One of the top players on the Colorado defense has elected to enter the transfer portal, while one of the top defenders in the portal is on his way to Boulder.
On Monday, CU inside linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green announced on social media that he will enter the portal with the intention of playing his final year of eligibility elsewhere.
“I am forever grateful for the year that we’ve had together competing for the Big 12 title and with me earning 2nd team All-Big 12 honors on defense,” Hill-Green wrote on social media.
Later, former Alabama defensive lineman Jehiem Oatis announced that he is coming to CU as a transfer. Oatis is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 12 overall player in the portal, and the No. 1-ranked defensive line transfer.
This season, Hill-Green finished second on the team in total tackles (82) and tackles for loss (11.5). He also had two sacks, two interceptions and four pass breakups. He earned second-team All-Big 12 from both coaches and media.
Hill-Green played a significant role in a resurgent defense for the 20th-ranked Buffs (9-3, 7-2 Big 12), who will face No. 17 BYU in the Alamo Bowl in Dec. 28 in San Antonio (5:30 p.m. MT, ABC). By entering the portal, it’s unlikely Hill-Green would play in the bowl game.
After beginning his career with three seasons at Michigan, Hill-Green played at Charlotte in 2023 and transferred to CU this past summer. He has one year of eligibility remaining, but also went through senior day festivities last month and could elect to go to the NFL Draft.
A four-star recruit coming out Columbia (Miss.) High School in 2022, Oatis fills a significant need for the Buffs on the defensive line, as four of the seven on the scholarship roster this season are moving on, three as graduates and Rayyan Buell as a transfer.
The 6-foot-5, 325-pound Oatis is a former starter at Alabama, but averaged just 16 snaps in four games this year and elected in October to redshirt and enter the portal.
Oatis started 10 games as a true freshman in 2022, recording 29 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. In 2023, he played in all 13 games with three starts, racking up 26 tackles and one TFL. He recorded two tackles in four games this year.
Also on Monday, linebacker Jeremiah Brown pulled his name out of the portal and has decided to stay with the Buffs. Lost in the shuffle at linebacker behind Hill-Green and senior LaVonta Bentley, Brown played in four games this season before electing to redshirt. Brown has one year of eligibility remaining and should be in contention for a starting spot in 2025.
On Sunday, CU landed its first transfer addition of the offseason. Carter Miller, a 6-foot-2, 300-pound offensive lineman from Louisiana-Monroe visited CU over the weekend and verbally committed.
The starting center at ULM this season, Miller allowed just two sacks and one quarterback hit this season, according to Pro Football Focus. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
This will be Miller’s third school, as he began his collegiate career with two seasons (2022-23) at James Madison. After playing in four games and redshirting in 2022, he was JMU’s starting left guard for eight games in 2023.
Since the 52-0 win against Oklahoma State in the regular season finale on Nov. 29, CU has had 10 scholarship players enter the transfer portal.
On offense, the Buffs have lost backup quarterbacks Walter Taylor III and Destin Wade; backup receivers Jordan Onovughe, Cordale Russell and Asaad Waseem; backup tight end Morgan Pearson; and backup offensive lineman Payton Kirkland.
Defensively, in addition to Hill-Green, the Buffs have lost edge rusher Dayon Hayes, who was a starter before a season-ending injury in September; and backup defensive lineman Rayyan Buell, who missed the last seven games with injury.
A few others in the portal from CU left the team during the season: linebacker Johnny Chaney Jr., offensive lineman Tyler Johnson and Yakiri Walker and walk-on safety Adonis Forrest Jr.
Notable
CU has also lost a key piece to its organization off the field. Devin Rispress, who spent this year as the Buffs’ assistant director of player personnel for high school relations, has taken a job at Florida State. For Rispress, it’s a move back to his hometown of Tallahassee, Fla. … Waseem announced Monday night that he has committed to Florida Atlantic.
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