When the Colorado State football team took former Texas Longhorns wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. out of the transfer portal this offseason, it was a big deal. Moore Jr. is the No. 20 overall player and No. 6 wide receiver in the portal class according to 247Sports, and fans immediately realized he could be a great addition to Colorado’s receiving room.
What many didn’t expect was how impactful his leadership would be.
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New offensive coordinator Brennan Marion recently spoke out about Moore’s presence, and his praise went well beyond production. In an interview with On3’s Pete Nakos, Marion compared Moore’s leadership to that of a quarterback.
“He makes everyone in the building better just by his leadership,” Marion said. “At the end of the day, I would be surprised if he wasn’t the captain of the team because he just elevates the room. He’s almost like a quarterback. He’s just the guy that walks in and he has that energy and that energy.”
That’s a major compliment, and it speaks to how this receiving room will work for the Buffs in 2026.
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Marion has known Moore Jr. for many years. He was the primary recruiter who brought him to Texas in 2022 when he served as passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. That season, the Longhorns ranked in the top 25 in the country in scoring offense averaging 34.5 points per game. Marion, meanwhile, coached Big 12 receiving touchdown leader Xavier Worthy, who was later selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 28th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Marion knows how to maximize his receivers, and now he’s reunited with Moore Jr., who finally has a chance to fully work with a coach who believed in him coming out of high school.
Moore Jr. is expected to be the No. 1 receiver in Colorado’s offense. For the first time since the days of Shaddell Sanders and Travis Hunter, Colorado’s offense is drawing attention. Marion brings a creative, up-tempo, must-see system paired with former five-star quarterback Julian Lewis and a legitimate receiving threat.
How it all comes together this spring will be one of the most intriguing storylines before the season kicks off in September 2026.
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Brennan Marion praises DeAndre Moore Jr.’s leadership impact
