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Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders said Saturday that spring football was the 鈥済enesis鈥� of the new era of Buffaloes鈥� football.

In the Old Testament, Genesis is followed by Exodus 鈥� and that was the case for the Buffs, as well. CU flooded the transfer portal with 18 now former Buffs on Monday, five more on Tuesday and five on Wednesday.

Players have until Saturday to put their names into the portal, so there could be more leaving, but as of Wednesday afternoon, 41 Buffs had left since the portal window opened on April 15.

Next up for Sanders and the Buffs is filling out the roster and there are plenty of holes going into the summer. As of Wednesday afternoon, CU had 61 scholarship players projected for next season, leaving 24 open spots.

Here鈥檚 a scholarship breakdown of each position group and what the Buffs might need to target:

Quarterback (3)

Enrolled: Shedeur Sanders (Jr.), Ryan Staub (T-Fr.)

Signed/committed: Kasen Weisman (T-Fr.)

Note: Sanders is the clear starter, but the Buffs need depth and an upgrade at the No. 2 spot. Staub was second-string in the spring game but there is literally no experience behind Sanders. After the spring game, coach Sanders said, 鈥淲e need to find some people that can step up and do some things, the type of things that we鈥檙e expecting Shedeur to do, as well.鈥�

Running back (3)

Enrolled: Anthony Hankerson (So.), Dylan Edwards (T-Fr.)

Signed/Committed: Kavosiey Smoke (Sr.)

Note: Edwards is a dynamic, speedy back, and Hankerson had a good spring. Smoke is a Kentucky transfer who was productive with the Wildcats. That抖阴ap a solid top three, but the Buffs need at least a couple more backs for depth.

Receiver (9)

Enrolled: Jimmy Horn Jr. (Jr.), Asaad Waseem (T-Fr.)

Signed/Committed: Xavier Weaver (Sr.), Willie Gaines (Jr.), Isaiah Hardge (T-Fr.), Adam Hopkins (T-Fr.), Omarion Miller (T-Fr.), Jordan Onovughe (T-Fr.), Jacob Page (T-Fr.)

Note: Travis Hunter, listed at corner, is also enrolled and CU鈥檚 most talented receiver. And, walk-on Kaleb Mathis is already a favorite target of Shedeur Sanders. Horn and Weaver, both South Florida transfers, and Gaines, from Jackson State, are starter-caliber players. The Buffs are in good shape here, but could look at adding another one or two for depth.

Tight end (4)

Enrolled: Seydou Traore (Jr.), Caleb Fauria (So.), Erik Olsen (So.), Louis Passarello (So.)

Signed/Committed: None

Note: Traore, who caught 50 passes at Arkansas State last year, figures to be a big part of the offense, and Passarello impressed the coaching in spring. Walk-on Elijah Yelverton will also figure into the mix. If Fauria and Olsen are also healthy, the Buffs could be in good shape here, but might add one or two more.

Offensive line (10)

Enrolled: Tyler Brown (Jr.), Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan (Jr.), Isaiah Jatta (Jr.), Savion Washington (Jr.), Van Wells (So.), Jack Wilty (So.), Carter Edwards (Fr.).

Signed/Committed: Landon Bebee (Sr.), Jack Bailey (Jr.), Hank Zalinskas (T-Fr.)

Note: CU doesn鈥檛 lack experience, with eight players who were starters at their colleges last year, including Bebee (Missouri State) and Bailey (Kent State), who arrive in the summer. The staff is actively recruiting more experience and depth, however. Getting to 15 might be ideal, so it抖阴ap possible the Buffs will add four linemen.

Defensive tackles (3)

Enrolled: Leonard Payne Jr. (Sr.), Shane Cokes (Jr.)

Signed/Committed: Chazz Wallace (Jr.)

Note: CU has lost six defensive linemen to the transfer portal since April 15, which is a clear sign that the coaching staff is looking to upgrade. At this point, this is possibly the biggest area of need. Certainly in terms of numbers, it抖阴ap ranks at the top of the list. Cokes had a great spring and Payne worked with the first team. Wallace committed to CU on Wednesday, but the Buffs need major reinforcements here. Walk-on Mason Maddox can help, but CU might need to sign five or six defensive linemen.

Defensive ends (2)

Enrolled: Taijh Alston (Sr.)

Signed/Committed: Derrick McLendon II (Jr.)

Note: Alston missed all of spring, so the Buffs need to get him healthy, of course. Michigan transfer Taylor Upshaw went back into the portal on Wednesday, but CU did add McLendon, a 12-game starter at Florida State who committed to CU on Wednesday. The Buffs need to add more depth and competition at this spot, however.

Outside linebackers (5)

Enrolled: Jordan Domineck (Sr.), Jeremiah Brown (Jr.), Joshka Gustav (Jr.)

Signed/Committed: Deeve Harris (Jr.), Taje McCoy (T-Fr.)

Note: CU is in good shape at the top. Domineck and Brown lead the way and both were dominant at their previous schools before transferring in this year. Gustav hasn鈥檛 played since late in the 2021 season because of injuries and missed spring. Harris, from Old Dominion, recently committed. Other spots are a higher priority, but the Buffs need one or two players for depth.

Inside linebackers (9)

Enrolled: LaVonta Bentley (Jr.), Marvin Ham II (Jr.), Isaac Hurtado (Jr.), Eoghan Kerry (So.), Victory Johnson (T-Fr.), Morgan Pearson (T-Fr.)

Signed/Committed: Brendan Gant (Sr.), Demouy Kennedy (Jr.), Kofi Taylor-Barrocks (T-Fr.)

Note: Bentley, from Clemson, had a great spring and should be a leader, and the Buffs are excited about the addition of Kennedy, from Alabama. Gant, who played in 43 games at Florida State, committed on Wednesday. Ham and Hurtado also impressed coaches in the spring. If there鈥檚 any position on the team that doesn鈥檛 need to be addressed in this round of transfers, it抖阴ap this one. But, it抖阴ap also possible the staff will look to add some depth.

Cornerbacks (5)

Enrolled: Nigel Bethel Jr. (Sr.), Kyndrich Breedlove (So.), Travis Hunter (So.)

Signed/Committed: Cormani McClain (T-Fr.), Carter Stoutmire (T-Fr.).

Note: Hunter was the top cornerback recruit in the country in 2022 and McClain is the top corner recruit in the nation this year. So, the Buffs are loaded at the top, although it抖阴ap possible that Hunter will focus more on receiver. Bethel and Breedlove bring experience and depth. The Buffs have lost a handful of corners to the transfer portal in the last couple of weeks, however, and need to add a few for depth, as well as competition.

Safeties (5)

Enrolled: Cam鈥橰on Silmon-Craig (Jr.), Myles Slusher (Jr.), Trevor Woods (Jr.), Jaden Milliner-Jones (T-Fr.)

Signed/Committed: Vito Tisdale (Jr.)

Note: Woods is the top returning player for CU and Silmon-Craig, a Jackson State transfer, is a leader and projected starter. Slusher (Arkansas) and Tisdale (Kentucky) add experience, although Tisdale missed all of 2022 with a knee injury. Jackson State transfer Shilo Sanders, Deion Sanders鈥� son, is expected to join the fold, too. The Buffs have lost some depth to the portal, though, and need to add three or four safeties in this round of transfers (including Shilo Sanders).

Specialists (3)

Enrolled: Mark Vassett (Jr.), Jace Feely (So.), Alejandro Mata (So.)

Signed/Committed: None

Note: Vassett will be the punter, while Feely and Mata battle for the kicking job. The Buffs are set here, though, and won鈥檛 be expected to add anyone through the portal in this round.