The good news for the Colorado Buffaloes is that they didn’t give up 50 or more points in their first game in three weeks. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to save their season.

A 29-22 loss to the West Virginia Mountaineers takes the Buffs out of bowl contention and effectively ends their season with two games left. Despite that, numerous fans and media members walked away feeling more positive about the future of Deion Sanders‘ team than they have all year, thanks to the fight they showed and the emerging stars.

Here are the four players who stood out in Colorado’s frustrating loss to West Virginia.

QB Julian Lewis

One of the primary reasons Colorado fans woke up this morning a little more hopeful about their team is Lewis. Once the true freshman got his feet underneath him in his first start, he looked like a veteran commanding the offense behind a makeshift offensive line. Lewis’s poise and ability to create in the pocket were a bit unexpected, but his arm talent was on full display. This game is not even close without Lewis under center, and it’s a promising sight for the Buffs.

DT Brandon Davis-Swain

Davis-Swain has been an on-and-off player for the Buffaloes’ front-7, but on Saturday, he had his best game of the season. The sophomore defensive tackle was a force to be reckoned with in the middle of the field, racking up four tackles, including a sack. His forced fumble was a turning point that kept the Buffaloes in the game, down 9-0 after a failed fourth-down conversion.

WR Joseph Williams

While Omarion Miller was Colorado’s top wideout, Williams was not far behind. The sophomore emerged early in the season as a deep threat, but he’s continued to develop his game to work within the numbers. The Tulsa transfer appears to be developing a connection with Lewis, which, if given time, could turn into a special duo for Colorado.

S Tawfiq Byard

If you just looked at the stat sheet, you’d have no idea that Byard was forced to miss the first half due to a targeting penalty against Arizona. There’s no question that Byard likes to hit people, but his presence on the defense made an incredible impact to open the second half. The sophomore safety was part of their midseason renaissance, and he’ll play a significant role in the team’s future.

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