Five Buffs poised to become stars in 2020

The Colorado Buffaloes are losing their biggest star in years, as wide receiver Laviska Shenault leaves Boulder early to enter the NFL Draft.

Now, the spotlight is wide open and a handful of Buffs are capable of taking it over.

NATE LANDMAN

This one is easy.

Colorado’s star linebacker disappointed in 2019. He struggled in pass coverage, he ran a defense that couldn’t pull itself together until the season’s final few weeks, and he only had one-third of the sacks plus tackles for loss that he had in 2018.

Nate Landman was also named first-team All-Pac-12.

That’s the type of talent we’re dealing with here.

In a down year, Landman was one of the two best at his position in the conference. In 2020, his second year in this defense, expect him to be one of the top linebackers in the nation.

K.D. NIXON

It’s finally K.D. Nixon’s show.

The senior wideout has been in the shadow of a few different receivers, from Shay Fields to Bryce Bobo to Tony Brown to, most notably, Laviska Shenault.

Now, though, it’s Nixon’s time to be the top dog.

With Shenault and quarterback Steven Montez headed for the NFL Draft, Nixon will be the face of the offense, at least until quarterback Brendon Lewis takes over. That could be midseason or it could be after Nixon graduates. Either way, Nixon will have a chance to stand where he belongs, in the middle of the spotlight.

Don’t be surprised if Nixon takes on some of Shenault’s responsibilities as a running back or wildcat quarterback.

JALEN SAMI

At 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds, Jalen Sami’s athleticism gives him virtually unlimited upside.

The Colorado Springs-native’s 2019 campaign will likely be remembered for the touchdown-saving tackle he made on the punt coverage unit, but there was plenty more to like.

Sami was a stalwart as a nose tackle for most of the year, holding down the A-gaps without being pushed around. By the end of the year, he began to penetrate the gaps and become a defensive weapon, not just a player who could handle his own job.

If Sami continues to progress under new defensive line coach Chris Wilson, he could make the jump to All-Pac-12 in his redshirt-sophomore season.

WILLIAM SHERMAN

The best tackle prospect to come through Boulder since Nate Solder is on-campus and primed to break out.

There’s room for some debate, given that David Bakhtiari was drafted in the fourth round in that timeframe, but William Sherman has the potential to be selected even earlier.

Sherman, who is entering his junior year, may not have first-round length at 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, but he should still be chosen in the 2021 draft if he decides to declare early.

Sherman is strong, athletic and smart, and the Buffs will likely be running the ball behind him all season.

KJ TRUJILLO

Colorado’s secondary was destroyed by injuries in 2019, but there was a massive silver lining: K.J. Trujillo broke out as a playmaker at cornerback in his true freshman season.

He was far from perfect in his first collegiate season but even when he gave up a catch, Trujillo was typically within a few feet of knocking the ball away.

Now, Trujillo has a full offseason to put on weight — he was only 165 pounds in 2019 — and work on his ball skills.

The sky is the limit for the young defensive back who could take the Pac-12 by storm as a 19-year-old.