As spring practices got underway last month, Colorado senior Ben Finneseth found himself in new territory.

“I’ve been asked to take on a new role to become a leader on the defense,” the walk-on safety said. “And so it’s a learning curve for sure. I was thrown out there the first day of practice, and I’ve never run with the ones before, so I was a little nervous, but I picked up on it pretty quick.”

A fifth-year senior from Durango High School, Finneseth is one of only seven remaining “OBs” — tabbed Original Buffs, as players who were at CU before head coach Deion Sanders was hired in December of 2022.

Finneseth made an impression on the previous coaching staff as a young walk-on in 2021 and 2022 and has continued to make his presence known in the past two years with Sanders at the helm.

He’s been a special teams rock for the Buffs, but with both of last year’s starting safeties — Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig and Shilo Sanders — now preparing for the NFL Draft, opportunity for a greater role is there for Finneseth.

“Old faithful Ben,” Coach Prime said. “I told Ben as of right now, you’re starting. I don’t know if it’s gonna change (at some point).”

Finneseth is doing his best to make sure it doesn’t change.

“My goal is to be a starter on defense and play on all four special teams, so I don’t ever want to leave the field,” he said.

His special teams role is secure. A leader in that phase of the game, Finneseth is a high energy player who had 12 special teams tackles last year.

“A guy like Ben that brings that energy, brings that pride and commitment and can be a four-core guy for us really helps us,” special teams coordinator Michael Pollock said. “Nobody really talks about special teams leaders but Ben is that kind of guy for us.”

Finneseth’s work ethic and leadership, along with an outgoing personality, has allowed him earn Coach Prime’s trust the past two years.

“I’ve made great progress since Coach Prime got here,” he said. “He’s really bought into me. That’s one of the things that’s been super cool for me, is the way that he’s believed in me since day one. It’s been a great process.”

A big part of the process has been embracing and excelling in his special teams role. He has played on kickoff, kickoff return, punt and punt return teams.

“I’ve loved it,” he said. “Midway through the season last year, they asked me to step up more and do more of a coaching role. So, I had to coach a lot of kids through a lot of things too, and so I think that’s what they’re asking to me on defense, too.”

Without Shilo Sanders and Silmon-Craig, the Buffs lack starting experience at safety, but Finneseth has plenty of competition. Carter Stoutmire is also back after starting part of the 2024 season. Reserves RJ Johnson and Savion Riley are also back.

CU added transfers Tawfiq Byard (South Florida) and Makari Vickers (Oklahoma) and talented freshman TJ Branch Jr.

All of those other safeties are on scholarship, but Finneseth is stepping up.

“It’s been a fun role to learn so far, and it’s been tough,” he said. “We got a lot of new guys and a lot of new faces, so communication has been a really big emphasis, and getting around the guys and getting to know each other. But it’s been a good learning curve for all of us, and we’re getting a lot better. So it’s been super cool.”

The entire journey at CU has been cool for Finneseth, and he hopes to complete it on a high note in 2025.

“Man, it’s been a grind, and I’m thankful to the Lord and I’m thankful for Coach Prime, for (defensive coordinator Robert Livingston), for all the coaches,” he said. “As a walk-on, I’ve had to earn every single thing I’ve gotten, and I can’t thank the people around me enough. I’d be nowhere if it weren’t for my teammates and my coaches. So I’m just happy to have made it healthy thus far and to continue to get better.”