Senior Day

Even though I have been very critical of many of the seniors and the mistakes they have made this year, there are many of them who have been fighting hard, (generally) setting the right example for the younger players, and putting it all on the line for their last year.  The most impressive to me are the unsung heroes of the team, guys who are the ones who Embree is talking about when he discusses the program’s talent level, but guys who have given their heart and soul to the program.  Here is a little about each of CU’s 28 seniors, who will play their last game at Folsom Field on Saturday: 

§  LB Patrick Mahnke, by no means the most gifted player on the field, but has played through multiple injuries and continues to make plays.  He has always done whatever the coaches have asked him to do, playing multiple positions over the years, multiple special teams units.  He is one guy who could get some sleeper “Buffalo Heart” votes.

§  Two linebackers gave it up for the team and switched to FB in the Spring.  Evan Harrington switched got a few catches and even his first carry!  Tyler Ahles didn’t play as much as a FB but switched back to LB and has made some plays late in the season.

§  We had a lot of offensive seniors who looked to get some plays this year but some in different ways than expected.  I appreciate RB/DBsBrian Lockridge and WR/DB Jason Espinoza making their moves to try and help the team on defense; WRs Kyle Cefalo and rent-a-senior Logan Gray have occasionally been go-to guys when other receivers have disappeared (although Gray made 3 bonehead plays vs. USC).

§  Ryan Deehan has been a nice all-around TE, but never did quite live up to his hype and have the breakout season many expected.  It was thought he would have a much bigger part of the offense but just didn’t get that involved.  Matt Bahr was a converted lineman who was a decent blocker and even got a catch or two.

§  Ethan Adkins has quietly plugged away at LG and might get a little love from NFL scouts.  He has played a lot over four years and never got the attention that others received but always seemed to work his way into the lineup.

§  It’s too bad DB Travis Sandersfeld was so easily injured throughout his career whenever he started to get playing time.  He showed some flashes but has had many leg injuries and has definitely lost a step.  He has been a great ST contributor over the years.  Fairview’s Arthur Jaffee was also a ST stalwart but could never really crack the lineup as a DB.

§  DL Curtis Cunningham has toiled away in the defensive trenches for 4 years and no matter what always seemed to be starting; two guys who were walk-ons but earned scholarships this year were DEs David Goldberg, who played a lot and started a few games and Tony Poremba, who also earned earned a start before succumbing to concussion problems.

§  Although he made one of the worst plays of the year when he let the WSU receiver get behind him, S Anthony Perkins has been an emotional leader on and off the field.  The defense sorely missed his presence and influence on the field at the end of last year and the last few games this year.  I hope he gets back for Arizona, or at least one of the road games.  He is a front runner for the “Buffalo Heart” award given by the fans.

§  And, of course, we can’t say enough about Rodney “Speedy” Stewart!  He has been the do everything guy for us this year, leading rusher, second leading receiver, punt and kickoff return man and special teams coverage man even!  Both of the first two stats are with him missing 2+ games.  He is the all-time leader in all-purpose yards.  He was an afterthought as a recruit, coming along for the ride with cousin Doug Rippy, behind “all-everything” Darrel Scott and highly rated Ray Polk.  However, he had heart and earned the starting job as a freshman and never really relinquished it when healthy for four years.  His attitude, strength, churning legs and quick feet will be sorely missed.

That first list (above) actually ended up being longer than I originally expected, but there are many others, some more notable names, which were purposefully not listed until now.  These next five were all considered “Stars” of the team, including two captains, but with all of whom I was very disappointed throughout the season as they were each responsible for numerous huge mistakes, often repeating previous errors, when they were supposed to be the leaders of this team, setting the example for the younger players.  This was the group that really kept this team from going anywhere this season.  They accounted for far too many of the penalties, missed assignments and terrible plays that could have made the difference on the season, or at least turned the tide for a couple of wins.

§  I feel badly for the way Tyler Hansen’s four years have gone-he gave up a lot along the way for the Buffs-but I am definitely ready to see some new blood at QB in the coming years.  Although he cut way down on interceptions this year, he repeatedly made tons of terrible overthrows each game on wide open receivers or just plain hung them out to dry.  He threw some very questionable balls where you weren’t sure who there were thrown to, had some bad miscommunications with his receivers, and still too often locked in immediately on his #1 option and threw it right to a DB-I am actually surprised he hasn’t had more picks.  He never utilized his TEs enough, although some of this needs to be on the coaching staff.  Tyler was over coached, or just took it too far, not to run and stayed in the pocket and took too many sacks, or ran too late and only gained a yard or two. It just never really felt like we were being led by a senior QB.

§  Ryan Miller has played every single snap of the season, mostly at RG, with a few garbage time plays at tackle. He is a solid NFL prospect, but has not really lived up to his 5-star billing where he was supposed to be the Left tackle for four years before being a first round pick.  Instead he was supplanted on the left by a converted TE who never played the position before (granted it was Nate Solder) and then on the right by David Bakhtiari and settled as guard.  He played generally well, but all too often the culprit of a critical holding or personal foul call.  Likewise, he was good for at least one totally blown block or play per game.  We need our big-time players to be BIG time players and our captains to be true leaders.

§  Josh Hartigan had some huge plays the last few years, leading the team in sacks the past two, but he definitely has given all of those yards back by overrunning QBs and RBs alike, and just flat out missing tackles where the runner was right there.  Being injury prone probably didn’t help, but he could never find a true position, and would disappear for long stretches.  If he really was one of our “stars”, then same last line as Miller.

§  NT Conrad Obi was way overhyped in camp by both the media and the coaches.  When they said he was dominating practice, maybe we should have been more worried about our offensive line.  He was supposed to have a breakout year every season but it never materialized.  Fellow senior, unsung Coloradan Curtis Cunningham played more and ended taking over the starting position; Obi was a just a piece of the rotation and never made any big plays this year as expected.

§  Tony Clemons is the most frustrating player on this roster for me.  He had so many flashes of greatness, expected as he was a 4-star recruit to Michigan, but so many instances of slacking.  He was reprimanded numerous times by the staff this year, sitting out much of the early games.  It was easy to see him taking plays off throughout the season.  He finally started to show some of his potential again with P-Rich back to take the defenses attention away-the USC game was only his first career 100-yard game.  However, he was all but worthless without Richardson in the lineup, when the team needed him to step up more than ever. 

Then, there were a bunch of guys who were more or less dead weight leftover from the Hawkins era:

§  OG Blake Behrens was hampered with injuries throughout his career after playing a lot as a freshman and sophomore.  It’s unfortunate he never got a chance to be healthy and reach his potential.

§  Shawn Daniels was the little brother of a Buff legend, was supposed to be one the lineman of the future and…was often injured and never really played.  When fellow senior center to be Mike Iltis quit football to focus on academics this spring (he has ballooned in weight since), Daniels looked to have the inside track at the starting job, but was injured again and surpassed by numerous younger players.

§  Sione Tau was a massive (in every sense of the word) disappointment.  Between weight, academics, work ethic, he never got on the field until this year and was terrible as a offensive lineman, adequate on the ST lines.  David Clark was also on the roster for many years.

§  Jonathan Hawkins never really got on the field, except in dire emergencies and some special teams, because he really wasn’t that good or fast.

§  P Mark Brundage was not a carryover from Hawk, but was definitely dead weight as he couldn’t beat out a frosh with no experience whatsoever.

I will still cheer each and every one of them on Saturday afternoon, and I hope you and 50,000+ will also, whether it’s to thank them for their service as a Buffalo, or just to be thankful that they are moving on.