Throughout the years, various standards have been used to determine who has been awarded letters at CU (as well as at every school in the nation, as all set their own criteria). From the 1930s until the late 1970s, letters were awarded based on a player seeing action in at least half of the quarters played by CU in a particular season. In recent times, criteria have ranged from a minimum of 100 plays in a season or possessing a special skill (the Bill McCartney Era) to playing at least one snap in at least one game (Rick Neuheisel Era). Under Gary Barnett, and the head coaches since, the Buffs returned to the criteria that McCartney first instituted. In addition, it has been a standing policy since 1982 to award letters to all seniors in the program, regardless of playing time.
Jersey numbers, heights and weights are generally those listed in CU publications (or other sources) in the player's final letter-winning year. Positions are listed in the terminology of the era in which the letterman played; if more than one position is listed, then that player saw substantial game time at those positions. Hometowns are usually the place from which the player came to CU, followed by the high school and any previous institution, be it a junior or senior college.
Information prior to 1940 is limited at best and thus some holes do exist. The football lettermen list was researched and expanded with the help of the late CU athletic historian Fred Casotti in 1999; if you have additional information on yourself or someone on this list, please call the Sports Information Office at 303/492-5626. Please note that this list includes varsity lettermen only; it is not an all-time roster to include those who did not letter or play, nor those who may have lettered those times CU had a freshman or junior varsity team, and also does not include honorary letters for administration, coaches, trainers or managers.
To view the lettermen, sorted alphabetically by last name, click on the links below:
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P-Q | R | S | T | U-V | W | X-Y-Z |
| Player | Years | No. | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown (High School/Previous College) |
| UDOFFIA, Trey | 2017-18-19 | 8 | CB | 6-0 | 185 | Loomis, Calif. (Del Oro) |
| UHLIR, Jim | 1954-55-56 | 55 | C | 5-11 | 200 | Chicago, Ill. (Carl Schurz) |
| UMPHREY, Rich | 1979-80-81 | 51 | C | 6-3 | 250 | Tustin, Calif. (Tustin/Utah) |
| UMU, Frank | 2016 | 50, 90 | DE | 6-4 | 280 | Littleton, Colo. (Littleton) |
| UNGER, Art | 1935-36-38 | 14 | E | 6-2 | 185 | Denver, Colo. |
| USHER, Jack | 1945 | 28 | E | 6-0 | 180 | Modesto, Calif. |
| UTECK, Larry | 1972 | 22 | CB | 6-0 | 190 | Willowdale, Ontario (Toronto Brebuf) |
| UZO-DIRIBE, Chidera | 2010-11-12-13 | 96,9 | DE | 6-3 | 240 | Corona, Calif. (Corona) |
| VAIOMOUNGA, Nate | 2007 | 35 | OLB | 5-10 | 195 | Corona, Calif. (Corona) |
| VAN DIEST, Jonathan | 2018-19-20-21 | 31 | ILB | 6-1 | 230 | Louisville, Colo. (Cherry Creek) |
| VAN GUNDY, Cecil | 1911 | T | ||||
| VAN METER, Harold | 1907 | QB | 5-7 | 145 | Tipton, Iowa | |
| VAN VALKENBURG, Frank | 1963-64-65 | 78 | OT | 6-1 | 190 | Oklahoma City, Okla. (McGinnis) |
| VANCE, Walter | 1901-02 | QB | ||||
| VANDER POEL, Mark | 1988-89-90 | 72 | OT | 6-8 | 300 | Chino, Calif. (Chino) |
| VANDEVENTER, Cliff | 1950-51 | 10 | HB | 6-1 | 175 | Lakeview, Texas |
| VARDELL, Ken | 1959-60-61 | 60 | G | 5-11 | 185 | Dallas, Texas (Highland Park) |
| VARRIANO, Rich | 1968-69-70 | 65 | DT | 5-9 | 230 | Dilworth, Minn. (Dilworth) |
| VASSETT, Mark | 2023 | 15 | P | 6-4 | 225 | Melbourne, Australia (Pro Kick Australia) |
| VAUGHAN, Ruben | 1975-76-77-78 | 75 | DT | 6-4 | 250 | Los Angeles, Calif. (Jordan) |
| VAUGHN, Hunter | 2017-18-19 | 77 | OL | 6-7 | 305 | Parker, Colo. (Legend) |
| VEEDER, Mike | 1966-67 | 89 | DE | 6-2 | 240 | Minneapolis, Minn. (Roosevelt) |
| VENZKE, Lee | 1950-51-52 | 14 | QB | 6-0 | 180 | Denver, Colo. (South) |
| VEST, Howard | 1956 | 60 | G | 6-1 | 195 | Stamford, Texas (Stamford) |
| VICKERS, Lawrence | 2002-03-04-05 | 34, 17 | FB-TB | 6-2 | 230 | Houston, Texas (Forest Brook) |
| VIDAL, Lou | 1920 | C | 165 | Denver, Colo. | ||
| VIGO, Paul | 2010-12-13 | 32 | S-OLB | 6-1 | 205 | New Brunswick, N.J. (New Brunswick) |
| VISGER, George | 1977-78-79 | 78 | DE | 6-6 | 250 | Stockton, Calif. (Stagg) |
| VIVIAN, Dave | 1960 | 29 | HB | 5-11 | 180 | Muskegon, Mich. (Catholic Central) |
| VOGEL, Steve | 1981-82-83-84 | 13 | QB | 6-4 | 210 | Colorado Springs, Colo. (Air Academy) |
| VOLKMANN, Chester | 1928 | St. Louis, Mo. | ||||
| VOSKERITCHIAN, Neil | 1994-95 | 17 | PK | 5-9 | 160 | Arcadia, Calif. (Arcadia/Hawaii/Pasadena CC) |