In a blow to Coach Prime’s offensive lineup, OL Ethan Boyd decided to retire early from football. The former Michigan State tackle committed to Sanders’ Colorado in April within 48 hours of entering the transfer portal.

Standing tall at 6-foot-7, 320-pound, Boyd recorded 313 snaps on offense at right tackle in 12 games for the Spartans, out of which he started in 3.

Boyd had always dreamed of playing for Michigan State

Born in East Lansing, Michigan, Ethan Boyd had rooted for Michigan State since childhood. A former Spartan OL and a Spartan fan, Ethan remembers the first time he saw a Michigan State football game to this day.

It was October 2009 when the Spartans had one of their closest near-upsets, this time against an undefeated top-10 Iowa team. Throughout the nail-biter to the end, the Hawkeyes scored just as the clock ran out to steal the win. Boyd, who had witnessed the 2015 Big Ten title game in which Michigan State reached the College Football Playoff, thought little before entering Michigan State as an OL after graduating from East Lansing High School.

A former 3-star offensive tackle from the 2021 recruiting class, Boyd spent three years with the Spartans. As Ethan redshirted through 2021, he took his time developing his skills and physical shape. The patience and hard work paid off as he scored 22 snaps against Central Michigan in the season-opener. He also got his first career start against Minnesota, collecting 32 snaps. Boyd was also named Academic All-Big Ten honoree for the second year in 2023.

Under Coach Bill Feraco’s tutelage, the offensive line put up some gaudy numbers in 2020—averaging over 30 points (32.8 to be exact) per game. Ethan had also been a two-time first-team All-CAAC Blue Division honoree. Boyd took all years of this experience under his belt when he joined Deion’s Buffs as an OL for the fall.

Ethan Boyd retires from the Colorado Buffaloes

It shocked the Buffs fans when Buffs beat writer Brian Howell posted on X that Ethan Boyd would not be a part of the training camp on Monday. When a curious fan questioned Howell about the reason, he said that he had been informed that he decided to quit football. Such a decision is indeed unexpected from the OL, who was on scholarship and had two years of eligibility left.

While there has been no official confirmation or explanation from the OL, fans are only left in the dark with all the speculations. But, indeed, this sudden retirement will not hinder Coach Prime’s game plan. OL Jordan Seaton is supposed to be Shedeur’s left tackle, while OT Kahlil Benson will do everything to stick to his “DT2—Don’t Touch 2” pledge. Sanders has also beefed up the offense with other big boys like Peyton Kirkland and Zack Owens, who are equally massive as Ethan.