Welcome to our official countdown to football season! There are only a few weeks left until Colorado Buffalo The 2024 season begins on August 29th against the North Dakota State Bison at Folsom Field, and we at Ralphie Report are celebrating the only way we know how: with some power rankings! Over the next 20 days, we will be highlighting the 20 most important players for the Colorado Buffalo before the 2024 season.
Anyone who watched the Buffs last year knows that the lines were the problem. The offensive line deserves a lot of credit (or blame) for the 4-8 record (which was incredibly impressive, as many people forget), but the defensive line also didn’t hold up all season. The defense gave up more than 170 rushing yards per game, which is a difference of more than 100 when you consider that the Buffs ran for less than 70 yards per game.
In short, the front 7 needs to get better. And it is! Next year, there will be a defensive back (Shane Cokes), which will hopefully be an improvement. One of the surest candidates for improvement is BJ Green. Yes, that’s the current Power 5 leader in QB pressure, BJ Green. He’s a senior with nothing left to prove, but he wants to make it to the NFL.
Green is a powerful end who can pull inside when needed. BJ doesn’t have the typical size, but he has a set of moves that can get to the quarterback quickly. So, 8.5 sacks in the last two years. He has strength and experience. He’s also the most notable player in the Buffaloes’ first 7 in 2024. The Buffs are a team that will rely on star power as long as Coach Prime is here. BJ Green is that star. Even if he doesn’t make it to QB, he’ll have to change a lot of plays this year for the Buffs to be successful.
