Danny Scudero has put up huge numbers.
He did it at the FCS level at Sacramento State. He did it again last year at San Jose State.
For any wide receiver, the natural progression is to put up those numbers at the power conference level. Scudero was no different.
The checklist for a receiver entering the transfer portal is simple. Find a team that puts up points. And one that has a quarterback that can get anyone the ball. Colorado didn’t put up many points in 2025. And the jury remains out on young-but-talented Buffaloes quarterback Julian Lewis.
Scudero, though, had other attractions that led him to Boulder. Tops among them, and perhaps the key to CU’s offensive fortunes in 2026, was the addition of Brennan Marion as offensive coordinator. Yet much like his new teammates on the other side of the ball, Scudero saw the wisdom in honing his craft as a receiver by learning from one of the greatest defender of receivers the game has ever seen in CU head coach and Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders.
“As a receiver, what better way to learn from a guy than the greatest ever to do it at the cornerback position?” Scudero said. “He truly understands the cornerback position and he teaches it so well. Thatap something I can take huge advantage of. If I know what the cornerback’s doing, then I know how to win the route. I’ve definitely tried to pick his brain, learn different things.
“Even when I scored in the spring game. I thought it was a good route. But he said I could’ve gotten out of it one step earlier. Learning things like that is part of the reason I came here.”
While Scudero should provide another set of dependable hands in a talented receiver corps, it is the meshing of Lewis with Marion’s Go-Go offense could make or break the entire season for a Buffaloes program looking to course correct after last year’s 3-9 campaign.
Lewis may have flashed the potential last year that made him a coveted five-star recruit, but he fell short of the sort of dynamic play that might have stirred excitement in the offseason. Certainly CU’s offensive struggles didn’t originate from Lewis, who was thrown into the fray to replace ineffective transfer Kaidon Salter. Nonetheless, it was a forgettable season for the Buffs’ attack, as CU ranked 93rd in the nation (out of 134 FBS teams) in passing offense, 103rd in rushing offense and 112th in total offense. CU tied for 103rd in scoring offense, averaging just 20.9 points per game.
That latter number was a big reason Sanders brought in Marion, as his Go-Go offense has put up points at every stop of Marion’s coaching career. Remarks by Lewis went viral after the Big 12 media days in July after he said he was mostly “free-balling” while on the field last season, as opposed to meticulously reading defenses. Yet it was an understandable approach for a player that reclassified to join CU a year early and didn’t turn 18 until September of last year.
The training wheels will be off for Lewis this year, as the Go-Go offense is predicated on a multi-faceted run game balanced by a vertical passing attack. Lewis, assuming he beats out Utah transfer Isaac Wilson for the starting job, often will have to decide if the Buffs are running the ball or throwing after the ball is snapped.
Lewis certainly should have plenty of weapons at his disposal. Scudero, DeAndre Moore (Texas) and Kam Perry (Miami Ohio) lead CU’s receiver additions through the transfer portal. The Buffs also return Joseph Williams, their second-leading receiver last year, and Hykeem Williams, who still is trying to fulfill the vast potential that once made him a five-star recruit at Florida State.
Itap a similar story at running back, as returnees Micah Welch and DeKalon Taylor — the latter who is coming off an injury-shortened first season with the Buffs — are battling for a leading role alongside transfers Damian Henderson II and JaQuail Smith, both of whom played for Marion at Sacramento State, and Richard Young, who saw limited playing time in three seasons at Alabama.
As always, Lewis and the skill players will only be as good as the guys up front. The offensive line has been problematic throughout Sanders’ tenure, even while boasting one of the top left tackles in the nation in Jordan Seaton. Seaton has since transferred to LSU, and while CU returns a couple part-time starters in Yahya Attia and Larry Johnson III, the Go-Go offense will launch in Boulder with yet another revamped offensive line.
So how will fans know if CU’s new-look new attack is working properly? Easy, according to Marion.
“To me, if we’re operating at our fullest, we’re winning,” Marion said. “My grandfather taught me young that if you didn’t win the game, it ain’t good. I’ve been in a game where we’ve had 750 yards of offense and lost the game. We needed more. Itap just about winning the game. I want to operate in a system that creates our players and gives championship habits and gives them the ability to go win games and win plays.”
Meet the offense
Quarterback
Scholarship: Julian Lewis, 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, R-Fr.; Kaneal Sweetwyne, 6-3, 195, Fr.; Isaac Wilson, 6-0, 210, So.
Walk-on: None
Running back
Scholarship: Damian Henderson II, 6-2, 205, Jr.; Cam Newton, 5-9 185, Fr.; JaQuail Smith, 5-11, 170, So.; DeKalon Taylor, 5-9, 165, Sr.; Micah Welch, 5-9, 215, Jr.; Richard Young, 5-11, 210, Jr.
Walk-on: Titus Bautista, 5-10, 185, So.; Bryce Hicks, 5-9, 185, So.; Cody Jordan, 5-9, 185, Fr.; Leonardo Valle, 6-1, 210, R-Fr.
Receiver
Scholarship: Ernest Campbell, 5-9, 145, Jr.; Quanell Farrakhan Jr., 6-1, 180, So.; Quentin Gibson, 5-9, 155, So.; DeAndre Moore, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Kam Perry, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Danny Scudero, 5-9, 175, Jr.; Jacob Swain, 6-1, 185, Fr.; Alexander Ward, 6-1, 180, Fr.; Christian Ward, 6-3, 205, Fr.; Hykeem Williams, 6-2, 220, Sr.; Joseph Williams, 6-2, 200, Jr.
Walk-on: Tagert Bardin, 6-0, 160, Jr.; Kaleb Mathis, 5-9, 165, Jr.; Carson Westbrook, 5-11, 170, So.
Tight end
Returners: Zach Atkins, 6-4, 240, Gr.; Fisher Clements, 6-7, 265, Gr.; Zayne DeSouza, 6-6, 260, R-Fr.; Ben Gula, 6-5, 285, Fr.; Brady Kopetz, 6-4, 270, Sr.; Corbin Laisure, 6-5, 250, R-Fr.
Walk-on: Charlie Williams, 6-4, 245, Jr.
Offensive line
Returners: Yahya Attia, 6-4, 340, R-So.; Leon Bell, 6-8, 330, Gr.; Chauncey Gooden, 6-3, 380, R-Fr.; Phillip Houston, 6-5, 280, Sr.; Bo Hughley, 6-7, 295, Jr.; Demetrius Hunter, 6-2, 310, Sr.; Larry Johnson III, 6-7, 350, Sr.; Sean Kinney, 6-2, 305, Jr.; Jayvon McFadden, 6-3, 295, R-Fr.; Xavier Payne, 6-7, 320, Fr.; Jayven Richardson, 6-6, 315, Sr.; Andre Roye Jr., 6-6, 295, Sr.; Jose Soto, 6-3, 310, Jr.; Taj White, 6-5, 310, Gr.
Walk-on: Hudson Steber, 6-3, 270, Fr.
