The clip barely lasted a few seconds, but it was enough to light up the internet. Deion Sanders and his revamped Colorado squad walked out for spring ball, and suddenly, the conversation wasn’t about schemes or speed. It was about the size.
Viral Video Sparks Debate Over Size of Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes
The Colorado Buffaloes wrapped up their annual Black and Gold spring scrimmage, drawing over 28,000 fans to Folsom Field on Saturday. On the field, it was a tight 7-6 finish, with quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis connecting with transfer wideout Danny Scudero for the scrimmage’s only touchdown, a 13-yard strike that stood out in the controlled, low-scoring session.
But the real action hit online. A short video showing offensive coordinator Brennan Marion and Lewis leading a group onto the field went viral the same day, and the reactions came fast and ruthless. Several outlets and fan pages on X (formerly Twitter), including Elite Takes and RedditCFB, questioned whether Colorado looked too small to compete at a high level.
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EliteTakes bluntly posted, “This is the smallest college football team I’ve ever seen.”
College football reporter George Wrighster wasn’t buying the optics either, writing, “I need to see this Colorado team in person because they look little on social media…Can anybody confirm either way who has seen other top 25 teams in person?”
Over on Poke Nation, the reaction skipped subtlety entirely: “Do they have a strength coach at CU holy shit.”
The RedditCFB account added fuel to the fire, framing the upcoming clash by saying, “This October 3 is going to be a fascinating contrast of styles between a Texas Tech team that doesn’t own weights under 40 lbs and may be mostly injured, and a Colorado team that does not appear to lift weights at all.”
Another page, Jbook, zoomed out and pointed at the bigger picture: “Them boys need a nutritionist and a S&C operations upgrade.”
And then Anthony Bets closed it out with a harsh scouting-style observation, “This has to be the smallest D1 program I’ve ever seen. Fresh out of HS with no muscle or anything.”
The criticism wasn’t random. It tied directly into last season’s issues. Colorado ranked 104th nationally in rushing offense and 135th in rushing defense in 2025, exposing serious concerns in the trenches.
That is exactly why Sanders went aggressive in the portal, bringing in 43 transfers to rebuild both lines heading into 2026. Still, context matters. That viral clip didn’t show the full roster, just a slice of skill players and select units.
Marion quickly stepped in on social media, brushing off the noise and insisting the Buffs would be “just fine.” Internally, the program is leaning into a new identity under Marion’s up-tempo “Go-Go Offense,” though most of it stayed under wraps during the scrimmage.
There were positives on the field, too. Scudero, who recorded 1,297 receiving yards at San Jose State last year, flashed early chemistry with Lewis. Sanders sees him as more than production; he is banking on leadership from the jump.
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And with over 40 new players cycling through the program, this spring was always going to look different. Zoom out, and the bigger picture is still forming.
Colorado is coming off a 3-9 season, with roster turnover, scheme changes, and physical development all in progress. They have months left in the weight room before facing the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on September 3.
For now, the internet sees a small team. Inside Boulder, they’re betting it’s just a fast one still under construction.
