Senior safety Shilo Sanders is well known on the Colorado football team as a trash talker, so it’s no surprise that he gets on the offensive line when he can.
But, he does it in part because he respects the response from the big guys up front.
“I’ll be talking junk to them,” Sanders said last week during Big 12 media day in Las Vegas. “I talk junk to them because they be matching it. Them guys be getting in a fight with somebody every day. That’s a good sign. That means you’re gonna compete. That means you’re gonna fight hard to win. Last year was not like that.”
Leading up to preseason camp, BuffZone.com will preview each position group for the CU football team and in this first installment, we look at the offensive line, which Sanders said has “a way new attitude.”
That’s because it’s a way new group.
Players who accounted for 53 of the 60 starts up front last year are no longer with the team. One graduated, but most of them transferred.
For some teams, the lack of returning experience could be a concern, but for the Buffs there was no question that an upgrade needed to be made up front. CU gave up a school-record 56 sacks, and the Buffs were last in the country in rushing offense. No quarterback in the country was sacked more than Shedeur Sanders (52 times).
Head coach Deion Sanders made it clear last season that the Buffs would be utilizing the transfer portal to fix the offensive line, and he certainly did that.
CU added nine transfers, in addition to signing the No. 1 offensive line recruit in the 2024 class, Jordan Seaton. Of the nine transfers, five were full-time starters at the FBS level last year. In all, the transfer group has a combined 96 career starts at the FBS level and 11 more at the FCS level.
It is a group that has bonded well with Shedeur Sanders this offseason, and there is confidence in that group that they are better than what CU had a year ago.
“You’ve got leaders on there,” Shedeur said. “You got guys that’s not gonna accept being mediocre.”
The best of the new bunch might be Justin Mayers, a 24-game starter at UTEP the past two years. He was All-Conference USA honorable mention twice for the Miners.
The group also includes Kahlil Benson, who allowed one sack in 12 starts with Indiana last year; and Tyler Johnson, who started 22 games for Houston in the past two years, allowing a total of two sacks.
Phillip Houston (Florida International) and Yakiri Walker (Connecticut) were also full-time starters last year at their previous schools.
Every one of those transfers will have to fight for starting roles, however, because CU has ramped up the competition with its roster moves this offseason. In the spring, only two transfers – Benson at right tackle and Mayers at right guard – were in the starting lineup.
The most high-profile newcomer is Seaton, ranked the No. 1 offensive line prospect in the country by 247Sports.com. Although just a true freshman, Seaton spent the spring in the starting role at left tackle and Shedeur has confidence in him.
“Jordan looks real good,” Shedeur said. “I’m excited for Jordan. He’s learned a lot just overall, just even in life, here being at Colorado, so I’m really excited for him.”
While there aren’t many returning players to the offensive line, two returners are expected to play integral roles.
Senior Tyler Brown, who had to sit out the 2023 season after transferring from Jackson State because of a now-outdated NCAA rule, spent the spring starting at left guard. Possibly the strongest player on the team, he was an FCS All-American at JSU in 2022 and is eager to play his first game with the Buffs.
At center, sophomore Hank Zilinskas is penciled in as the starter. The Cherry Creek High School graduate started two games last year and has built a good rapport with Shedeur Sanders.
Senior Kareem Harden (five starts in 2023) leads a big and talented group that provides depth.
Position: Offensive line
Returners with 2023 starts: Kareem Harden, 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, Sr. (5 starts); Hank Zilinskas, 6-3, 285, So. (2 starts).
Other returners: Tyler Brown, 6-3, 310, Sr.; Ben Reznik, 6-6, 295, Jr. (walk-on).
Transfers: Kahlil Benson, 6-6, 305, Jr. (Indiana); Ethan Boyd, 6-7, 325, Jr. (Michigan State); Phillip Houston, 6-5, 250, Sr. (Florida International); Wyatt Hummel, 6-6, 315, Sr. (Villanova); Tyler Johnson, 6-5, 325, Sr. (Houston); Payton Kirkland, 6-6, 350, Fr. (Texas); Justin Mayers, 6-4, 320, Sr. (UTEP); Zach Owens, 6-6, 375, Fr. (Clemson); Yakiri Walker, 6-2, 270, Jr. (Connecticut).
True freshmen: Yahya Attia, 6-4, 330; Jordan Seaton, 6-5, 285; Cash Cleveland, 6-3, 300 (walk-on).
Key losses: Jack Bailey (transferred to Northwestern); Landon Bebee (graduated); Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan (transferred to Oregon State); Savion Washington (transferred to Syracuse); Van Wells (transferred to Oregon State); Jack Wilty (transferred to South Florida).
