Last year, safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig was the heart of a Colorado defense that made significant improvement over the previous season.
Silmon-Craig is now in the NFL, trying to earn a spot with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but his impact on the Buffaloes will still be felt this year.
Junior safety Carter Stoutmire has been mentored by Silmon-Craig the past two years and is aiming to step into his shoes this season.
“Really, what Cam was for this defense last year, I’m just trying to be what he was last year,” Stoutmire said. “Just going out there, making plays, really, wherever they put me. I’m just ready to play ball.”
The son of 11-year NFL veteran safety Omar Stoutmire, Carter came to CU out of Prestonwood Christian (Texas) Academy in 2023 and has done a bit of everything for the Buffs’ defense.
“Carter, as we all know, is a little bit of a Swiss Army Knife for us,” CU defensive coordinator Robert Livingston said. “Can play outside, play in the slot, play in the post. I’m excited to kind of get him to one spot, so he can grow there.”
Stoutmire played cornerback as a freshman in 2023, even making one start. Mostly filling a backup role, he posted 11 tackles.
This past year, he played in all 13 games, including three starts at safety for an injured Shilo Sanders and the last four games as the starting nickel in place of injured Preston Hodge. He finished ninth on the defense in total snaps played (526), while ranking sixth in tackles (42) and tied for third in pass breakups (seven).
“It’s great,” he said of the experience from last year. “Just being able to get more experience at different positions. Whenever they could throw me out at any position, I just know I’ll be ready.”
Although he’s played multiple positions on the defense, Stoutmire said he doesn’t have a preference.
“They could put me anywhere,” he said. “I feel like I could produce at a high level wherever they put me. Either they put me in the post, nickel or corner – anywhere they put me, I’m just ready to play.”
With Silmon-Craig and Sanders off to the NFL, Stoutmire is likely to settle in at safety – and possibly fill Silmon-Craig’s leadership role, as well.
“I see Cam as a big brother,” Stoutmire said. “Last year he really took me under his wing. We had a whole schedule last year. Even when I wasn’t playing at safety, every Monday we come back up here watch the whole game film. … Then we’d go to coach Rob’s office right after that and get the game plan. And then he just tried to teach me all the little things on how to be a pro and just try to do things the right way, doing extra work, watching film.
“I really appreciate what Cam did last year for me, just taking me under his wing, just showing me the ropes.”
Stoutmire has had great mentors his entire life. Not only was his father a pro, but he was a teammate for two years in Dallas with current CU head coach Deion Sanders and current CU cornerbacks coach Kevin Mathis, who have known Stoutmire since his youth.
“I just feel like he really prepared me,” Stoutmire said of his father’s influence. “When I came here, I didn’t think it was much that I was missing that he hadn’t told me already. So just being ready for the college schedule, meetings, all that, I was just bred for football. Long, early mornings, late nights, just putting in extra work, that’s never been an issue for me.
“Growing up with him, he’s been a workaholic, so I’m a workaholic. I was just bred into it. I feel like he really just helped me get to this point where I am.”
This year, though, could be a big one for Stoutmire as he finally gets an opportunity to be a full-time starter.
“My dad talked to me right after the (2024) season ended, and all of us, we’ve all talked about this is a year we all can go to the league and change our lives forever,” Stoutmire said. “So we’re just trying to take a next step this year, and just take our games to the next level. There’s so much we can improve on from last year.
“Last year, it was a good stepping stone for me but this year, I really want to not just be one of 11; I want to go out there and dominate games and take over games.”
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