The Colorado football team is adding more experience to its competition on the offensive line.
On Saturday, Leon Bell, a former starting tackle at California, committed to the Buffaloes and head coach Deion Sanders, as did former Baylor defensive tackle Samu Taumanupepe.
The 6-foot-8, 330-pound Bell played in 10 games, with eight starts, this past season at Cal. Overall, he played 583 snaps for the Bears, all at right tackle. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed three sacks and 20 quarterback pressures.
Bell began his career with two seasons (2021-22) at Kilgore Community College, earning first-team All-SWJCFC honors in 2022. He then played the 2023 and 2024 seasons at Mississippi State, playing 66 total snaps, while making one start at right tackle.
Texas A&M defensive lineman Samu Taumanupepe (88) runs onto the field during an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Bell is the fourth transfer addition with starting experience at tackle, joining Bo Hughley (Georgia), Jayven Richardson (Missouri) and Taj White (Rutgers).
In addition, the Buffs return Larry Johnson III and Andre Roye Jr., who combined for 10 starts at right tackle this past season.
The Buffs have also added two experienced starting centers in Demetrius Hunter (Houston) and Sean Kinney (Lafayette) and an experienced starting guard in Jose Soto (Sacramento State).
Taumanupepe is a 6-foot-3, 376-pound defensive tackle with two years of experience remaining.
This past season, he played 27 snaps for Baylor, recording two tackles and a pass breakup. He played his first two seasons at Texas A&M, redshirting in 2023 and appearing in three games overall. He had six tackles in 20 snaps in 2024.
Taumanupepe is the eighth defensive line addition of the offseason, including the seventh transfer.
Overall, CU has had 38 transfer additions this offseason and unofficially has filled 74 scholarship spots.