Tad Boyle leaves four Colorado freshmen on practice squad for 2026-27 season

Colorado head coach Tad Boyle has effectively placed four freshmen on the practice squad for the upcoming 2026-27 season. The decision narrows the starting rotation to nine players, a sharp departure from the previous year's depth. This roster shift means the four rookies will primarily train in practice rather than playing regular minutes against opponents.

The timeline for this move has been steady leading up to Friday, which marked the 10-day count before the season opener. Colorado hosts Abilene Christian on Nov. 2 to begin the 17th season under Boyle. Last year, the Buffaloes went 17-16 and relied on a large group of contributors. Eleven players appeared in at least 20 games, and seven made at least 10 starts. That level of constant shuffling is unlikely to return this year.

The likely nine-player rotation consists of guards Barrington Hargress, Alex Dickeson, Jalin Holland, Josiah Sanders, and Ian Inman. Forwards Justin Neely, Noah Feddersen, Goc Malual, and David Gomez will round out the group. Gomez's early playing time may be limited as he continues to recover from foot surgery performed a year ago.

The four freshmen are forward Chase Hill, guards Amir Jones and Rider Portela, and forward Eric Jacobsen. They arrived in Boulder through different paths. Portela signed with the team last November. The other three were late additions to the roster last spring. Jacobsen played at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, while Hill is the son of a prominent Division III coach and grandson of a former NBA coach.

Hill described his goal for the year simply as development. He noted that he could have gone to a smaller program to achieve the same result, but chose Colorado first. He plans to develop over the four or five years he expects to be on the team. Jacobsen admitted that accepting a limited role was difficult at first. He said he is trying to earn his place by working hard every day without anything to lose.

Boyle said the situation is fluid and does not mean the freshmen are permanently shut out. He pointed to strong practices by Jones, Jacobsen, and Hill as evidence of their potential. The coach noted that their standing in December could look very different from how it appears in mid-to-late October. He asked the players to prepare mentally and physically so they are ready when called upon.

If injuries do not strike the main rotation, this group of four will not play regularly. Their daily work in practice will be the primary way they contribute to the team's preparation. The Buffaloes will aim to use this depth to create a surprising run in the Big 12 conference.