If the Colorado football team is to be a contender in the Pac-12 this season, the Buffaloes know their defense has to be stellar once again.
To do that, the Buffs have to figure out how to rebuild a defensive line that lost all three starters to graduation. That could make Leo Jackson III one of the most important players on the team this year.
A senior, Jackson was the top reserve on the defensive front last season, when the Buffs went 10-4 and won the Pac-12 South division. With last year's starters — Jordan Carrell, Samson Kafovalu and Josh Tupou — now training for a shot at the NFL, the Buffs need somebody to step up.