CU Buffs Prodigy’s Draft Stock Skyrockets as 16 NFL Teams Show Strong Interest in Defensive Star

When you ballin’ out like a Marvel superhero on game day, big folks take notice. And that’s exactly what happened on January 12th. A Colorado defensive prodigy (Nope, not Travis Hunter) walked in like a sleeper mid-round pick and walked out with NFL scouts buzzing louder than a Taylor Swift concert. We are talking about 16 teams, y’all. SIXTEEN. That’s like half of the NFL franchise circling him like a vulture. Ready to snag what could be the steal of the 2025 NFL Draft? The Buffs prodigy just flipped the script and his draft stock on Hula Bowl.

It’s pretty clear that the Hula Bowl is the perfect chance for players to showcase themselves to NFL scouts, which can give them a major pro league push. So, like many teams, the Buffs entered it with 6 players, but the one who made the most noise was their defensive end, BJ Green II. Pretty interesting, right? And this defensive star is making major moves in the NFL, meeting with teams like the 49ers, Steelers, Panthers, Chiefs, Giants, Dolphins, Bears, Jets, Browns, Cardinals, Buccaneers, Patriots, Vikings, Saints, Texans, and Colts. Looks like Green actually left a major impact at the Hula Bowl.

When it comes to Green’s impact, it’s worth noting that he truly shone on defense this season. However, we mustn’t overlook his impressive stats during his time at ASU. Throughout three years, Green accumulated an impressive 39 tackles and 6 sacks in 2023. It’s clear that he established himself as a standout player before joining CU.

Additionally, Green also has a special connection with Coach Prime. As Buffs Beats’ Josh Tolle says. “He was his first head coach in Atlanta and turned him away from being a running back to play defense.” Now, with his guidance, Green’s ready to take the next step by declaring for the NFL Draft.

We know that Green will have a significant impact in the pro league because he is already demonstrating his capabilities. In practice, he honed his pass-rushing skills by targeting Sapp while holding a blocking pad. Green’s power was evident when he knocked down the GA, leaving him slightly shaken. With his move to the pro league, Green is nothing but thankful to the Buffs.

Buffs are the ultimate learning curve for BJ Green II

Well, the Buffs came as a blessing to BJ Green II, and he took a chance on Colorado when he opted to spend his final season with the team. Now here’s the catch: Green could’ve had another solid year at Arizona State, but instead, he chose CU. And this is exactly what he thought of as he said, “It’s turned out the way I expected it to.”

We know that’s true, as he is one of the top edge rushers in the Big 12 and a standout player. “Coming here was uncomfortable, but that’s what I needed, and that’s what I needed to get to the next level.” And mission successfully accomplished.

Moreover, Green earned first-team All-Big 12 honors this season, posting career highs in TFLs and sacks. He was an All-Pac-12 player at ASU but wanted more. As Green says, “I needed to put myself in somewhere that’s uncomfortable in order to see what I really am and what I really can do.” Green has grown tremendously at CU. He’s one of the main reasons the Buffs’ defense has been on fire this year. 33 tackles and 7.5 sacks? That’s not mediocre; that’s straight-up rolling.

Any idea how that happened? Well, the answer is very simple. While playing for the Buffs, Green had the chance to learn from Pro Football Hall of Fame Warren Sapp, NFL vet Damione Lewis, and coach Vincent Dancy, and he’s straight-up grateful for it. “I can’t really put that into words what they’ve done for me,” he said.

Green’s soaking up all the wisdom from his coaches—he really respects their experience and loves that they genuinely want him to succeed. Moreover, Green talks to coach Sapp every day, picks his brain, and gets advice from D-Lew and Dancy. Let’s see how all this learning will translate to his performance in the pro league.