Top 10 Colorado Buffaloes Football Players of All Time

Colorado football has never been a program built on comfort.

The Buffaloes built their reputation through toughness, elite defenses, dominant running games, and players who carried the program into national relevance during multiple eras. From the hard-nosed football of the Big Eight years to the explosive teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s, Colorado produced legends who changed the direction of the program forever.

This list isn’t about hype.

It’s about impact, greatness, legacy, and what these players meant to Colorado football history. The Buffaloes have had countless stars over more than a century of football, but these are the ten players who defined the black and gold better than anyone else.

10) Eric Bieniemy – RB (1987–1990)

Eric Bieniemy helped transform Colorado football from a respected Big Eight team into a legitimate national power.

Still the all-time leading rusher in Colorado history with 3,940 career rushing yards, Bieniemy ran with violence, balance, and explosiveness that made him nearly impossible to consistently stop. He became the first player in school history to rush for over 1,000 yards twice, setting the standard for future Colorado backs who followed him.

But statistics only tell part of the story.

Bieniemy was the emotional engine of Colorado’s rise under Bill McCartney. His 1990 season remains one of the greatest individual campaigns in Buffaloes history—1,628 rushing yards, 17 touchdowns, unanimous All-American honors, and a third-place Heisman Trophy finish while helping lead Colorado to its only national championship.

What made Bieniemy special was toughness.

Defenses knew exactly who was getting the football, and it still rarely mattered. He punished defenders between the tackles while still possessing enough burst to break long runs.

Colorado football’s championship identity started with physicality.

Eric Bieniemy embodied it perfectly.

Eric Bienemy Colorado highlights

9) Herb Orvis – DE (1969–1971)

Herb Orvis played defense the way football used to demand it be played—violent, relentless, and unforgiving.

One of the toughest defenders in Colorado history, Orvis dominated opposing offensive lines during the early 1970s and became one of the first truly nationally recognized defensive stars the Buffaloes ever produced. Playing for legendary coach Eddie Crowder, Orvis helped Colorado compile a 24-10 record during his three seasons while constantly wreaking havoc in opposing backfields.

His numbers remain impressive even decades later—32 tackles for loss and 20 sacks despite playing during an era when defensive statistics weren’t nearly as emphasized or documented as they are today.

What made Orvis different was intensity.

He attacked every snap like it personally offended him.

That relentless motor eventually earned him All-American honors, a spot on the Big Eight All-Decade Team for the 1970s, and later induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

A first-round NFL Draft pick by the Detroit Lions, Orvis continued his toughness professionally for a decade.

But in Boulder, he remains remembered as one of the fiercest defenders ever to wear a Colorado uniform.

Hall of Fame: Herb Orvis

8) John Wooten – OG (1956–1958)

John Wooten was far more than a great football player.

He was a pioneer.

As only the second Black player in Colorado football history, Wooten helped break barriers while simultaneously becoming one of the greatest linemen the Buffaloes ever produced. A dominant two-way player who excelled at both offensive guard and defensive tackle, Wooten earned first-team All-American honors while helping lead Colorado to one of the greatest rushing offenses in school history.

In 1957, Colorado led the nation in rushing for the only time in program history, and Wooten’s blocking was a massive reason why. He controlled defenders physically while bringing intelligence and toughness to the line of scrimmage every Saturday.

But Wooten’s impact stretched far beyond statistics or accolades.

After his playing career, he became one of football’s most respected leaders and advocates for diversity in coaching and front-office hiring opportunities through the Fritz Pollard Alliance.

That leadership matters.

At Colorado, Wooten helped establish the toughness and physical identity that later defined Buffalo football.

And decades later, his influence on football still remains enormous.

John Wooten finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame

7) Alfred Williams – OLB (1987–1990)

Alfred Williams wasn’t just the best pass rusher in Colorado history.

He may have been the most intimidating defensive player the Buffaloes ever produced.

Williams terrorized offenses during Colorado’s rise to national championship status under Bill McCartney, finishing his career as the school’s all-time leader in both sacks and tackles for loss. Those records still stand because Williams didn’t just dominate games—he overwhelmed them physically.

His 1990 season helped carry Colorado to the national championship while earning him the Butkus Award, making him the first player in school history to win one of college football’s major postseason awards.

And what separated Williams was attitude.

He played with swagger, emotion, and aggression that perfectly reflected the mentality of those great Colorado defenses. Quarterbacks constantly felt pressure because Williams never stopped attacking.

A first-round NFL Draft pick who later won two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos, Williams successfully carried that same edge into professional football.

But in Boulder, he remains something even bigger.

He represents Colorado football at its toughest.

Alfred Williams

6) Dick Anderson – SS (1965–1967)

Dick Anderson remains one of the smartest and most instinctive defensive players Colorado football has ever produced.

The former Boulder High star became a consensus All-American during his senior season after leading the Big Eight in interceptions and establishing himself as one of the nation’s elite safeties. Anderson’s seven interceptions in 1967 still tie the school’s single-season record today, while his 14 career interceptions remain among the best totals in Colorado history.

But Anderson wasn’t simply a ballhawk.

He understood football at a level most defenders never reach.

His anticipation, angles, and discipline made him the centerpiece of Colorado’s secondary during one of the program’s strongest eras. Opposing quarterbacks constantly underestimated how quickly Anderson could diagnose routes and close space.

Anderson later became a key part of the Miami Dolphins dynasty, winning two Super Bowls including the legendary undefeated 1972 season.

But before all that?

He became one of the greatest defensive backs in Colorado football history through intelligence, toughness, and consistency that defined championship football.

DICK ANDERSON 1ST & ONLY MIAMI DOLPHIN w 2 INT RETURN FOR TD IN ONE GAME (DEC. 3, 1972) (COLORADO)

5) Bobby Anderson – QB/RB (1967–1969)

Bobby Anderson may be the most versatile offensive player Colorado football has ever seen.

At different points during his career, Anderson starred at both quarterback and running back while rewriting the Buffaloes record books entirely. He finished his Colorado career as the school’s all-time leader in rushing while also ranking among the program’s passing leaders—a remarkable accomplishment that highlights just how complete his game truly was.

Anderson’s athleticism made him nearly impossible for defenses to prepare for. He could beat opponents through the air, on designed runs, or simply through improvisation when plays broke down.

But what made Anderson legendary in Boulder was adaptability.

During his senior season, coaches moved him from quarterback to running back after only three games because they believed it gave Colorado the best chance to win.

Anderson accepted it without hesitation.

That team-first mentality helped lead Colorado to major bowl victories while earning him All-American honors and eventual induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

His No. 11 jersey remains retired for a reason.

Bobby Anderson didn’t just produce.

He sacrificed for winning.

1969 Colorado vs. Oklahoma St (All 22)

4) Darian Hagan – QB (1988–1991)

Darian Hagan may be the greatest option quarterback in Colorado football history.

And honestly?

There’s a strong argument he belongs among the greatest option quarterbacks college football has ever seen.

Hagan became the engine behind Colorado’s rise to national championship glory during the late 1980s and early 1990s. His leadership, toughness, and explosiveness perfectly fit Bill McCartney’s option offense, and the results were historic.

Colorado won its only national championship in 1990 largely because Hagan consistently delivered under pressure.

His career numbers remain staggering for an option quarterback—over 3,800 passing yards, more than 2,000 rushing yards, and 54 total touchdowns. But statistics alone don’t explain his greatness.

Hagan won.

A lot.

Colorado went 19-0-1 in Big Eight games with Hagan as starter because he rarely made mistakes while constantly putting pressure on defenses through both the run and pass game.

What made Hagan special was calmness.

Big moments never rattled him.

And during the greatest era in Colorado football history, Darian Hagan became the quarterback who made everything work.

Darian Hagan – Folsom 100th Season

3) Joe Romig – OG/LB (1959–1961)

Joe Romig represents everything people admire about college football.

Toughness. Intelligence. Leadership.

A two-time All-American and one of the greatest linemen in Colorado history, Romig dominated both sides of the football while helping lead the Buffaloes to the 1961 Big Eight championship. He wasn’t just an elite offensive guard—he was also an outstanding linebacker, making him one of the most complete players in program history.

And unlike many linemen who go unnoticed nationally, Romig became a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender, finishing sixth in voting during his senior season. That tells you how respected he truly was.

But what separates Romig historically is what he accomplished beyond football.

A Rhodes Scholar, Romig skipped professional football opportunities to pursue graduate studies in physics at Oxford University. That combination of elite athletic achievement and academic brilliance makes his story unique even among college football legends.

His No. 67 remains one of only four retired jerseys in Colorado history because Romig symbolized excellence in every possible way.

Few players have ever represented Colorado University better.

1961 Colorado vs. Kansas St (All 22)

2) Rashaan Salaam – RB (1992–1994)

Rashaan Salaam delivered the greatest season in Colorado football history.

In 1994, Salaam became the only player in Buffaloes history to win the Heisman Trophy after rushing for more than 2,000 yards and scoring 24 touchdowns against elite competition. At the time, only a handful of players in college football history had ever reached the 2,000-yard rushing mark.

And Salaam didn’t just compile empty statistics.

He dominated huge games.

What made Salaam so dangerous was balance. He combined power, vision, and acceleration into one complete package that defenses simply couldn’t contain for four quarters. Colorado’s offense already featured stars like Kordell Stewart and Michael Westbrook, yet Salaam still stood out as the centerpiece.

That tells you how dominant he was.

His 1994 season helped elevate Colorado into national championship contention while becoming one of the greatest individual performances in college football history.

Unfortunately, his life ended tragically in 2016, making his football legacy feel even more emotional for Buffalo fans.

But at his peak?

Few running backs in college football history were better than Rashaan Salaam.

Rashaan Salaam COMPLETE Heisman Higlights 🔥 – 1994 Rashaan Salaam Highlights

1) Byron “Whizzer” White – HB (1935–1937)

More than eighty years later, Byron White still stands alone in Colorado football history.

“Whizzer” White wasn’t just the greatest player the Buffaloes ever produced.

He may have been the greatest athlete in school history entirely.

Long before television and national media coverage made stars easy to market, White became one of the most famous players in America because he did absolutely everything. He ran, passed, punted, returned kicks, intercepted passes, and completely dominated games in every possible phase.

His 1937 season remains legendary—leading the nation in rushing, total offense, scoring, and all-purpose yards while finishing second in Heisman Trophy voting.

But even those accomplishments only scratch the surface.

White also starred in basketball and baseball while later becoming a Rhodes Scholar, serving in World War II, earning Bronze Stars, and eventually spending 31 years as a justice on the United States Supreme Court.

Think about that.

One of the greatest football players in Colorado history also became one of the most important legal minds in American history.

No player has ever represented Colorado athletics with greater excellence on and off the field than Byron White.

And honestly?

Nobody ever will.

#CFB150: CU’s first All-American: Byron ‘Whizzer’ White