Coach Prime Tracker: The latest recruiting and transfer portal news for Colorado football in 2023

There has been a lot of information flying around when it comes to Coach Prime, his staff and which players are joining or leaving CU. To help make sense of it all and consolidate all that information in one place, here is the Prime Tracker.

This article will be updated often and the latest updates will be moved to the top and bolded.

5/7 update: Since the last update on 5/3, Colorado has earned five transfer portal commitments: two wide receivers, one defensive lineman, one offensive lineman and one safety. Colorado currently has 71 scholarship players out of 85.

Transfer Portal players in and out

Transfers In (42)

Reggie Young II, OL via Liberty

6-4, 270 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on April 17th. Committed to CU on May 7th. Was a 2022 three-star JUCO recruit after playing at Northwestern State going back to 2018. Played in nine games last season for the Flames.

Bishop Thomas, DL via Florida State

6-2, 290 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on April 28th. Committed to CU on May 7th. Was a 2022 three-star recruit out of Orlando, FL. Only played in two games last season and took a redshirt. Was named FSU Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year.

Rodrick Ward, S via Southern Utah

5-11, 180 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on April 6th. Committed to CU on May 7th. Has played at Southern Utah since 2019 with his best season coming last year. In 2022, Ward earned second-team All-WAC honors and had 52 total tackles, one sack, 11 passes defended and four interceptions.

Jaylen Ellis, WR via Baylor

6-3, 184 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on April 18th. Committed to West Virginia on April 25th before flipping to CU on May 6th. Was a 247 Sports four-star recruit and a 247 Sports Composite three-star 2019 recruit. Saw limited playing time while at Baylor but had six catches for 198 yards and one touchdown in his three seasons as a Bear.

EJ Horton, WR via Marshall

6-0, 180 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on April 15th. Committed to CU on May 4th. Was a 2020 three-star recruit out of Charleston, SC. He took a redshirt in 2020 before playing in two games in 2021 and then played in 12 games in 2022 producing 12 receptions for 186 yards and one touchdown.

Sav’ell Smalls, EDGE via Washington

6-3, 259 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on April 17th. Committed to CU on May 2nd. Was a 2020 five-star recruit out of Burien, WA. He was rated the 30th overall player and the 5th player at his position according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. Smalls played in 29 games while at Washington compiling 32 total tackles and one TFL

Tar’Varish Dawson, WR via Auburn

5-10, 161 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on April 15th. Committed to Cincinnati on April 22nd before visiting CU the next weekend and eventually flipping to Colorado on May 1st. Was a 2021 four-star recruit out of Lehigh Acres. Dawson played alongside Omarion Cooper and under James Chaney at Lehigh Senior High School. Dawson saw limited playing time while at Auburn only charting five receptions for 30 yards. While in high school, Dawson played wide receiver, running back, cornerback, safety and quarterback.

Omarion Cooper, CB via Florida State

6-0, 188 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on April 27th. Committed to CU on May 1st. Was a 2021 four-star recruit out of Lehigh Acres, FL. Cooper played for Colorado’s Director of Player Development, James Chaney when he was the head coach at Lehigh Senior High School. In his two seasons at Florida State, Cooper played in 20 games making seven starts. In that time, Cooper had 30 total tackles, seven passes defended, three interceptions and one forced fumble.

David Conner, OT via Florida

6-5, 295 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on April 20th. Committed to CU on April 29th after visiting Colorado that day. Was a 2022 three-star recruit out of Deerfield Beach, FL. He did not play in a game and took a redshirt last year in his only season as a Gator.

Jahquez Robinson, CB via Alabama

6-2, 199 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on April 18th. Committed to CU on April 29th after visiting for Colorado’s spring game the weekend prior. Was a 2020 four-star recruit out of Jacksonville, FL. Robinson took a redshirt season in 2020, played in one game in 2021 and played in six games last year with only two total tackles, .5 TFL and .5 sack.

Amari McNeil, DL via Tennessee

6-4, 285 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on April 21st. Committed to CU on April 27th. Was a 2021 three-star OT recruit who played both offensive and defensive line in high school. Once he arrived in Knoxville, he was moved to the defensive line during his first year at Tennessee. Took a redshirt season in 2021 and played in six games last year with only three total tackles.

Brendan Gant, LB via Florida State

6-2, 200 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on April 17th. Committed to CU on April 26th. Was a 2019 four-star safety recruit out of Lakeland, FL. Played in 34 games for the Seminoles dating back to 2019. In those four seasons, Gant compiled 112 total tackles, 5.5 TFLs, one sack, two passes defended and one forced fumble. He was moved to linebacker last season and will continue to play as a linebacker in Boulder.

Chazz Wallace, DT via Old Dominion

6-2, 295 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on April 17th. Committed to CU on April 26th. Was a 2019 three-star recruit. Played in 23 of 25 games played by Old Dominion in the last two years. In those two seasons, Wallace had 46 total tackles, four TFLs and two sacks.

Derrick McLendon, DE via Florida State

6-4, 245 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on March 28th. Committed to CU on April 26th. Was a 2019 three-star recruit. Appeared in all 25 games the last two seasons for the Seminoles. In those two seasons, McLendon produced 53 total tackles, 9.5 TFLs and seven sacks.

Vito Tisdale, S via Kentucky

6-1, 176 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on April 15th. Committed to CU on April 22nd. Was a 2020 three-star recruit. Tisdale played in 19 total games from 2020-2021 accumulating 39 total tackles, two TFLs, one sack and one pass defended. He missed the 2022 season after suffering an ACL tear in his right knee.

Willie Gaines, WR via Jackson State

5-10, 165 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on April 17th. Committed to CU on April 18th. Was a 2019 three-star recruit who committed to Toledo. Gaines left the program after 2020 and played for Dodge City Community College before joining Jackson State in 2022. He was JSU’s fourth-leading receiver last year with 27 receptions for 446 yards and five touchdowns.

Deeve Harris, DE via Old Dominion

6-2, 233 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on April 15th and committed to CU on the same day. Was a 2019 three-star recruit from St. Louis, MO. He committed to Minnesota and only played in three games through 2020 before entering the portal after the season. He then committed to Old Dominion and appeared in 23 games over the last two seasons. Last year for the Monarchs, Harris had 32 total tackles, four tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, one pass defended and one interception that he returned for a touchdown.

Jack Bailey, OG via Kent State

6-3, 280 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on April 4th. Committed to CU on April 7th. Was a 2019 two-star recruit from Willoughby, OH. He contributed to Kent State’s offensive line rotation in spurts in 2020, started 6 games for the Golden Flashes in 2021 and started in every game but one for Kent State last season.

Xavier Weaver, WR via USF

6-1, 180 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on December 30th. Committed to CU on February 22nd. Was a 2019 three-star recruit from Orlando, FL. He was USF’s leading receiver for the last two seasons. In 2021 he had 41 receptions for 715 yards and two touchdowns. Last season he had 53 receptions for 718 yards and six touchdowns while only playing in nine games.

Demouy Kennedy, LB via Alabama

6-3, 220 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on January 17th. Committed to CU on February 1st. Was a 2020 four-star inside linebacker recruit from Theodore, AL. He primarily played special teams at Alabama and received some reps at running back. Suffered a season-ending lower-body injury against Arkansas in 2022. Only played in 11 games in his three years at Alabama.

Kyndrich Breedlove, CB via Ole Miss

5-11, 180 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on January 13th. Committed to CU on January 16th. Was a 2021 three-star commit who only played special teams for the Rebels. 

Jordan Domineck, EDGE via Arkansas

6-3, 250 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on January 2nd. Committed to CU on January 15th after visiting Colorado that weekend. Was a 2018 three-star recruit that committed to Georgia Tech and played for the Yellow Jackets until 2021. In his time at Georgia Tech, he charted 103 total tackles, 17.5 TFLs, 16.5 sacks, 2 passes defended and five forced fumbles. Transferred to Arkansas for the 2022 season and had 34 total tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Check out this Buffs Film Room breaking down Domineck’s game.

Kavosiey Smoke, RB via Kentucky

5-9, 210 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on December 1st. Committed to CU on January 11th after visiting the prior weekend. In his five seasons as a Kentucky Wildcat Smoke rushed for 1583 yards on 291 attempts (5.4 yards per carry) for 13 touchdowns. He was originally a three-star 2018 recruit.

Myles Slusher, S via Arkansas

6-0, 195 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on December 5th. Initially committed to Louisville on December 19th before visiting CU and flipping his commitment to the Buffs on January 8th. Suffered a calf injury against Alabama in 2022 that derailed his season. Played in 11 games, starting 8 for the Razorbacks in 2021. In his three years at Arkansas Slusher charted 93 total tackles, 9 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 5 passes defended and 2 forced fumbles. He was originally a 2020 four-star recruit.

Jace Feely, K via Arizona State

6-0, 215 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on December 5th. Committed to CU on January 6th. Was a 2021 recruit that was rated five-stars according to Kohl’s Kicking. Played punter and kicker in high school Committed to Arizona State and was redshirted for 2021. In 2022, he only had one punt for 37 yards and went 1/1 on his extra-point attempts.

Jeremiah Brown, LB via Jackson State

6-2, 220 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on December 19th. Committed to CU on December 29th. Was a 2021 three-star recruit that originally committed to Florida Atlantic but flipped to JSU in December 2020. In 2022 he had 46 total tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, 6 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and blocked one kick.

Leonard Payne, DL via Fresno State

6-3, 310 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on December 26th. Committed to CU on December 29th. Was a two-star 2018 recruit according to 247Sports.com. Over the last two seasons, Payne had 5.5 sacks combined.

Alejandro Mata, K via Jackson State

5-9, 180 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on December 19th. Committed to Colorado on December 27th. Last year, in his freshman season he made 12 of 13 field goals and 50/51 PATs with both misses having been blocked. His career-long field goal is 38 yards.

Mark Vassett, P via Louisville

6-4, 220 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on December 19th. Committed to CU on December 26th. Vassett is from Melbourne, Australia and was a 2021 three-star recruit that committed to Louisville. In his first year as the punter for the Cardinals, Vassett set a new Louisville record for punting average in a season with 44.6 yards per punt.

Jimmy Horn Jr., WR via South Florida

5-10, 174 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on November 29th. Committed to CU on December 25th. At South Florida, Horn earned First Team All-AAC honors as a kick returner in 2022. On offense, he had 37 receptions for 551 yards and 3 TDs and also added 9 rushes for 95 yards and 1 TD. He was a 2021 three-star recruit and gathered offers from Georgia, Tennessee and Jackson State. In high school, he was a track star. He won four medals at the 2021 Class 8A State Track and Field Championships in Florida. He was a part of the state champion 4X100-meter relay team and won the long jump.

Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig, S via Jackson State

5-10, 175 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on December 18th. Committed to CU on December 22nd. Played for Coach Prime at Trinity Christian HS before following him and committing to JSU in 2021. Was JSU’s second-leading tackler in 2022 with 43 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT and 1 forced fumble.

Travis Hunter, WR/CB via Jackson State

6-1, 165 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on December 18th. Committed to CU on December 21st. The number one overall recruit in the 2022 class. Was committed to Florida State until signing day when he flipped to Coach Prime and JSU. In his first year in college, Hunter had 14 total tackles, 7 passes defended, 2 INTs (one pick-six) as a defensive back; 14 receptions for 143 yards and 2 TDs as a wide receiver. In the Celebration Bowl against NC Central, Hunter shined as a wide receiver. He had two touchdowns including a 17-yard TD reception to tie the game as the fourth quarter expired. Hunter struggled with injuries in 2022 but was graded out as PFF’s sixth highest-graded player from HBCUs with an 85.8 grade.

Tyler Brown, OT via Jackson State

6-3, 320 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on December 19th. Committed to CU on December 21st. He was a 2019 two-star recruit that committed to Louisiana. Did not play in 2019 but played in 10 games for the Ragin’ Cajuns in 2020 when the unit was nominated for the Joe Moore Award, presented to the best offensive line in the country. Was a first-team All-SWAC player for JSU in 2022. Watch our interview with Tyler Brown here.

Shedeur Sanders, QB via Jackson State

6-2, 215 lbs

Entered the transfer portal on December 17th and announced his arrival in Boulder on December 21st. Sanders is a 2020 four-star recruit and is the son of Deion Sanders. In 2022, he completed 70.6% of his passes for 3732 yards, 40 TDs and 6 INTs. Also added 6 TDs on the ground. For more on Sanders’ game, check out our Buffs Film Room on him.

Landon Bebee, OL via Missouri State

6-3, 295 lbs

A graduate transfer that has played at Missouri State for the last five years. He was named second-team All-MVFC in 2022 and 2021.  He was a three-star recruit in the 2018 class according to 247sports.com.

Shane Cokes, DE via Dartmouth

6-3, 275 lbs

A graduate transfer that has played the last four years at Dartmouth. He was named second-team All-Ivy League in 2021 and 2022. Over the last two seasons, he had 85 tackles, 8.5 sacks, one pass defended and one forced fumble.

Savion Washington, OT via Kent State

6-8, 340 lbs

A three-star recruit in the 2020 class. Reunites with former Kent State head coach and offensive line coach, Sean Lewis and Bill O’Boyle, in Boulder with Coach Prime. In 2022, Washington earned a PFF grade of 75.9. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

LaVonta Bentley, LB via Clemson

6-0, 235 lbs

A four-star recruit in the 2019 class, has played at Clemson for the last four seasons. Through four seasons, Bentley racked up 73 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, two passes defended and two forced fumbles in 417 defensive snaps across 40 career games (two starts).

Taijh Alston, EDGE via West Virginia

6-4, 255 lbs

A three-star JUCO recruit from the 2019 class. In 2017, he committed to and enrolled at East Carolina University but then transferred to Copiah Lincoln Community College before the 2017 season. He played there through the 2018 season before enrolling at West Virginia in January 2019. Suffered a season-ending injury early in the 2019 season that held him out of the 2020 season. Finally healthy in 2021, Alston started 12 games for the Mountaineers and finished second on the team in tackles for a loss (11). He played the entire season for WVU in 2022. Over the last two seasons, Alston had 54 total tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks and 3 forced fumbles.

JUCO Transfers

Kareem Harden, OT via Butler Community College

6-5, 314 lbs

Committed to CU on April 30th. Played the last two seasons at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas. Played in one game and used a redshirt in 2021 before playing in eight games last season.

Jack Wilty, OL via Iowa Central Community College

6-4, 305 lbs

Was a 2020 recruit that committed to Northern Illinois. Transferred to Iowa Central C.C. before the 2022 season and earned JUCO All-American honors last season.

Isaiah Jatta, OL via Snow College

6-6, 310 lbs

Played at JUCO Snow College for the last two seasons and was a highly sought-after JUCO transfer. He played guard and tackle last year. He committed to South Carolina on June 24th, decommitted on December 13th and committed to Colorado on December 21st.

Transfers out (56)

TE Seydou Traore – entered the transfer portal on April 30th. Transferred in on December 25th from Arkansas State.

CB Nigel Bethel Jr. – entered the transfer portal on April 27th.

DL Mason Maddox – entered the transfer portal on April 26th.

EDGE Taylor Upshaw – entered the transfer portal on April 26th. Transferred in on January 14th from Michigan.

OT Jake Wiley – entered the transfer portal on April 26th.

QB Drew Carter – entered the transfer portal on April 26th.

OL Yousef Mugharbil – entered the transfer portal on April 26th. Transferred in on January 7th from Florida.

OL Luke Eckardt – entered the transfer portal on April 26th.

OT Travis Gray – entered the transfer portal on April 25th.

LB Zion Magalei – entered the transfer portal on April 25th.

CB Tayvion Beasley – entered the transfer portal on April 25th. Transferred in on December 31st from Jackson State. The first player that Coach Prime brought in that has re-entered the portal.

LB Mister Williams – entered the transfer portal on April 25th.

DL Jalen Sami – entered the transfer portal on April 25th.

WR Ty Robinson – entered the transfer portal on April 24th.

S Jeremy Mack Jr. – entered the transfer portal on April 24th.

RB Victor Venn – entered the transfer portal on April 24th.

S Xavier Smith – entered the transfer portal on April 24th.

DE Aaron Austin – entered the transfer portal on April 24th.

WR Grant Page – entered the transfer portal on April 24th.

LB Aubrey Smith – entered the transfer portal on April 24th.

OL Alex Harkey – entered the transfer portal on April 24th.

RB Deion Smith – entered the transfer portal on April 24th.

OLB Devin Grant – entered the transfer portal on April 24th.

S Oakie Salave’a – entered the transfer portal on April 24th.

CB Jason Oliver – entered the transfer portal on April 24th.

WR Jordyn Tyson – entered the transfer portal on April 24th.

S Tyrin Taylor – entered the transfer portal on April 24th.

LB Shakaun Bowser – entered the transfer portal on April 24th.

OL Jackson Anderson – entered the transfer portal on April 24th.

WR Chase Sowell – entered the transfer portal on April 23rd.

WR Montana Lemonious-Craig – entered the transfer portal on April 23rd.

CB Joshua Wiggins – entered the transfer portal on April 20th.

TE Zach Courtney – entered the transfer portal on April 19th.

DL Na’Im Rodman – entered the transfer portal on April 19th.

DL Allan Baugh – entered the transfer portal on April 19th.

CB Simeon Harris – entered the transfer portal on April 17th.

DL Tyas Martin – entered the transfer portal on April 17th.

DL Ryan Williams – entered the transfer portal on April 17th.

LB Kaden Ludwick – entered the transfer portal on April 16th.

RB Jayle Stacks – entered the transfer portal on April 15th.

CB Nikko Reed – entered the transfer portal on April 15th.

TE Austin Smith – entered the transfer portal on April 15th.

S Dylan Dixson – entered the transfer portal on April 15th.

CB Keyshon Mills – entered the transfer portal on April 15th.

QB J.T. Shrout – committed to Arkansas State on January 30th.

WR Maurice Bell – entered the transfer portal on January 17th.

K Cole Becker – committed to Utah on January 6th.

QB Maddox Kopp – committed to Miami (OH) on January 5th.

QB Brendon Lewis – committed to Nevada on December 24th.

OL Noah Fenske – committed to Southern Illinois on December 21st.

QB Owen McCown – committed to UTSA on December 21st.

WR Chase Penry – committed to Boise State on December 20th.

WR Jack Hestera- committed to Charlotte on December 19th.

OL Casey Roddick – committed to Florida State on December 18th.

OL Austin Johnson – committed to Charlotte on December 15th. Johnson reunites with 2022 offensive line coach Kyle DeVan at Charlotte.

CB Kaylin Moore – committed to Cal on December 10th.

JSU players that could become Buffs

WR Shane Hooks – Entered the transfer portal on December 21st as a graduate transfer. Committed to Ole Miss on April 20th before decommitting on April 28th. He has graduated from Jackson State and is ready to commit to his next team. He was Jackson State’s leading receiver in 2022 with 64 receptions for 748 yards and 10 touchdowns.

RB, Sy’veon Wilkerson – Entered the transfer portal on April 17th. Was a three-star 2020 recruit according to 247 Sports and is from Olney, MD. He was JSU’s leading rusher last season with 1,167 yards rushing on 226 attempts with nine touchdowns. He also added 21 receptions for 160 yards and one touchdown.

S, Shilo Sanders – Entered the transfer portal on December 17th as a graduate transfer. 2019 three-star recruit who committed to South Carolina. Entered the transfer portal after the 2020 season and joined his father, Deion Sanders, at Jackson State.

Recruiting Classes

Class of 2024

Four-star DL Eric Brantley Jr. – from Valdosta High School in Valdosta, GA and is listed at 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds. Brantley is a four-star prospect according to On3, 247Sports.com has Brantley listed as a three-star along with their Composite Rankings. He has earned offers from Arkansas, Ole Miss, NC State and Jackson State along with 19 others.

Four-star DL Omar White – Sports Illustrated reported on March 7th that White was arrested and is facing three felony charges related to shootings in Georgia. from Valdosta High School in Valdosta, GA and is listed at 6-foot-3, 307 pounds. Committed to Colorado on December 26th. He was recruited by Alabama and Charles Kelly. Other than Alabama and CU, White earned 26 other offers including Texas, Clemson, Georiga and Michigan.

Three-star QB Danny O’Neil – from Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, IN and is listed at 6-foot, 185 pounds. Committed to Colorado on March 21st. He had 18 other offers including Kentucky, Louisville, Wisconsin and Cincinnati. Last season as a junior, O’Neil threw for 2654 yards completing 63% of his passes for 32 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. He also added 293 rushing yards on 129 carries scoring nine touchdowns.

Three-star IOL Talan Chandler – from Nevada High School in Nevada, MO and is listed at 6-foot-3.5 and 292 pounds. Committed to Colorado on February 3rd after visiting for Junior Day the weekend before.

Class of 2023

All the information you need to know about the 2023 class can be found here.

Class of 2025

Five-star WR Winston Watkins Jr.

Coaching and recruiting staff

HC: Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders (JSU) – Head coach of Jackson State from 2000-2022. Lead JSU to SWAC titles in 2021 and 2022 going undefeated in conference both seasons. Over the last two recruiting cycles, Coach Prime has earned commitments from six four-star recruits and one five-star, Travis Hunter, who was the number one overall recruit in 2022. Has brought in 34 players to JSU via the transfer portal over the last two seasons.

OC/QB: Sean Lewis (Kent State) – Kent State head coach from 2018-2022. Created and called one of the best offenses in the country when Dustin Krum was under center for the Golden Flashes. Former Wisconsin Badger tight-end who will only be 37 years old when the 2023 season kicks off. To learn more about Lewis’ offense, check out this Buffs Film Room.

DC/S: Charles Kelly (Alabama) – Kelly spent the last four seasons as Alabama’s associate defensive coordinator and safeties coach. Before that, he joined Florida State in 2013 and was the Seminoles’ linebackers coach and special teams coordinator as the team went 14-0 and won the National Championship. He was promoted to defensive coordinator following the 2013 season and filled that role through 2017. He then spent a season as Tennessee’s special teams coordinator and safeties coach in 2018 before moving on to Alabama. He has been a part of two national title-winning teams (2013 FSU, 2020 Alabama).

Assistant Head Coach/RB: Gary “Flea” Harrell (JSU) – Became Jackson State’s running backs coach before the 2020 season and was the interim head coach for JSU when Coach Prime was away from the team during the 2021 season due to foot surgery.

TE: Tim Brewster (JSU) – Former head coach of the Minnesota Gophers from 2007-2010. After he was fired in 2010, Brewster continued to coach as a college assistant. In 2013, he crossed paths with Charles Kelly at Florida State when Brewster was hired as tight ends coach. When Jimbo Fisher left FSU for Texas A&M in 2018, Brewster followed Fisher. He then worked at Florida from 2020-2021 as assistant head coach and tight ends coach before joining forces with Coach Prime at Jackson State in 2022.

WR: Brett Bartolone (JSU) – Played wide receiver for Mike Leach’s Washington State Cougars from 2012-2015. Earned his stripes as a coach starting in 2016 at Division III Whittier College in Los Angeles, CA. Coached his way through Division III until he was hired as an offensive analyst and assistant quarterbacks coach for Nevada in 2020. When Coach Prime was looking for a new offensive coordinator at Jackson State in the spring of 2022, Prime called the late Mike Leach who recommended Bartolone.

OL: Bill O’Boyle (Kent State) – Followed Sean Lewis over to Colorado from Kent State. Was the head coach at Division II Chadron State from 2005-2011 with a record of 57-21. O’Boyle then had stops at Colorado Mesa as offensive coordinator, Southern Illinois as the offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator and South Dakota as the offensive line coach before linking up with Lewis at Kent State in 2018.

LB: Andre Hart (JSU) – Has coached alongside Coach Prime for over a decade and has been Jackson State’s linebackers coach for the last three seasons. He has 13 years of coaching experience and played at Ranger Junior College and Kansas State.

DT: Sal Sunseri (Alabama) – Colorado announced that they had hired Patrick Hill to coach defensive tackles on January 27th. He then was hired by the Minnesota Vikings as an assistant defensive line coach on February 27th. On March 9th, Sunseri was announced as Colorado’s defensive tackles coach. He played linebacker at the University of Pittsburgh from 1978-1981 and earned All-American honors his senior year. He has been coaching defense since 1985 having stints with Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Tennessee, Oakland Raiders and Carolina Panthers among many others. He is credited with the recruitment of Josh Sweat, Cyrus Kouandjio, Jalen Ramsey, Will Anderson and Colorado linebacker Demouy Kennedy.

DE: Nick Williams (Texas A&M) – Williams was a critical factor in 2022 for Texas A&M as they signed one of the best recruiting classes in the country. Before he was working under Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M, Williams was a graduate assistant at Georgia. He has earned credit for recruiting Smoke Bouie to College Station.

CB: Kevin Mathis (JSU) – Defensive backs coach at Jackson State under Coach Prime for the last three seasons. He started coaching with Coach Prime in 2012 at the Prime Prep Academy. He is a 10-year NFL vet that played with the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons from 1997-2006. He was a Division II All-American from 1994-1996 at Texas A&M Commerce.

Director of Player Personnel: Corey Phillips (LSU) – Last year was Phillips’ first and only season spent at LSU. He helped construct a 2023 recruiting class that has the Tigers firmly in the top 10 of every major recruiting outlet. Prior to his time at LSU, Phillips was the director of scouting at NC State. He was an all-conference defensive back for Austin Peay.

Director of Recruiting: Darrius Darden-Box (Vanderbilt) – 2022 was Darden-Box’s first year as Vanderbilt’s Associate Director of high school scouting. In 2021 he was a player personnel analyst and from 2018-2020 he was an offensive quality control assistant. He is a Nashville native and played wide receiver at Southeast Missouri State where he graduated from in 2016.

Director of Player Development: James Chaney (Lehigh) – former head coach at Lehigh High School in Fort Myers, FL. Has led the Lehigh Lightning varsity team since 2015 and is a former teammate of Coach Prime’s at North Fort Myers High School and Florida State. Coach Prime has been asking Chaney to join his staff for the last two years at Jackson State, now he joins him at Colorado.

Strength and Conditioning Coach: Maurice “Mo” Sims (JSU) – Was named to the same position at Jackson State in the summer of 2022. Before that, he coached at the same position for the National Champion Georiga Bulldogs. Was also a strength coach at North Carolina, Army and North Carolina A&T.

Director of Quality Control and Head Defensive Analyst: Dennis Thurman (JSU) – A football legend. Thurman was a consensus All-American safety for USC in 1976 and 1977. After that, he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys and played there from 1978-1985. He played one season with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1986 and would retire from playing after that season. He has been a defensive coach dating back to 1988 and has coached for the USC Trojans, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and Jackson State. He joined Coach Prime at JSU in 2020 and has been with him since.

Offensive assistant: Mike Markuson (JSU) – Was Jackson State’s offensive line coach since 2020. Was a defensive tackle at Division III Hamline in Saint Paul, MN from 1979-1982. Has been a coach since 1983 and has been the offensive line coach at Boise State, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Wisconsin and UTSA.

Quality Control Analyst – Vincent Dancy (MVSU) – Head coach of Mississippi Valley State from 2018-2022. He joined MVSU in 2015 as their defensive coordinator but after Rick Comegy was told his contract would not be renewed after the 2017 season, Dancy was promoted to interim head coach and the interim tag was removed in January 2018.

Quality Control Analyst: Michael Pollock (JSU) – was Special Assistant to the Head Coach to Coach Prime at Jackson State. Has also been credited with helping coach JSU’s offensive line and quarterbacks as well as being mentioned as co-offensive coordinator.

Quality Control Analyst: Trevor Reilly (JSU) – was a graduate assistant under Coach Prime at Jackson State starting in 2021. Before that, Reilly’s coaching career got its start in 2018 as a student-assistant coach for the University of Utah, Reilly’s alma mater. Reilly played outside linebacker for the Utes from 2010-2013. He earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2013. He was a seventh-round draft selection to the New York Jets in the 2014 NFL Draft and played for three other teams through 2018.

Darian Hagan – Executive Director of Community Engagement and Outreach, Football Ambassador and Quality Control Analyst for the running backs. He was the only coach from last year’s staff to be retained.