Anyone who has followed Colorado football for an extended period knows the Buffs currently have their most talented signal caller since Kordell Stewart in Shedeur Sanders. For those same fans, it was painful to watch Sanders take hit after hit last season while trying to play through injuries toward the end of the season.

While another season of experience should allow Sanders to get the ball out quicker in an offense catered to his strengths, upgrades were needed along the offensive line. Head coach Deion Sanders secured the services of offensive line coach Phil Loadholt, an NFL veteran and star in the old Big 12 for the Oklahoma Sooners, and talented hog mollies from the transfer portal. If this group can gel quickly in front of Shedeur, the Buffs can easily go bowling this season.

Here are our projected starters and backups for Colorado's 2024 offensive line:

Starting right tackle: Kahlil Benson

Kahlil Benson brings experience and a mean streak to the CU line. Benson played in 24 games for the Indiana Hoosiers with 17 starts over the past two seasons and has shown an ability to stonewall rushers in the passing game.

Starting left guard: Tyler Brown

This fall, we will finally see Tyler Brown's first appearance in a Buffs uniform. Brown, a community leader and fan favorite after an unfair eligibility ruling from the NCAA in 2023, is a former third-team FCS All-American.

Starting center: Hank Zilinskas

A homegrown prospect from the 2023 recruiting class, Hank Zilinskas has taken hold of the starting center position after playing in 11 games with two starts as a true freshman.

Starting right guard: Justin Mayers

One of the most impactful transfer pickups this offseason, Justin Mayers played 35 games over five seasons at left guard for UTEP. Mayers is rated as the No. 16 interior offensive lineman in the portal, according to 247Sports.

Starting left tackle: Jordan Seaton

The big fish of Colorado's 2024 signing class, Jordan Seaton is a former five-star prospect who should assume starting duties at left tackle. Even at a school with a long history of producing great offensive linemen, Seaton can go down as an all-time great.

Backup: Yakiri Walker

Yakiri Walker brings valuable experience to the bench as he played in 17 games for the UConn Huskies over the past two seasons. Pass-blocking is his main calling card. Last season, he had five games with a pass-blocking grade of at least 70.0, according to Pro Football Focus.

Backup: Tyler Johnson

Tyler Johnson is a starting-level talent that CU can bring onto the field to give either guard a rest. Listed as a four-star transfer by 247Sports, Johnson is a big man at 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds.

Backup: Wyatt Hummel

Star player: The entire unit

I'm bullish on CU's 2024 outlook because of this rebuilt offensive line. During fall camp, coaches have praised this line's ability to help the rushing and passing attacks. If this can be translated into games, CU will have an explosive offense.

Position pipeline

CU worked hard to build depth on the offensive line this offseason. Upperclassmen include OT Ben Reznik, G/T Kareem Harden and OT Phillip Houston. These players can step into the lineup as needed and will get playing time on special team units.

The Buffs have also secured their future with younger transfers such as Zack Owens (Clemson Tigers) and Payton Kirkland (Longhorns Wire). These two massive guards tip the scales at over 350 pounds and could be tremendous assets in helping the running game. CU also secured Seaton's former IMG Academy teammate, Cash Cleveland, as an incoming freshman. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound Cleveland will get time to grow into his body during his rookie season.

This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Getting to know the players within Colorado's rebuilt offensive line