Colorado football flips Baylor defensive tackle from SEC program

The Colorado Buffaloes football team secured five players from the transfer portal, including defensive lineman Samu Taumanupepe, who previously committed to Florida. Taumanupepe, a Baylor transfer, stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs 375 pounds, providing a substantial enhancement to Colorado's nose tackle position. Rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and ranked No. 108 among defensive linemen in the portal, Taumanupepe aims to strengthen Colorado's struggling run defense. He completed the 2025 season with two tackles in seven games at Baylor and had previously recorded six tackles in two seasons at Texas A&M. This addition marks Colorado's 13th defensive line recruit and highlights head coach Deion Sanders' effort to improve one of the lowest-ranked defenses in college football. Acquiring Taumanupepe from an SEC program represents a significant achievement for the Buffaloes, with anticipated positive impacts on their 2026 defensive lineup.