Well, timing is everything! Just a few hours before sitting down with Brad Geiger and Neil Langland to tape our latest podcast, five-star cornerback prospect Cormani McClain verbally committed to play for Coach Prime at Colorado. While McClain, one of the highest-rated recruits in CU history, can’t officially become a Buff until February 1st, his verbal commitment gives us the opportunity to talk about what McClain means to the 2023 CU roster, what his announcement means to the national perception of the Colorado program, and what his signing could mean to help CU recruit additional star power for the Class of 2024 and beyond.
We then move on to discuss the tidal wave of new talent coming to the Champions Center this fall. Coach Prime and his staff have now replaced over half of the roster from the 2022 season, with more additions - and subtractions - to come. How do the coaches keep the team from fracturing into an “us v. them” locker room? Can CU construct a starting lineup just from the incoming players? Are CU fans expecting too much from the transfers, many of whom are from Power Five conference schools, but few of whom were multiple year starters at their former schools? We also will lean into the question of the Transfer Portal, and how CU will find a way back to 85 scholarship players by the start of Fall Camp.
Our final segment is a discussion about the recently released Pac-12 schedule. CU will open its conference schedule on the road against Oregon, then return home to face USC. Is this a move to punish CU and its flamboyant new head coach? Or is this just the Pac-12 grabbing for as much television revenue from the hiring of Coach Prime as it can early in the season?
There are many adjectives to describe what has happened with the CU football program since Coach Sanders was hired on December 4th, but dull is not one of them. What impact will the latest commitment have on the future of the program? Is the CU 2023 schedule one of numerous opportunities ... or is it a Bataan Death March? ...
... Let’s find out ...