Michael Pollock, who has spent the past two years as a quality control analyst for the Colorado football team, will now lead the Buffaloes’ special teams units.

On a video posted by Thee Pregame Show, Pollock was introduced to the team as the special teams coordinator.

“I’m excited,” Pollock told Thee Pregame Show. “I think it’s a great opportunity for me personally and professionally. I think we brought in a couple of really good weapons that’s gonna make my job a lot easier.”

Pollock has worked with CU head coach Deion Sanders for the past four years, including the 2021 and 2022 seasons at Jackson State. Pollock had various roles at JSU, including as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, offensive line coach and director of football operations.

During his career, Pollock has also been a high school head coach in Georgia for nine seasons.

He has also been an assistant coach and athletic director at the high school level. A 1993 graduate of Georgia, Pollock was a long snapper for the Bulldogs.

Tommie Robinson led CU’s special teams this past season.

The Buffs had a roller-coaster year in that phase of the game.

One issue that has plagued the Buffs during Coach Prime’s two seasons is the inability to send kickoffs into and out of the end zone for touchbacks. Because the Buffs struggled to kick deep, they allowed 53 kickoff returns, the most in the nation and 15 more than any other team in the Big 12.

The Buffs have seemingly fixed that issue this offseason by landing Louisiana Tech transfer Buck Buchanan. This past year at Louisiana Tech, Buchanan had touchbacks on 51 of 56 kickoffs (91.1%) and the Bulldogs allowed just four returns all season, the second fewest in the country, behind Arizona (two).

During the video by Thee Pregame Show, Pollock met with the special teams players and told them he loves what Buchanan brings to the table.

“I thought last year because of (short kickoffs), we spent way too much time having to work on kickoffs,” Pollock told the group. “We’re gonna make it easy this year; kick it out of the back of the end zone, line up at the 25 and let’s go.”

CU will also have a new punter, as Kansas transfer Damon Greaves has joined the team. He is set to replace Mark Vassett, who has graduated.

Kicker Alejandro Mata is set to return. A junior this past season, he was 12-for-15 on field goals and 55-for-55 on extra points.

Transfer changes

The football transfer portal window could be changing again. On Tuesday at the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) convention in Charlotte, N.C., head coaches voted unanimously in favor of a proposal to move college football’s portal window to a 10-day period from Jan. 2-12.

It was just a few months ago, in October, that the Division I Council shortened the time players had to enter the portal from 45 days to 30, separating those into two periods: 20 days from Dec. 9-28 and a 10-day period from April 16-25.

By getting approval at the AFCA convention, the proposal will now go to the NCAA oversight committee and the Division I Council for final approval. If approved, the single, 10-day window in January could go into effect during the 2025-26 school year. Coaches were in favor of the change because of the impact the December window had on the postseason this year. Many players around the country entered the transfer portal and skipped bowl games in December. Sun Belt Conference champion Marshall had to opt out of the Independence Bowl because too many players entered the portal. CU had a few players, including starting linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green, unavailable for the Alamo Bowl last month after they entered the portal.