Ten Colorado players, including Kaidon Salter and DJ McKinney, were named to the East-West Shrine Bowl’s watch list ahead of the 2025 season.
Despite the losses of Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter to the NFL, the Colorado Buffaloes still have players with serious NFL potential. With that in mind, the prestigious East-West Shrine Bowl announced its preseason watch list Monday morning, and ten Buffs were among the top 1,000 candidates.
The East-West Shrine Bowl is an annual college football all-star game that provides draft-eligible players with a final opportunity to compete in front of NFL scouts. The 2026 Shrine Bowl is scheduled for Jan. 27 at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
Colorado had six players compete in the 2025 Shrine Bowl, including Shedeur and Shilo Sanders.
Below are the ten Buffaloes who were named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1,000:
QB Kaidon Salter
Kaidon Salter is amid a quarterback competition against star freshman Julian Lewis, but after winning Conference USA MVP in 2023, the transfer quarterback looks to go out on a high note.
LB Martavius French
French comes to Boulder hoping to grab hold of the Buffs' starting middle linebacker role.
RB Dallan Hayden
Hayden showed flashes last year, and after Colorado lost their leading rusher to the transfer portal, he has a chance to be the Buffaloes' starting running back.
OL Xavier Hill
Hill joins the Buffs after a successful stint at Memphis, where his versatility was on full display. He can play every position on the offensive line and should start most games this year.
CB Preston Hodge
Hodge returns as Colorado's top option at the nickel position.
LB Reginald Hughes
Hughes and French are the projected top two inside linebackers on the Buffs roster. Their ability to form chemistry will be a major storyline during fall camp.
CB DJ McKinney
McKinney is set to take over for Travis Hunter as Colorado's top coverage cornerback. He could be a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
DL Amari McNeill
McNeill steps into a starting defensive tackle role, and his production will be needed for the Buffs to repeat as the Big 12 sack leaders.
DL Jehiem Oatis
After transferring from Alabama as the top defensive player in the portal (as of Dec. 18, 2024), Oatis has expectations to make an immediate impact.
OL Zy Crisler
Crisler is coming off a successful career with Illinois and seems to slot in as the Buffaloes' right guard for 2025.
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado football has ten players on East-West Shrine Bowl watch list
Category: General Sports
