Colorado left tackle Jordan Seaton spent the second half of Saturday’s game against Wyoming watching from the sidelines in sweats.
It doesn’t appear the standout sophomore will be out long, however.
On Tuesday, CU head coach Deion Sanders said Seaton should be in the lineup when the Buffs (2-2, 0-1 Big 12) host No. 25 BYU (3-0) on Saturday at Folsom Field (8:15 p.m., ESPN).
“We’re expecting Seaton and Zy (Crisler) to play,” Sanders said.
The top offensive line recruit in the 2024 class, Seaton has started all 17 of CU’s games over the last two seasons at left tackle. He was injured late in the first half of Saturday’s 37-20 win against Wyoming, however.
Pro Football Focus rates Seaton as the top-rated pass blocking tackle in the country this season.
“I don’t know how they do their rankings, but he’s kicking butt,” Sanders said. “That’s pretty much what that means.”
Crisler, CU’s starting right guard in all four games this season, also went down in the second half, but Sanders was confident Crisler will play.
The Buffs aren’t so sure about a pair of running backs that went down on Saturday. Simeon Price and DeKalon Taylor, who have been two of CU’s top offensive weapons this season, both left the game in the second half.
“DT and Simeon, we don’t know,” Sanders said. “We’ve made adjustments in the running back room, as well.”
Without Taylor or Price, the Buffs would be down to just two scholarship running backs, Micah Welch and Dallan Hayden. Hayden missed the first three games with a hand injury, returning on Saturday and getting two late carries.
Asked if this week could be an opportunity for versatile receiver Dre’lon Miller to get some work in the backfield, Sanders said, “Well, we plan on doing some things.”
Sanders added that the Buffs hope to get defensive tackle Brandon Davis-Swain back after he missed last week’s game. But, the Buffs are unsure if defensive end Samuel Okunlola or cornerback RJ Johnson will be back. Okunlola has missed three straight games, while Johnson missed the Wyoming game after playing just four snaps the week before.
More injury updates will be provided later this week, as this is the first year the Big 12 is requiring “availability reports” from each team for conference games.
Asked his opinion on having to provide those reports, Sanders said, “That’s for gambling purposes. Ain’t got nothing to do with us. It’s for gambling purposes. That’s my thoughts.”
Night moves
Last week, in preparation for an 8:15 p.m. kickoff against Wyoming, CU shifted its schedule from morning practices every day to holding two night practices.
With this week’s game also kicking off at 8:15 p.m., the Buffs will do the same.
“It impacted us tremendously,” Sanders said of the decision to practice at night, “because we understood how to turn our bodies off and on. The kids understood that they needed rest because of the night game, so they could come out and have a great start. And although we got some penalties upfront defensively, they came out with energy. Offensively, we came out with energy. And that’s what we want to do, especially at home.”
Receiver Sincere Brown said the players just know they have to be ready, regardless of the start time.
“You want to be great at the sport, you got to know how to turn it on at whatever time,” he said. “Any 24 hours in a day, you got to be able to turn it on.”
Portal change
Under Sanders, CU has been extremely active in the transfer portal in each of the two portal windows each year. As there now appears to be a change on the way to go to one portal window, in the winter, Sanders said it shouldn’t impact the Buffs.
“We’re gonna go about our business like every other school. It’s the same rules for everyone, right?” he said. “We’re going to get what we want; we always do. And when we don’t get what we want, that means somebody offered more money. That’s it. … As long as the playing field is level for everyone, I’m good. I have no complaints.”