Colorado’s Derrion Rakestraw enters transfer portal

Colorado Buffaloes defensive back Derrion Rakestraw won’t return to Boulder next season. The soon-to-be grad transfer is opting out to explore his option elsewhere after playing the past four seasons at CU.

At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, the Woodstock, GA native was an original recruit of Mike MacIntyre’s staff as a wide receiver in 2016. He moved to cornerback, then to safety under defensive coordinator Tyson Summers.

By end of his senior year, Rakestraw was the most experienced defensive back on the Buffs roster. He accounted for 109 total tackles with nine pass breakups, two forced fumbles and four interceptions in 41 career games at Colorado.

The Buffs secondary is now one of the Pac-12’s thinnest units going into 2021 even before Rakestraw’s departure. The challenge for the Buffs will be replacing the senior leadership he brought to the table. A task likely to come by way of a transfer to the program.

As it stands right now, Colorado returns Isaiah Lewis and Mark Perry to help fill the void at safety, along with Nigel Bethel, Mekhi Blackmon, Christian Gonzalez and K.J. Trujillo at the corners.