After two seasons of mainly riding the bench at Tennessee, Amari McNeill came to Colorado in 2023 looking for a better opportunity.

He found just that and has been a mainstay in the Buffaloes’ defensive line rotation the past two years.

The 6-foot-4, 300-pound senior is aiming for more this year, though.

“I can be very good,” he said.

“Statistically, it’s gonna come but I just feel like playing hard is gonna get me there. For sure if I play hard, the stats are going to be better than last year. Just play hard and I don’t worry about it.”

McNeill played just 93 defensive snaps in two seasons at Tennessee, posting three tackles. With the Buffs in 2023, he played 426 snaps in 12 games and recorded 31 tackles, seven tackles for loss and three sacks. Last year, his numbers were nearly identical (441 snaps, 25 tackles, six TFLs, 3.5 sacks).

Repeating those numbers wouldn’t be bad, but the Buffs believe there’s more in McNeill.

“Amari has been having a good camp,” first-year defensive line coach Domata Peko said. “Really excited for him. The way to take the next step, man, in D-line play is being consistent. … I think consistency is where you’re going to see guys start to climb, and our group is starting to do that here on the practice field.”

McNeill has had peaks and valleys during his two seasons in Boulder and knows he’s got to change that.

“My next step is just being more consistent,” he said.

“That’s all I want to be, more consistent every day. I’m working on that. I am (getting there) for sure.

“It’s just being around these hall of famers and always constantly adding tools to your bag, no matter if it’s a D-line coach or a receiver coach. It’s just great to be on this team.”

McNeill said he has loved his time in Colorado and certainly got the opportunity he was looking for when he left Tennessee. But, he said, “I’m not done yet. I got more to accomplish.”

Ford contract details

On Aug. 7, CU and Buffalo Sports Properties announced a naming rights deal with Mountain States Ford Stores for the indoor practice facility, but financial details for the seven-year deal were not announced.

The Daily Camera, however, has obtained contract information and learned that the deal could bring CU up to $5.095 million during the next seven years.

For naming rights to the Ford Practice Facility, Ford will pay CU $665,000 in the first year (2025-06). That amount is scheduled to increase every year, up to $794,046 in the last year of the deal (2031-32).

However, there is a provision in the contract that if current head football coach Deion Sanders were to leave CU at any point during the next seven years, the value of the contract would drop to $665,000 for each year after his departure. CU and Ford also have options to terminate the deal after five years.

Ford is the first naming rights partner in the nine-year history of the indoor facility, which is 108,000 square feet and supports nearly every CU sport. It features a full-sized football field; a six-lane, 300-meter track; and space for conditioning, practices, and individual workouts.

With the deal, Ford also becomes the presenting sponsor of CU’s live mascot, Ralphie.