line before spring game

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