Cree Thomas says there’s no ill will toward Notre Dame. No beef with Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman.
But for Thomas, a cornerback, it was time for a fresh start. And given any shortlist of the game’s all-time greatest cornerbacks invariably includes Deion Sanders, what better place to hone his craft than at Colorado?
One of several high-profile newcomers hoping to transform the CU defense, Thomas couldn’t pass up the combination of returning to the west — he’s from Phoenix — while learning from Sanders.
“I’m a corner. So getting to play for the greatest corner, I couldn’t pass it up,” Thomas said. “I was super thankful for the opportunity and I wanted to jump on it. There was nothing bad or anything that happened at Notre Dame. Super thankful for my time there. But I would just say it was just the opportunity. I wanted to go out there and be able to showcase what I can do as an athlete.”
Although the Buffs hope a number of transfers along the defensive front can make a productive jump to the power conference level, the defense also is dotted with power conference experience, albeit some of it with limited playing time.
Linebacker Liona Lefau made 22 starts with 42 appearances over three seasons at Texas. Defensive back Boo Carter played 21 games with five starts in two seasons at Tennessee before getting dismissed from the team last year. Thomas played three games as a true freshman last year at Notre Dame.
All are expected to play key roles for the Buffs. For Thomas, the opportunity to learn from Sanders has led to some extra note-taking.
“Something that a lot of people don’t realize is just how personable he is,” Thomas said. “I feel like he really has a relationship with most players on our team. He’s talking to everyone individually. As a coach, I feel like I’ve gotten a lot of one-on-one just mentoring from him. Itap been a blessing. I’m taking I everything I can from him. If he says something to me out at practice, I’ll go right into the locker room and write it down.”
Hold that thought
Fifth-year tight end Brady Kopetz is one of the few current Buffs players who endured the 1-11 frustrations of 2022 that led to the hiring of Sanders.
While meeting the media Thursday, Kopetz said that while that team and the 2026 Buffs are worlds apart in terms of talent, they nonetheless share a key characteristic Kopetz believes will pay dividends this year.
“Everyone on this team cares about each other. I can’t reiterate that enough,” Kopetz said. “It is a brotherhood. It feels like that ’22 team. That ’22 team was very close, because we all hung out with each other. Although we didn’t have the results on the field, we were a very close, tight-knit group. This team feels like that with a hundred times the talent. This team really feels like we are going to shock the world.”
Watch lists
A number of Buffs players have landed on preseason watch lists.
Last week, Lefau and Gideon Lampron were named to the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker. More of their teammates joined that club this week.
Kam Perry and Danny Scudero were named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list for the top receiver in the country. Alabama transfer Richard Young was named to the Doak Walker Award watch list for the top running back in the nation, and on Thursday running back DeKalon Taylor was one of 94 players named to the Comeback Player of the Year watch list. Taylor recorded 106 receiving yards and two touchdowns, along with 83 rushing yards, in four games last year before suffering a season-ending injury.
