Football: Transformational group of CU Buffs seniors aim to leave Folsom Field fans on high note

Game at a Glance

Matchup: Colorado Buffaloes vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Kickoff: 10 a.m. MT

Where: Folsom Field in Boulder

Capacity: 50,183 (Grass)

TV: ABC

Radio: KOA (850 AM)

Odds: Colorado by 16.5

Series: CU leads 26-20-1

Mark Vassett hasn’t been a Colorado Buffalo for long, but there might be a few emotions when he plays at Folsom Field for the final time on Friday.

“It’s meant everything,” the senior punter said of being a Buff. “I’m proud as hell to be a Buffalo for life. I’ve absolutely loved my time here, and I can’t wait for Friday and one last win at Folsom.”

Vassett, of course, isn’t alone. Under head coach Deion Sanders, who came to Boulder just about two years ago, the roster has been overhauled to the point that only 10 players – eight of them walk-ons – remain from the 2022 team.

While most of the team hasn’t been here long – including 64 of the 108 players in their first season at CU – this is a group that has been widely embraced by Buff Nation and sure to be widely celebrated when they face Oklahoma State in the home finale on Friday.

About two dozen seniors will say goodbye to CU and college football after this season, as will junior star Travis Hunter, who has already stated he will enter the 2025 NFL Draft.

During own podcast this week, CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders was asked what is motivating him going into Friday.

“That this is the last time I’ll ever play at Folsom Field,” he said.

Led by Shedeur and Hunter, this has been a transformational group that rescued the Buffs from the abyss that was the 2022 season, when they went 1-11.

This group has led CU to an 8-3 record to this point in the season, and while they are coming off a disappointing 37-21 loss at Kansas last week, the chance to reach the Big 12 title game is still alive. There will be, at the very least, a visit to a nice bowl game in December.

Among the group playing their final game at Folsom Field on Friday will be arguably the best quarterback to ever play at CU in Shedeur, and arguably the greatest individual player the program has ever seen in Hunter, who is well on his way to hoisting the Heisman Trophy in two weeks.

The senior group includes many other impactful players, as well.

Safeties Shilo Sanders and Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig have been the heartbeat of the defense, and cornerback Preston Hodge has made big plays all season. LaVonta Bentley, Shane Cokes, BJ Green and Chidozie Nwankwo have helped to transform the front seven of the defense.

Offensively, Jimmy Horn Jr., Will Sheppard and LaJohntay Wester have teamed with Hunter to form one of the most dynamic groups of receivers in the country. Offensive linemen Tyler Brown and Justin Mayers have been fan favorites and made an impact, along with Phillip Houston. And Vassett has been a weapon at punter.

“All of them have done a wonderful job,” Coach Prime said. “It’s a tremendous day. But we’ve been preparing these young men for this day all season with getting them ready for not just the emotional part, but extraction of the game. Like everyone makes a big deal about this game, but what happens after this game to these young men?

“I’m worried about, what happens afterwards when they don’t have these jerseys, when they don’t have this uniform, when school is not there anymore, when collective money ain’t coming no more, all that stuff, all the fanfare.”

For many of them, this is the end of their football careers. But whether it’s players at the end of the road in competitive football, or whether it’s Shedeur and Hunter, who are projected to be top-five picks in the NFL Draft, Friday will be special.

The goal for all of them is to make it as special as possible by getting a victory.

“Just finish,” Vassett said of the message to the team this week. “We’ve got to finish strong for the rest of the seniors that have done so much for this program. We’ve got to finish and then give the fans here at Folsom one more win.”