“Rumble, Big Man, Rumble!” Imagine standing at the sideline and watching a behemoth of a man at 6’4” 320 pounds fly by the anchor leg of a 4×100 race. It was a great day in Baton Rouge and this “big man” had a fire in him to prove something – 2019 to 2022: we waited and we waited but with all the injuries, it became quite hard for this OL to leave his mark at LSU. The solution? A quick transfer to Colorado to help Coach Prime prove that the Buffs aren’t “playing for clicks”. But amidst all of this, have you ever wondered what pushes this guy to be an absolute beast? After all, Kardell Thomas was never a household name. So what makes this offensive lineman worth keeping an eye out for?

We can give you one hint: it’s not just his skills. “When kidney disease took him, I made a promise to carry on his legacy. Every bison I raise, every play I make, it’s all for you, Dad,” Thomas shares. For this Buffs star, his father was his “hero”. From the very start, Karl Thomas (Kardell’s father) instilled in him values that would later on push him to work hard to reach where he is now. “My dad taught me everything about being a man – waking me at 6AM for his Budweiser routes, showing me the value of hard work,” Kardell had pointed out. Kardell’s story is sad enough to make a grown man cry and naturally, Deion Sanders, who has always put hard work above everything else, chimed in with praises. “Great young man,” Deion wrote.

For someone who had also lost his father quite early, Kardell’s story hits home for Coach Prime. Now, if you weren’t aware, Deion Sanders was raised by 2 fathers. In his own words: “Two wonderful fathers; one was a drug addict, one was somewhat of an alcoholic.” But don’t let this make you think that Deion’s biological father didn’t teach him anything.

“My biological father, Daddy Sanders he’s the prime side of me,” Deion had pointed out. Much like Karl, Daddy Sanders built the Prime Time alter ego: The man who didn’t waste any opportunity and was resilient and determined to be great – the man, Buffs fans, adore.

For Kardell, Boulder has to be the best spot. You have Deion Sanders, a man who refuses to let his boys feel down (Just look at how Deion practically raised Jimmy Horn Jr.), and then you have the whole Buffaloes squad who are now stronger than ever. We cannot wait to see Kardell Thomas decimate the gridiron and protect his quarterback – he has the flair and he will, for sure, fix the depth that has been lacking from Coach Prime’s O-line.

Not gonna crumble like wafers

When Kahlil Benson left for the portal, it did break a lot of hearts. If there is one thing that made the Buffs O-line sustainable enough was Benson and Jordan Seaton. 2 massive guys doing their all to protect Shedeur Sanders from the collapse.

However, with how the season unfolded and with Shedeur leaving for the NFL, Coach Prime needs a new plan and a better O-line. If there is anything that has plagued Deion and Colorado since 2023, it is the offensive line crumbling like wafers. No more. 

With Kardell in and Deion’s new O-line coach hire, there is a major possibility that the unit’s No. 124 rank in sacks allowed could start looking much better. Gunnar White could put in a ton of work to make the O-line stronger and more resistant to a collapse.

Still, only time will tell how this unfolds.