London Merritt’s exit is only the latest sign of how quickly Colorado’s roster is being reshaped and how steep the task now facing Coach Prime has become.
Deion Sanders loses another star player to the transfer portal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
With less than 30 hours remaining before the transfer portal officially opens, Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes absorbed one of their most significant blows of the cycle.
True freshman edge rusher London Merritt is moving on.
The timing alone made the loss sting. The substance made it heavier.
Merritt didn’t redshirt. He didn’t wait for an opportunity. He played in all 12 games as a freshman, carving out a role in the rotation immediately. At 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, the Atlanta native finished the season with 25 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, and a sack, production that only hinted at the disruption he consistently created off the edge. He earned PFF All-Freshman honors and a Big 12 honorable mention, rare recognition for a first-year defender adjusting to Power Four football on the fly.
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This wasn’t a developmental flyer. Merritt was already a major part of the plan.
That made the reaction from inside the program impossible to ignore.
Cornerback Kole Mathis summed it up in two words, “Damn twin.” Defensive lineman Taurean Carter followed with, “Ohhhhh that’s a heartbreak.” Freshman quarterback Julian Lewis offered something quieter but more revealing, “Ts starting to hurt.”
Former Buff Tawfiq Byard, who recently entered the portal himself, added, “Love ya youngin.”
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Those reactions all appeared in the same place, the comments of Merritt’s own Instagram post. The news was first reported by Hayes Fawcett for On3, then shared directly by Merritt. This wasn’t secondhand churn or anonymous speculation. It was a player announcing his decision himself, with teammates processing it in real time underneath.
There’s also recruiting context that sharpens the loss. Before signing with Colorado last December, Merritt had been committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes. His flip to Boulder registered as a meaningful win at the time, a blue-chip edge prospect choosing opportunity and early playing time. One season later, that gamble had already paid off on the field.
Between NFL Draft declarations and the transfer portal, Coach Prime and the Buffaloes are now facing the task of replacing more than 30 student-athletes and counting.
The Buffaloes are losing a young, productive defender with size, validation, and upward trajectory, the exact type of player programs usually build around.
While the portal hasn’t opened yet, the impact has already been felt in Boulder.
More college football news:
- Kane Wommack says Alabama’s culture showed itself when the punches came
- Coach Prime reacts to Colorado defensive tackle’s concerning NFL Draft decision
- Deion Sanders faces harsh reality as Colorado talent floods the transfer portal
- Historic first national championship sparks emotional reaction from Jamie Morrison and Aggies
Category: General Sports
