Colorado pass rush coordinator Warren Sapp and defensive coordinator Robert Livingston have two freshman pass-rushers, Alexander McPherson and London Merritt, humming early in spring practice.
Arden Walker spoke with a confident assurance about the pair making an impact during the 2025 season.
“I promise you, they'll be ready,” Walker said of McPherson and Merritt, per SI. “They're coming along for sure. They've been coming along fast, which I appreciate. As a freshman, that's something I was preached, and I've been telling them the same thing. They've been trying to figure it out because they want to play, and I think they're hungry as well. I really appreciate that because they love the game.”
As SI’s Jack Carlough notes, though, Deion Sanders' staff has done so well stacking talent in the defensive trenches that McPherson and Merrit may not even play.
“It's unclear how many snaps Merritt and McPherson will see next season due to the extensive talent in Colorado's defensive line room, but the two newcomers have seemingly earned the respect of their teammates,” Carlough wrote.
Livingston got a significant pay bump this offseason, landing $1.5 million in 2025 and $1.7 million in 2026. Sapp, meanwhile, got a promotion from GA to a more significant coaching role under Coach Prime this offseason.
When you coach up like the two of them have, your bosses paid up. Between their and Coach Prime’s $54 million extension, money has been flowing into Buffs football.
Should that happen, maybe Sanders does end up at CU for the next five to 10 years.