Kam Mikell came to Colorado in 2024 with a load of potential.
Midway through his second year with the Buffaloes, Mikell still has more potential than production, but that could change soon.
Coming off a bye week, CU (3-4, 1-3 Big 12) will visit Utah (5-2, 2-2) on Saturday in Salt Lake City (8:15 p.m., ESPN) and Mikell could be in line for a key role.
“My coaches and stuff, they believe in me, so I just got to believe in myself because, like, confidence issues could happen,” the redshirt freshman said. “I just stay with it. Now I know my time’s coming, so I just got to play.”
An excellent athlete who has battled some injuries during his short time at CU, Mikell has recently moved to running back but has versatility.
“Wherever we put him, he works his butt off and give us everything he has, whether special teams, now he’s at running back, he was at receiver, he’s been at safety,” CU head coach Deion Sanders said.
The 6-foot-1,195-pound Mikell, who missed the 2024 season with an injury, played his first career scrimmage snaps in the Buffs’ 24-17 upset of then-No. 22 Iowa State on Oct. 11. He played 12 snaps and carried the ball five times for just six yards, but CU’s sees great potential in him.
“The kid is a baller, never complains, practices his butt off when he’s healthy,” Sanders said. “Great kid. He’s one of those type of kids that you want in your program. I love the way he goes about life and the way he goes about the game.”
Rated a four-star recruit by 247Sports.com coming out Statesboro (Georgia) High School in 2024, Mikell had 31 scholarship offers, including from some of the biggest programs in the country. He took visits to Georgia, Georgia Tech, Indiana, South Carolina and Tennessee before signing with the Buffs.
The opportunity to play multiple positions at CU was attractive to Mikell.
“That’s another reason why I came here, too, so I can show my versatility because I know Coach Prime, he’s a guy I know that could really do it,” Mikell said.
In 2023 and 2024, the Buffs had one of the best two-way stars in college football history with receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter, who won the Heisman Trophy last year.
Receiver/cornerback Isaiah Hardge and offensive lineman Tyler Brown, who practiced at defensive line, have also played both sides of the ball.
Mainly a receiver during his time at CU, Mikell recently moved to running back because of injuries. The Buffs came into the year with just four scholarship running backs and two of them – Simeon Price and DeKalon Taylor – have missed the last three games with injuries.
Dre’Lon Miller moved from receiver to running back to fill a void when the Buffs played BYU on Sept. 27 and again at TCU on Oct. 4, but he was injured and missed the Iowa State game. That gave Mikell an opportunity.
“I was just waiting on my time to come,” he said. “My coaches were talking to me after the TCU game about it. I was just waiting for it to come and actually do it in practice and stuff, and it’s been going really good. I’ve been really doing good at it, so I feel comfortable with it.”
At Statesboro High, Mikell rushed for over 1,600 yards and 10 touchdowns in his prep career. He also played quarterback, throwing 11 touchdown passes. And, he played defensive back, intercepting two passes on defense.
“It feels more like just when I was in high school,” he said. “I just feel like I’m getting more comfortable every day. I’ve been doing a lot better, so it’s more of like a process type of thing.”
Mikell, who claims to be the fastest player on the team, said he feels ready to play wherever he’s needed, even on defense.
“I wouldn’t put my own self in one position,” he said. “I feel like I can do a lot, so … when the time comes and they need me in that position, I know I can do it and (Sanders) knows I can do it.”
Through the rest of this season, Mikell may not have a featured role, but he could make an impact. And Sanders hinted that Mikell’s future, in 2026 and beyond, could be bright.
“I can’t wait ’til the spring,” Sanders said, “because we really identified what we think he is and he definitely will still have an opportunity to play both sides of the ball because that’s who we are. But we want to see him a little more on the defensive side, as well.”