Five standout players from Colorado's second straight loss in Big 12 play

Colorado dropped their second straight game to a Big 12 opponent, this time in a 35-21 loss to the TCU Horned Frogs.

It was a frustratingly similar contest to their game against BYU, which saw the Buffaloes sprint out to a 14-point lead early, only to watch it slowly erode until nothing was left. Much like against the Cougars, this was a winnable game, and a group of players was determined to keep the Buffaloes in it. Here are the five players who stood out in another close loss for Colorado.

WR Omarion Miller

Miller was by far the best Colorado player on the field against the Horned Frogs, and it showed up in the stat sheet. Totaling six catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns, his ability to create separation and adjust at the catch point was the only reason the Buffaloes scored in the second half. When he's involved, great things happen to the offense, as he draws attention off fellow playmakers and opens up the offense.

DE Arden Walker

Colorado's pass rush was one of the bright spots against TCU, and Walker was a significant factor up front. Several plays won't show up in the box score, where Walker's bend and quickness off the edge got him into the backfield, unsettling TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, forcing a bad throw. It feels like every week I'm singing Walker's praises, but he continues to make an impact on opposing offenses week after week.

RB Dallan Hayden

After an injury pushed him out of the starting running back rotation to begin the season, we finally saw why many were high on Hayden in the offseason. Contributing in the run and pass game, Hayden was impossible to bring down at times, shrugging off tacklers like he was prime Marshawn Lynch. His 61 yards on nine carries were by far the most efficient run game that the Buffaloes could muster, although Coach Prime is still searching for his 100-yard rusher.

CB DJ McKinney

Anytime that corner leads your team in tackles is usually a bad thing, but when it's McKinney, it's understandable. The corner's NFL prospects have been touted for a while, but his tackling ability has improved in recent weeks. McKinney might be the team's best tackler outside of the defensive line and usually has his targets locked down, forcing opposing quarterbacks to look elsewhere.

WR Joseph Williams

Football is a beautiful game because these two things I'm about to tell you can be true. Williams should have caught the deep pass last in the third quarter, and at the same time, Williams shouldn't have had to make that catch. He was consistently getting open downfield and over the middle, but Kaidon Salter either underthrew him or missed him on several occasions. The Buffaloes' wideouts were fantastic as a whole, but Williams' ability to get open stood out.

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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado football player standouts vs. TCU