CU Buffs seniors have had varied experiences, but all closing chapter at Folsom Field

Contest at a Glance Matchup Colorado Buffaloes vs Arizona State Sun Devils Kickoff p m MT Where Folsom Field in Boulder Maximum AstroTurf TV ESPN Radio KOA AM FM Odds Arizona State by Series ASU leads - Related Articles Darius Curry to start at quarterback for CSU Rams against Boise State CSU Pueblo heads into Division II playoffs with Kiahn Martinez fueling run tournament Marcellus Honeycutt Jr as deep threat Senior day to be emotional for Deion Sanders pair of Buffs who followed him from JSU Renck Deion Sanders ugly third season as CU Buffs head coach demands key changes BetMGM becomes latest sports betting company fined by Colorado Coming out of high school in Arden Walker didn t choose to play for the Colorado Buffaloes He did eventually elect to come back home however and on Saturday he will be one of several players to take part in senior day festivities when the Buffs host Arizona State in the home finale at Folsom Field Honestly I m grateful the senior defensive end declared of his college career It s definitely kind of crazy to see how fast college went by obviously starting at Missouri and coming back home In the still-new world of college sports Walker represents the journey of a great number of players who don t start and finish their careers with the same group The transfer portal has changed senior day in that regard yet it still brings out emotions as a chapter closes for the players Emotional CU head coach Deion Sanders disclosed of senior day I don t know how I m going to act A year ago Sanders was extremely emotional as two of his sons Shedeur and Shilo went through senior day This year the Buffs have a collection of seniors with varied experiences going into Saturday s event Of the players on the roster are listed as seniors but it s unclear how countless will literally walk on senior day and wrap up their career Colorado's Keaten Wade pressures Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King on Aug at Folsom Field Cliff Grassmick Staff Photographer Four seniors Gavriel Lightfoot DeKalon Taylor Tawfiq Thomas and Terrell Timmons Jr have played four games or less and could use a redshirt year and come back There are also specific fourth-year juniors such as cornerback DJ McKinney broadcasted by CU on social media Friday afternoon as seniors Another senior safety Ben Finneseth is banking on getting a healthcare redshirt and returning next year Others such as Simeon Price and Phillip Houston could do the same Only one athlete is exhausting his eligibility after playing his entire career with the Buffs backup long snapper Camden Dempsey who walked on to the squad in the fall of Running back Charlie Offerdahl who also walked on in and medically retired earlier this year also played his entire career at CU and is planning to walk Saturday Walker in fact is one of the the majority seasoned Buffs on the association as one of eight seniors in their third year with the campaign And while he did choose to play at Missouri initially the CU activity has reliably been close to his heart His father Arthur played for the Buffs from - and was a key member of the squad that went - in the regular season I didn t feel any pressure to be honest Walker a graduate of Cherry Creek High School declared of coming back to CU If anything something my dad honestly recounted me was just like at the end of the day it s your life and you re the one driving the ship I just needed to give myself the best opportunity and prove it to myself Walker has grown each year of his career and has been a valuable part of the Buffs defense the past two years And he s proud to have excelled in his home state My parents are proud of me my family my god dad he stated Everybody who s coming to the match They just want to see me do good and they ve been nothing but proud They ve had a smile on their face almost every week despite how things have went I just want to continue to keep making them proud Colorado Buffaloes linemen Zarian McGill left and Xavier Hill play against Wyoming at Folsom Field on Sept Cliff Grassmick Staff Photographer Linebacker Jeremiah Brown offensive lineman Tyler Brown and kicker Alejandro Mata are also third-year Buffs but they ve spent the greater part time with Sanders They all played for Sanders at Jackson State before transferring to CU Bittersweet but I don t really know how to explain it yet Jeremiah Brown noted of his emotions Wednesday But each day has been the emotions have been going stronger and stronger The list of seniors also includes seven second-year Buffs including defensive lineman Anquin Barnes Jr defensive end Keaten Wade and cornerbacks Preston Hodge and Ivan Yates Yates played four years at Furman before making the jump to CU in Primarily a special teams player for the Buffs he s been thrown into the fire at corner because of injuries making three consecutive starts Obviously I ve enjoyed being able to go out there and show what I m capable of he noted As far as just my time in Colorado it s been nothing but tremendous Everything I came here for honestly The largest group of seniors is the who are in their first year as Buffs That s a group that includes quarterback Kaidon Salter receiver Sincere Brown offensive linemen Zy Crisler Xavier Hill and Zarian McGill and linebackers Martavius French and Reginald Hughes It s been a long journey explained McGill the Buffs starting center who previous played at Jones College - Louisiana Monroe - and Louisiana Tech I m fortunate to be able to come here to Colorado Coach Gunnar White Coach Prime gave me the opportunity and I feel like I m taking advantage of it really well Whether they started their college careers in Boulder Jackson Mississippi Baton Rouge Louisiana Butler Kansas or somewhere else all of the seniors are finishing in the same spot And like Walker they re all likely to feel a wave of emotions Saturday night at Folsom Field It s been nothing but a blessing for sure Walker commented