Colorado football is a program that has featured shining stars from the coaching staff to the personnel on both sides of the ball since head coach Deion Sanders took over.

That star power hasn’t exactly emanated out of the tight end spot.

No longer able to lean on the NFL-bound skills of quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, and an array of receivers hoping to soon be earning professional paychecks, the Buffaloes are in the market for play-makers.

Finding reliable weapons anywhere among the skill position players remains a focal point of spring practices, with the April 19 spring game at Folsom Field only one week away. That includes looking for a spark among a whittled tight ends group trying to impress position coach Brett Bartolone.

CU almost certainly will seek further transfer portal reinforcements at the position before the 2025 roster is set. Luring a dependable threat will be a challenge given the Buffs’ recent track record.

“My message is, you make the personnel,” Bartolone said. “We sat in 10 personnel (no tight ends) last year (because) we had really high-quality receivers. So us as coaches, we look at it with a 30,000-foot view like we’re going to put the best players on the field. Whether that’s Travis Hunter, Will Sheppard, Jimmy Horn, LaJohntay Wester, Omarion Miller, Drelon Miller. We’ve got all these capable wideouts, we’re going to find ways to play in 10 personnel to maximize the players that we have.”

Playing without a productive tight end hardly is unique to CU, as the wide-open attacks fashionable in college football are making the tight end go the way of the fullback. And the lack of a credible tight end threat, or a run game, didn’t stop Shedeur Sanders from leading a prolific attack for the Buffs.

The tight end has been a focal point in blocking for CU’s run game, which would be a commendable contribution if not for the fact the Buffs have boasted the least productive rushing attack in the nation under coach Sanders. As it stands, Bartolone has a wealth of inexperience to work with.

CU’s most productive tight end last season, Sav’ell Smalls, finished with just nine catches for 68 yards in his first year at the position, after converting from defensive end. Zach Atkins put together a solid career at Northwest Missouri State, but he’s also trying to make the jump from Division II. Walk-on Brady Kopetz is heading into his fourth year in the program having played all of 13 plays. Third-year sophomore Charlie Williams didn’t play at UNLV in 2023 or with the Buffs last year.

Besides Smalls, the only other reception made by a tight end last year was a catch for minus-1 yard by Sam Hart, the former Cherokee Trail standout and Ohio State transfer who left the team earlier this spring.

“We used Sav’ell last year in different types of ways,” Bartolone said. “He’s run blocking, he’s in protections, he’s outlets and stuff like that. But now you bring other guys to the mix that can do those things. If you demonstrate that you can run, and you can catch, and do everything that we’re asking a tight end to do on offense in all phases, then you’re going to make the personnel. The best players are going to play.”

Atkins caught 18 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns last season at NW Missouri State. After redshirting in 2022, he caught 12 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown in 2023.

The only other tight end on the roster this spring is Corbin Laisure, a freshman who enrolled early to join the Buffs this spring. Loveland High School’s Zayne DeSouza signed with the Buffs in December and will join the team this summer.