Cree Thomas transferred to Colorado this offseason from a blue-blood program.

The former Notre Dame cornerback spent his true freshman season with the Fighting Irish, who play every one of their games on national television and finished the 2025 campaign on a 10-game winning streak. Despite the visibility that a perennial powerhouse program like Notre Dame provides, there’s still an adjustment to the spotlight in Boulder playing for Deion Sanders.

“The microscope that’s put on us because of Coach Prime and everything is definitely different but I wouldn’t ask for anything less,” Cree Thomas told DNVR at Big 12 media day. “I think it’s amazing. It really gives us a platform to be able to show who we are on and off the field.”

Thomas played in just three games as a true freshman for Notre Dame last season but he sat behind and learned from one of the best cornerbacks in the country. Leonard Moore was a first-team AP All-American in 2025 and is the top cornerback prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Cree Thomas didn’t sulk on the sidelines while waiting on his turn. Instead, he soaked up as much game from Moore as he could so that he’d be ready when it was his time to shine.

That time is now.

“God’s timing is everything,” Cree Thomas told DNVR. “It was obviously difficult for me to be on the sidelines but I was behind an All-American corner, some say the best corner in college football. He taught me so much and I learned so much last season.

“I was the freshman asking him to watch film, asking him to go out and get extra reps. I’m just thankful that I finally get to showcase what I could do.”

Thomas will get ample opportunity to put his talent on display in 2026. Coach Prime stamped Thomas this spring, saying “he’s that guy. He’s the No. 1 (cornerback) right now.”

Cornerbacks coach Aaron Fletcher said in March that Thomas “has a point to prove. He’s more of a leader than what he knows.”

Colorado had the third-fewest interceptions (six) in the Big 12 last season and Thomas is viewed as a player who can improve that total.

However, it’s not just his elite ball skills that have people in Boulder so excited. It’s his rare leadership for such a young player. That became crystal clear when Thomas was one of just six Buffs to represent Colorado at Big 12 media days.

“I’m a young player but at the end of the day, I know the player that I can be and the player that God has called me to be,” Cree Thomas told DNVR. “I didn’t expect to come in here and just be another guy.

“Coach Prime told me on my visit don’t fit in, fit out so that’s what I’m trying to do. I’ve been trying to establish myself every day as a leader and someone who could help this team.”

Thomas is expected to start for Colorado at cornerback this fall opposite of Tennessee transfer Boo Carter, another ultra-talented defensive back. Vanderbilt transfer Randon Fontenette and New Mexico State transfer Naeten Mitchell (also a Big 12 media day representative) are slated to start to be the Buffs’ starting safeties.

Who will start at nickel/slot cornerback remains a mystery but Colorado has a few solid options (JMU transfer Justin Eaglin, Indiana transfer Jah Jah Boyd and a couple impressive true freshmen). Whomever it ends up being, they’ll be part of a unit that Thomas believes has no ceiling.

“I think we’re capable of being the best secondary in the country,” Cree Thomas told DNVR. “I don’t think there’s any reason why we can’t be.

“The way that we came together, the way that we play together, our play styles match each other’s, we’re good at communicating and all of us are ready to go make a play, we’re ready to go change the game. I’m ready to be able to showcase that with my brothers.”

Cree Thomas was arguably the biggest winner of spring football, racking up five interceptions in the first two practices. He isn’t going to let that be the high point of his year, though.

“I don’t pay spring any mind of what I did because at the end of the day, I haven’t proven myself on a Saturday,” Cree Thomas said. “I feel like I owe it to Buff Nation to go out there and ball on Saturdays before we get to talking about any of that.”

Follow Colorado Buffaloes beat reporter Scott Procter on X.