Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders was specific last month when asked what he and his staff would target in the transfer portal.
Depth was the main key, but he mentioned particular spots the Buffaloes wanted to fill, including in the middle of the defense.
“A couple linebackers are gonna come in,” he said on April 18, putting a heavy emphasis on making that plural.
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CU has now added two linebackers since Coach Prime’s comment that day.
On Tuesday, former Florida A&M standout Johnny Chaney Jr. announced his commitment to the Buffs. He joins former Charlotte starter Nikhai Hill-Green, who committed on April 27, as newcomers in the linebacker room.
“Lets Work!” Chaney wrote on X as he announced his commitment.
A 6-foot-2, 235-pound senior with one year of eligibility remaining, Chaney earned second-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference honors this past season after posting 73 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and a fumble recovery. Chaney helped FAMU go 12-1 with a SWAC title and a win in the Celebration Bowl.
In three seasons at Florida A&M, Chaney played in 34 games, helping the Rattlers go 30-6, including 21-1 in their last 22 games. During his time with the Rattlers, he recorded 141 tackles, 12 TFLs and 3.5 sacks.
Despite a productive high school career, Chaney was lightly recruited. During his final two seasons at Wekiva High School in Apopka, Fla., he had a combined 95 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.
At CU, Chaney joins an inside linebacker competition that includes Hill-Green, returning starter LaVonta Bentley and senior safety-turned-linebacker Trevor Woods.
Seniors Jeremiah Brown and Brendan Gant, juniors Keaten Wade and Jaylen Wester and incoming freshman Kyeran Garcia are also in the mix.
Chaney is the 13th transfer addition for the Buffs in the past 18 days, with seven of those coming on the defensive side of the ball.
Unofficially, CU has 78 projected scholarship players for next season, leaving seven open spots.