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Ezra Christensen Eligibility Case UPDATE, Colorado's DL Name Their Standouts & More Inside Practice

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“That's week four here at the University of Colorado for Spring Football Practice. This is the next time we are here, it is game week, kind of game week, spring game week. We'll take what we can get at this point of the season.”From the transcript

Get the latest Colorado Buffaloes spring football update as we break down Ezra Christensen’s eligibility situation, the biggest defensive line standouts from inside practice, and what it all means for Deion Sanders’ team heading toward the spring game. Christensen is on Colorado’s official 2026 roster after transferring from New Mexico State, and 247Sports reported his eligibility battle had reached a successful finish as spring camp opened. We also dive into why Santana Hopper, Dylan Manuel, Quency Wiggins and the rest of Colorado’s rebuilt front are generating buzz, with CU officially describing the defensive line as one of the most reshaped units on the roster this spring. Inside this Buffs practice report, get the latest on Colorado football’s trenches, Coach Prime’s evolving defense, and why this defensive line could be one of the team’s biggest storylines in 2026. Go inside CU Buffs practice with Jake Schwanitz for the latest news on Coach Prime & Colorado football.


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Ezra Christensen Eligibility Case UPDATE, Colorado's DL Name Their Standouts & More Inside Practice

DNVR CU Buffs Podcast

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DNVR CU Buffs Podcast — Ezra Christensen Eligibility Case UPDATE, Colorado's DL Name Their Standouts & More Inside Practice. Machine-transcribed; use the interactive transcript above to jump the player to any line.

That's week four here at the University of Colorado for Spring Football Practice. This is the next time we are here, it is game week, kind of game week, spring game week. We'll take it. We'll take what we can get at this point of the season. But defensive line day on the podium, we had coach Dante Carter, Dylan Manuel, Santana Hopper. I feel like we learned a lot. And really the main thing for me is coach Carter is giddy about this route. He was talking about run defense, and obviously all the stories from last year, how bad they were, how can you be better this year? He said y'all are going to see in the fall, and he said that with a smile on his face. He seems very confident in this group. Didn't really go out and mention it by name, but he mentioned all the defensive linemen seem to be making plays, though. It seems to be clear that there is a small group that is leading the charge so far, and that would be led by Santana Hopper, Dylan Manuel, who was on the podium in Ezra Christensen as well. Let's start off with Ezra Christensen. I asked coach about him, said he's very twitchy. He's going to make a lot of plays for this team in the fall on the eligibility case.

They're moving forward as if he's going to play it. There's really no update on that at all. So apologies for those who are hoping on one today, but that's really it. They're planning on just playing Ezra and him being available for this team as we go through the off season into the fall. So I mean, good news. I think no news is good news on that front so far. We'll see what this summer brings in terms of the eligibility cases. You know we're not done yet when it comes to this sport, and we're in college football is that right now. Coach Carter also mentions Santana Hopper. Santana's got a six year old little boy and how that's been able to drive him, how he's been able to lead this group. Also, you know, coming in with that CFP experience, I mentioned that to Santana, asked him about that, how he thinks that's going to help him, you know, kind of be a leader and help lead this group. He said it wasn't enough. He said just getting there was not enough. He was a clear hunger in his eyes and what he wants to do this year. He was also talking about why he came to Colorado, said playing against bigger schools. He just wants to know that he can play ball. That's what he came here for. And we'll see it on the field this fall, but as you know, Santana Hopper

extremely productive at Tulane last year was their best defensive player and is already looking in the early days of camp like the bus best defensive lineman. Dill Maniel, he threw out a few standouts for him so far and the defensive side of the ball mentioned Mitchell, mentioned Cree Thomas who it's been apparent to everyone who's watched anything for Spring football. Those guys are ballin' out, but he also mentioned Quincy Wiggins. He mentioned Tyler Moore and he also mentioned Santana Hopper on the other. It's never too late for a four seasons AC tune up. Schedule yours now in say $50 only 89.95 every tune up is backed by an industry leading one year no breakdown guarantee for peace of mind all year and it's all backed by your trusted local experts. Got a plumbing or electrical emergency call for seasons. He and your cooling not working. You know who to call for seasons thinking about a whole home generator. They've got you covered it for seasons. They guarantee same day installation for all your heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical and generator needs

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We heard earlier this week when talking to coach Gunner and the offensive line coach is about Quincy coming in a little bit overweight, but it seems like he has really come along, really attack this off season. And it's projecting into a difference maker on the offensive line for this group. He's at least been given a defensive line group out here, some fits. Also today, really, a main takeaway, man, and just seeing it when Dylan Manuel comes up on the podium and then Santana right after that, Ezra was actually in the room kind of videotape and joking with those guys as they were going through their media. But this is, many people would use the word undersized. This is a short, squatty, strong defensive line group, man. They're going to have a natural leverage advantage in a lot of matchups, especially going to get bigger offensive lines. We already know how strong guys like obviously Santana Hopper and Ezra Christianson are just put on the tape. But Dylan Manuel as well, and Tyler Moore also getting a shout out from Dylan Manuel. All those guys are in that profile of, maybe last year, you think of guys like Jihib Otis,

you think of other players of defensive line, much more big and posing. But this year, it's a focus on leverage, it's squatty. It feels like they learned a lot of lessons from bringing in Chodose Wanko two years ago and how he was able to be a difference maker that fire, hydrant body type in the middle of the defense. Well, now you've got about three or four of them. So obviously, pending Ezra's eligibility case we'll see exactly once we get clarification on that. But again, they're moving forward as they go play. This is a group that I think is going to give guys a lot of issues out here and pull some field and out on the road this year. Just me today, that's the end of week four. We'll catch you on next week's Spring Game Week. Let's go. Dear Uncharted, the Toyota Tacoma doesn't need lines on a map. It follows the unfollowed, the untamed, the unseen. Tacoma's available I Force Max engine charts its own path and an available 3D multi-terrain monitor has your back. So wherever adventure leads is where it all begins.

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