Preston Hodge, a former Liberty teammate and close friend of Kaidon Salter, believes the quarterback’s move to Colorado sets him up for greater success than he had at Liberty. He says the elite guidance at Colorado will help refine Salter’s passing ability and overall performance.
Salter enters the competition for the starting role as an outside favorite, backed by extensive college experience and his proven ability to threaten defenses both through the air and on the ground.
Preston Hodge on Kaidon Salter’s Bright Future at Colorado
At Colorado’s media day, defensive back Hodge spoke confidently about the Buffaloes’ outlook and the return of his former Liberty teammate, quarterback Salter.
Hodge, who described Salter as “a standup guy,” reflected on their time together at Liberty, noting,
“He [Salter] didn’t really have the weapons that he needed to do what he was capable of doing.” I think this year we got those weapons and I think he’s going to, you know, the sky’s the limit for him for sure,” Hodge said.
Having himself made the transition from Liberty to Colorado, Hodge shared advice for Salter on adapting to a new program.
“Stay consistent and believe who you are,” he said. “Everybody’s going to have their own opinions. They love you when you’re good. They hate you when you’re bad. So just being consistent and staying true to yourself.”
Hodge also discussed the growth of the Colorado team since last year, describing the group as “more of a team this year, like a brotherhood.” He highlighted the defensive backs’ chemistry, saying,
“We’re like laughing, playing, like we’re tight… We all want the same thing… that Big 12 championship and that playoffs.”
In addition to praising Salter, Hodge mentioned several other players to watch. He pointed to safety Branch and cornerback Noah King as young talents with “growing up to do” but strong potential.
The veteran defender believes the team’s unity, depth, and offensive upgrades set the stage for a big year, with Salter in position to thrive under those conditions.
“The sky’s the limit,” Hodge said.
Deion Sanders Says Kaidon Salter Could Transform Colorado’s Offense
During his four-year career at Liberty, Texas native Salter threw for 5,887 yards, added 2,013 rushing yards, and accounted for 77 total touchdowns. Now competing for Colorado’s starting quarterback role, he has caught the attention of head coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders.
“Kaidon is a guy with multiple talents,” Sanders said Friday. “He can throw the football, he can run the heck out of the football. Sometimes in practice, you don’t get a chance to see how good he is because when you run the quarterback, you know we can’t hit him. But you can see the burst, the speed, the knowledge with reading the defenses… The kid is going to cause havoc. I’m just telling you, it’s going to be a totally different type of offense from what you’ve seen us do in the past.”
Sanders indicated that no starting quarterback will be named until the week of the season opener against Georgia Tech on August 29, 2025. Salter is competing with Shedeur Lewis for the job.