Game at a Glance
Matchup: Colorado Buffaloes vs. Arizona State Sun Devils
Kickoff: 6 p.m. MT
Where: Folsom Field in Boulder
Capacity: 51,400 (AstroTurf)
TV: ESPN2
Radio: KOA (850 AM/94.1 FM)
Odds: Arizona State by 7
Series: ASU leads 10-4
Coming out of high school in 2021, 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 said 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 many players who don’t start and finish their careers with the same team. 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 said 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 game.
Of the 102 players on the roster, 37 are listed as seniors, but it’s unclear how many will actually walk on senior day and wrap up their career.
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 some fourth-year juniors, such as cornerback DJ McKinney, announced by CU on social media Friday afternoon as “seniors.”
Another senior, safety Ben Finneseth, is banking on getting a medical redshirt and returning next year. Others, such as Simeon Price and Phillip Houston could do the same.
Only one player is exhausting his eligibility after playing his entire career with the Buffs: backup long snapper Camden Dempsey, who walked on to the team in the fall of 2021. Running back Charlie Offerdahl, who also walked on in 2021 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 most seasoned Buffs on the team, as one of eight seniors in their third year with the program. And, while he did choose to play at Missouri initially, the CU program has always been close to his heart. His father, Arthur, played for the Buffs from 1986-89 and was a key member of the 1989 team that went 11-0 in the regular season.
“I didn’t feel any pressure, to be honest,” Walker, a graduate of Cherry Creek High School, said of coming back to CU. “If anything, something my dad honestly told me was just like, at the end of the day, it’s your life, and you’re the one driving the ship. I just wanted 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 said. “Everybody who’s coming to the game. 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.”
Linebacker Jeremiah Brown, offensive lineman Tyler Brown and kicker Alejandro Mata are also third-year Buffs, but they’ve spent the most 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 said 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 2024. 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 said. “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 15 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,” said McGill, the Buffs’ starting center, who previous played at Jones College (2020-21), Louisiana Monroe (2022-23) and Louisiana Tech (2024). “I’m blessed 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 said.