When Colorado football landed former Texas Longhorns wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. out of the transfer portal this offseason, it was a big deal. Moore Jr. was the No. 20 overall player and No. 6 wide receiver in the portal class according to 247Sports, and fans immediately understood he could be a major addition to Colorado’s receiver room.
What many did not expect was just how impactful his leadership could be.
New offensive coordinator Brennan Marion recently spoke about Moore’s presence, and his praise went well beyond production. In an interview with Pete Nakos of On3, Marion compared Moore’s leadership to that of a quarterback.
“He’s making everybody in the building better just from his leadership,” Marion said. “I’ll be surprised if he’s not the captain of the team when it’s all said and done because he just elevates the room. He’s almost like a quarterback. He’s that guy who walks in, and he has that juice and that energy.
That is significant praise, and it speaks to how this receiving room could operate for the Buffs in 2026.
Marion has known Moore Jr. for years. He was the primary recruiter who brought him to Texas when he served as passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach in 2022. That season, the Longhorns finished top 25 nationally in scoring offense at 34.5 points per game. At the same time, Marion coached Big 12 receiving touchdowns leader Xavier Worthy, who later became the 28th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Marion knows how to maximize his wideouts, and now he reunites with Moore Jr., who finally gets the opportunity to fully work with the coach who believed in him coming out of high school.
Moore Jr. is expected to be the No. 1 receiver in the Colorado offense. For the first time since the days of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, there is legitimate buzz surrounding Colorado’s offense. Marion brings a creative, up-tempo, must-watch system, paired with former five-star quarterback Julian Lewis and legitimate receiving threats.
How it all comes together this spring will be one of the most intriguing storylines to follow before the 2026 season kicks off in September.
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Brennan Marion raves about DeAndre Moore Jr.’s leadership impact
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