Colorado’s offensive line now has five new starters, 11 newcomers, and a new position coach, but the blocking hasn’t improved.
This was clear in the Buffaloes’ 28-10 defeat at Nebraska on Saturday night. The Cornhuskers managed to get six sacks and 10 quarterback hurries while letting only 16 rushing yards.
“Protections were,” coach Deion Sanders said, pausing, “were a problem. Trying to be polite and say it, because, you know, I can say the same thing you’re thinking, but if I said (it), you would say I’m throwing my guys under the bus. I’m not doing that whatsoever. Protections were a problem.”
The Buffaloes had hoped to see better performance from their offensive line after allowing 56 sacks in 12 games last season, which was the second most in the Football Bowl Subdivision, behind Old Dominion’s 62 in 13 games.
Phil Loadholt, who was an offensive analyst at Oklahoma for the last two years, replaced Bill O’Boyle as the offensive line coach.
The revamped offensive line now consists of tackles Tyler Brown and Jordan Seaton, guards Justin Mayers and Kahlil Benson, and center Hank Zilinskas.
Brown redshirted and didn’t play last season for the Buffs. Seaton is a true freshman who was a five-star recruit and ranked by ESPN as the No. 1 high school tackle in the nation. Mayers (UTEP) and Benson (Indiana) are transfers. Zilinskas started two games and played in nine others for CU.
Out of the 15 offensive linemen listed on the roster on Sunday, only four were on the team in 2023.
The Buffs were hopeful after their opener, where they allowed just one sack and two quarterback hurries in a 31-26 win over North Dakota State of the second-tier Championship Subdivision.
