With more than a week of film on the new team, confidence has begun to grow for the defensive staff.
Colorado defensive ends coach and run game coordinator George Helow took the podium after day 14 of fall camp, along with defensive line coach Dante Carter, to share their thoughts on their respective units.
“There's a lot of different packages, different groups of people out on the field. A lot of different guys from different places,” Helow said. “ And we're trying to see right now, in the edge room, along with the defense, who the best people are to put out there.”
Every snap, rep and period is being recorded and tracked to help accurately identify the top performers in the group. As Helow is evaluating, he is also prioritizing teaching the basics. In camp, the small details have to be taken care of.
“[We evaluate] just in terms of effort and technique and fundamentals and playing football the right way,” Helow said. “Getting in a good stance, having a good get-off, striking blocks, knocking people backward. Just swarming to the ball, playing as one.”
With a room full of veterans like Toby Anene, Balansama Kamara, Vili Taufatofua and Domata Peko Jr., there are hundreds of game hours logged. Helow also gets plenty of time evaluating less experienced yet still talented players like Emmanuel Ezeogu, Lomont Lester Jr and Yamil Talib who’ve been making noise throughout camp.
Everything is still an open competition as no starters have been named.
“We kind of give everybody a clean slate as they get there, and it's Coach Prime's motto, ‘you get what you earn,’” Helow said. “We targeted a lot of high production players. But there's some young guys, too... we're going to play the best ones.”
On the interior, Helow will be working alongside Carter to help develop a line that can stop the run and get after the passer. Carter was a graduate assistant in 2025, but now holds the full command of his defensive tackle room.
“He's a young coach with a lot of wisdom and knowledge,” Helow said. “I'm really proud of him and his progress and the opportunity he's getting at his age. He's doing a great job.”
With an entire new slate of players (outside of Quency Wiggins, who moved inside from end), Carter was given a tall ask as a new coach. The spring was a growing period for him and his unit.
Seemingly without Ezra Christensen and no signs of Malachi Brown yet, the room is already short-handed. Still, there are no excuses coming from Carter.
“Man, we got great depth. We got enough depth that's gonna get us through the season,” Carter said. “Guys are pushing each other from the first group to the second group and the third group. We got good depth, got a good rotation and each of the guys brings different flavor to the game.”
So far, the top guys in the rotation throughout camp have been Santana Hopper, Dylan Manuel, Samu Taumanupepe and Tyler Moore. Those four have stood out for their play in practice and growth from the summer.
Most importantly for the interior guys will be to stop the run. Last season the Buffs were gashed for 222.5 yards per game on the ground. That can’t happen again if they want to win football games.
So far in camp, Carter sees a change in the execution from the defense.
“We've been showing a difference in the run game, scheme-wise, mindset-wise, mentality,” Carter said. “Just getting off the rock, creating knockback, just playing on their side of the line of scrimmage. That's the biggest thing we're preaching. Recreating the line of scrimmage.”
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