While Colorado didn’t have a great season on the gridiron this fall, Omarion Miller and Tawfiq Byard both stood out.
Now, both appear to be on the move.
On Wednesday, it was reported that Byard and Miller both plan to enter the NCAA transfer portal when it opens Jan. 2.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Miller was CU’s top receiver this year, and arguably the top player overall for the Buffs (3-9, 1-8 Big 12), earning second-team All-Big 12 honors in a vote by coaches.
Byard, a 6-1, 195-pound safety, was the Buffs’ top player on defense, earning All-Big 12 honorable mention.
As a junior this season, Miller led the Buffs in receptions (45), receiving yards (808) and receiving touchdowns (eight). It’s just the 11th time in CU history that a player posted at least 40 catches, 800 yards and eight touchdowns.
Miller was fifth in the Big 12 in receiving yards and tied for fifth in touchdown receptions.
In three seasons at CU, Miller caught 66 passes for 1,258 yards and 10 touchdowns. He ranks 21st in program history in receiving yards, tied for 20th in touchdowns and 47th in catches.
Playing behind several talented veterans in his first two seasons, Miller caught a total of 21 passes for 450 yards and two touchdowns in 2023 and 2024, doing most of that work in two games. Against USC on Sept. 30, 2023, he caught seven passes for 196 yards (eighth-most in CU history) and a touchdown. On Oct. 12, 2024, he had an eight-catch, 145-yard performance.
A four-star recruit in 2023, head coach Deion Sanders’ first recruiting class at CU, Miller starred at North Caddo High School in Vivian, Louisiana, before coming to the Buffs.
Miller was one of four CU recruits in 2023 rated with four or five stars and he was the only one still with the team this year. Cornerback Cormani McClain (five stars), running back Dylan Edwards (four) and receiver Adam Hopkins IV (four) all left CU after one season.
In his lone season with the Buffs, Byard led the team with 84 tackles, was tied for third with 7.5 tackles for loss and added an interception and two forced fumbles.
Byard’s interception came early in the fourth quarter in a 24-17 upset of No. 22 Iowa State on Oct. 11. Byard broke his hand early in that 11-play ISU drive, had the hand wrapped and returned in time to make the interception near the goal line.
A transfer from South Florida, Byard didn’t start until the fourth game this season, yet still finished as CU’s top tackler. He also had four pass breakups, and played the second half of the year with a cast on his hand.
The younger brother of Chicago Bears star safety Kevin Byard, Tawfiq played two seasons at South Florida, making 10 starts. He had 54 tackles, eight TFLs and an interception for the Bulls in 2024.
Although the portal does not open until Jan. 2, eight scholarship Buffs have already announced their intentions to transfer.
In addition to Byard and Miller, defensive lineman Jehiem Oatis, cornerbacks Noah King and Teon Parks, linebacker Mantrez Walker and safeties TJ Branch and Terrance Love have also announced their decisions to transfer.
Walk-on kicker Alexander Stoyanovich, who could have been in the competition for a starting role next year, also announced his intention to transfer after two seasons at CU.