Well, Deion Sanders’ Buffs lived a double life last season. With one foot in the spotlight and the other stuck in the mud. On one side, they were stacking a 9-win season, flirting with playoff dreams, and pumping out a Heisman winner. On the flip side, some of Prime Time’s pack members were battling major health concerns. But now, the dark days finally sit in the dust. As they take a step closer to recovery, the whole Colorado community stands shoulder to shoulder with them in every inch of their way!

The players? Colorado Buffs’ defensive lineman and Bridgton’s 3-star recruit Nikhil Webb Walker made his much-anticipated debut last season. After transferring from New Mexico State. But destiny had other plans, as Nikhil’s biopsy reports revealed he had lymphoma last year in October. It was a massive setback for a guy whose entire life took a 360-degree turn in a moment. Unlike many people, he stood strong, went through the chemo session, and today the long battle finally meets a happy end.

As Buffs’ dedicated women’s fan club counts, he hits IG stories with his last chemo sessions update. Now, sharing the CU Alumni Matt H.’s X post where he shares the news, saying, “Prime shared that Nikhil Webb-Walker has finished his final phase of chemotherapy!” Matt adds to it, saying, “Continue to pray for him as he continues treatment in Boston.” And the moment this news came out, Buffs’ dedicated aunties page CU Aunties put up a IG story, sending love and positivity to Nikhil, saying, “Sending love to you, nephew @nikhilwalkerr. God is good.” 

It’s no surprise that Nikhil Webb Walker is winning over lymphoma—his strength is truly remarkable. Last year, he bravely shared the news with his team himself, saying, “I tried to keep [the diagnosis] under wraps because I didn’t want it to be a distraction to the team. I wanted to see how you boys do, what you all do, and just keep winning—conference championships, bowl games, national championships. That’s why I’ve kept it under wraps.” He didn’t just confront the fight directly; his mindset was stronger than steel. The man’s a gem, on and off the field.

Last season, he took the field in the first five games, leaving his mark on special teams. He participated in 28 snaps for field goal/PAT and had his initial defensive action versus UCF in Week 5. However, everything changed afterward—his season was cut short due to a lymphoma diagnosis, forcing him to miss the final eight games.

Despite this setback, his influence persisted, resulting in his nomination for Colorado’s Disney Spirit Award. But he is not the only one fighting a battle against health issues.

Deion Sanders’ team’s another victory against setbacks

It’s clear that the Colorado Buffs are a true fighters both on and off the field. Nikhil Webb Walker and Makari Vickers exemplify this fighting spirit. Vickers, a Colorado defensive back, recently underwent successful heart surgery and is now recovering. He expressed gratitude from his hospital bed, particularly thanking Dr. Maria Anderson and the Foothills Hospital medical team for their care. His medical team has not disclosed his specific condition requiring surgery, and his availability for the 2025 season is uncertain. But he is doing good for now!

Well, the moment Vickers shared the news, CU Aunties stepped up in support, reposting his post-op picture on their Instagram story and sending love his way saying, “Prayers for a speedy recovery nephew.” It’s evident that the whole Buffs community is behind Vickers 100% as he makes his comeback.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound defensive back arrived in Boulder as a high-profile transfer from Oklahoma, one of Coach Prime’s many big-name additions. Vickers, a former top recruit, played in 12 games over two seasons for Oklahoma, four of those in 2024. He had 9 tackles and a pass breakup in college, mostly as a freshman at Oklahoma. Right out of high school, he was a top recruit, ranked 83rd nationally by On3 in 2023. Before his health issues, Vickers seemed set to start for Colorado’s secondary, giving them a boost in size and athleticism.

It’s still up in the air if both players will return, but their fight is what really matters. Hope to see them back on the field soon, doing what they do best!