We won’t know how much the Colorado Buffaloes' offensive line has improved until the fall games start.
Comparing head coach Deion Sanders' comments from a year ago to now, there's an indication that the line will be significantly improved.
On April 8, 2023, Sanders was asked about the offensive line progress and he responded with uncertainty. This year, he showed confidence in the new players.
On Thursday, he was asked about the improvement of the entirely new offensive line from last year.
He mentioned that all the players have shown improvement and emphasized the strong bond within the group. He specifically praised Tyler Brown and expressed confidence in the team's ability to run the ball effectively.
When asked about the difference this year, Sanders credited first-year offensive line coach Phil Loadholt.
Sanders praised coach Phil Loadholt and highlighted his experience, expertise, and effective communication skills. He also acknowledged the exceptional work of analyst Gunnar White.
Sanders commented on the dedication and unity of the current players, emphasizing their strong sense of purpose and mutual accountability during practices.
During the 2023 season, the Buffs struggled in the trenches, ranking last in rushing and subjecting Shedeur Sanders to the most sacks in the country. All full-time starters from that period have since departed.
Coach Prime and his staff recruited the top offensive line high school recruit, Jordan Seaton, and added five experienced FBS starters to the team. They also mentioned the addition of Brown, who had to sit out the previous season due to an old NCAA rule for second-time transfers.
The only returning linemen from 2023 are sophomore center Hank Zilinskas and senior Kareem Harden.
While the true evaluation will come in the fall, there are already signs of improvement.
Shedeur and his brother Shilo, who is a senior safety, had a discussion about the team's physicality, after Shedeur mentioned that the line was performing well this spring.
“The offensive line tries to compete every day,” Shilo said jokingly. “The thing about offense is that when you win a one-on-one, the rest of the team will come support you. They just started doing that this spring.”
Shedeur chuckled and responded, “We don’t do that anymore. We've stopped all of that. Now we just focus on football and take it one play at a time, but it's really about trusting each other and competing. If a defensive lineman touches me at all, they definitely take care of it. Everyone stands up for each other.”
For now, the atmosphere around the line is already better than it was a year ago.
