CU Buffs wide receivers hope passing game found a breakthrough ahead of BYU game
BOULDER — The Colorado wide receivers saw a different Kaidon Salter this time last week.
The re-installed Buffaloes starting quarterback was making it a point to be more vocal, taking extra time to throw with the wideouts and suggesting an offensive breakthrough was about to come after an up-and-down first three games.
That’s exactly what happened in a 37-20 win over Wyoming last Saturday as Salter threw for over 300 yards with completions to nine players and a touchdown each for the Buffs’ top three wide receivers — Omarion Miller, Joseph Williams and Sincere Brown.
“I felt like Kaidon’s approach (last) week was a lot different,” Williams said. “I felt like he was more of a leader and that showed up in the game last Saturday. You could tell he’s really trying to be the leader of this football team now.”
That same Salter has shown up this week as the Buffs prepare to resume Big 12 play on Saturday night (8:15 p.m. ESPN) with an Alamo Bowl rematch against a BYU team that is unbeaten in 2025.
“I don’t necessarily think that (Salter) wasn’t successful the first couple games, it’s just something that we were expecting and for him, it’s understanding the expectation of being in this program,” wide receivers coach Jason Phillips said. “When you follow Shedeur Sanders, who kinda built a culture around here not only with (the) offensive line but with receivers (and) the leaderships, it’s kinda a tough act to follow. I think he’s starting to embrace those things now because those are the things that we keep wanting him to do.”
No one is expecting Salter to be Sanders. CU wants the dual-threat quarterback to use his legs like he did with a 35-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter last week. But the Buffs also have a loaded wide receiver room capable of making the necessary plays to have an explosive passing offense.
“He sees it now,” Miller said. “He sees the offense and what this could be.”
Wyoming cornerback Tyrese Boss (8) tackles Colorado wide receiver Omarion Miller (4) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)Miller was at the forefront of last week’s breakthrough in the passing game.
The oft-injured junior has looked like a future NFL draft pick at times throughout his college career, but hasn’t been on the field enough to produce on a consistent basis. With a hamstring injury suffered in Week 1 firmly in the rearview mirror, Miller led the way with six catches for 88 yards and the game’s first touchdown.
It was a ball that Salter floated to the back of the end zone. He trusted Miller to make the play.
“It took a while, but I’d definitely say that game gave me my confidence back, scoring my first touchdown of the season,” Miller said. “Definitely gave me that swagger back.”
Whether it’s Miller, Williams or Brown, the Buffs have multiple players capable of carrying the load in the receiving room on a week-to-week basis, something that was a key part of last year’s room that sent four players to the NFL.
But they prefer the games like last week where all three of them get in the end zone. That might be required this week for CU to win back-to-back games for the first time in 2025.
“It was super cool to see all of my guys get in the end zone, as well as myself,” Williams said. “It was a really big thing for the receiver room.”
