The Camera’s Ryan Thornburn said on 10/16 that the CU coaching staff is putting together the blueprint for a Pac-12 championship-Rose Bowl contending team by 2015, which would be Embree’s fifth season. This year’s few true freshmen who actually did end up redshirting and next year’s true freshmen that play next season would be seniors. However, right now I am more interested in how this team will stack up in 2012, with a year of the Pac-12 under their belts, some familiarity with the teams, and a much more forgiving start to the schedule. Embree and Jon Major have come right out and said that a bowl game is the expectation next year. The 2012 recruiting class is coming together but this post focuses more on who is returning, and how they might contribute next season.
§ Interestingly, after a year with 28 seniors, there will be only 11 seniors on the team next year, and around half of them will garner significant playing time- LBs Doug Rippy and Jon Major, S Ray Polk, DT Pericak, OT Ryan Dannewitz, TE(DL) Nick Kasa. While it is in the realm of possibility, it would be a pleasant surprise if any of the rest of the seniors-DB/LB Vince Ewing, DT Eric Richter, DB/WR Makiri Pugh, WR Dustin Ebner-could break into the two-deep and contribute.
§ Besides losing 28 seniors, with some attrition of players leaving the program and some injuries that will persist, some positions might be thin on bodies, limiting what they can do in spring practices. However, a few recruits, including one “grayshirt” (OL Alex Kelley), will join the team in the spring semester. They are recruiting a few Junior College kids who might be able to come right in and there are a few other freshmen who could be in Boulder early.
§ The coaching staff appears that it will stay intact unless someone gets an incredible offer, which is unlikely. With a year under their belt I think both coordinators will improve and they will all know their players a lot better. This group of players should have a little more discipline and be able to understand and do more of what the coaches ask them, as they hopefully have not ingrained as many of the bad habits from the past regime.
§ The heart of the Buffalo defense returns, having finished the year on a high note shutting down Utah, even without it best player. LB Doug Rippy will return, hopefully full go from his knee injury by summer camp, to play alongside Jon Major (hopefully recovered from any and all ailments) and Derrick Webb who came on late, D-linemen Wil Pericak and Chidera Uzo-Diribe, safety Ray Polk and cornerback Greg Henderson.
§ In general, if everyone is healthy, the LB corps under Brian Cabral should be in fairly good shape next year. Besides the aforementioned three, true freshmen Woodson Greer III and Mullen’s Brady Daigh got some great experience this year and should be regulars for the next few. RFr Lowell Williams will look to get into the mix. We’ll have to see where TFr. KT Tu’umalo and Sr. Vince Ewing settle. Cabral will have some coaching to do, but will have two experienced seniors leading his unit, with some great young talent around them.
§ Besides Boulder High’s Wil Pericak on the inside and Chidera Uzo-Diribe on the outside, CU has few other decent defensive lineman returning, but this is definitely an area of concern as they relied on a lot of seniors were just not very strong this year. TFr Juda Parker got his feet wet and needs to grab hold of the other starting slot outside next year. Nate Bonsu should be fully recovered from an offseason knee injury that bothered and limited him throughout the season and will look to solidify himself in the middle. Super strong Eric Richter will be a senior next year but has never been able to actually get on the field and use his strength. RFr Kirk Poston has not played this year, but will need to be in the rotation next year. They will almost definitely need to rely on a couple of true freshmen to man the line; as of posting there are two DTs committed and two DE/LB types, likely suited for the “Jack”. They are also recruiting a couple of JC guys here as well. The move of underachieving Nick Kasa was surprising because of their lack of depth where they need 8-9 bodies a game moving through the d-line.
§ One of the biggest questions of spring and summer camps will be: Who will win the second cornerback spot opposite incumbent Greg Henderson? Additionally, in the Pac-12, we will also need to identify the number one nickel back. Parker Orms will almost assuredly be in one of those two spots, when he is healthy, with a large group battling for playing time including: redshirting Sherrard Harrington, the injured Jered Bell, Josh Moten, Paul Vigo, Harrison Hunter (walk-on transfer from Fountain, CO and Ft. Lewis) or maybe another true freshman (Embree wants to sign 5 more DBs). With the passing offenses we will face, most of those will play some, especially if this year was any indication. Obviously this is a position of concern, but I think it might end up being a pleasant surprise when it’s all said and done.
§ The next question on defense then will be: Who takes Anthony Perkins’ place next to Ray Polk in the back of the defensive backfield at safety? Terrell Smith has the most experience but TFr. KyleWashington impressed the coaches this season and might have the inside track; if Wil Harlos can get healthy and add a little weight I think he will be hard to keep off the field; KT Tu’umalo or Vince Ewing could also factor in here.
§ However, probably THE biggest question of camp will be on offense: Who will win the starting QB job? It looks to be a three-horse race with Texas transfer Connor Wood vs. current backup Nick Hirshman vs. probable recruit Shane Dillon (and coaches always mention walk-on John Schrock). Although some might think Hirshman’s experience this year would give him the inside track, he didn’t do a whole lot with his time. It sounds like Wood’s size and arm make him the frontrunner-he is prototypical size with great mechanics and was rated the #4 “pro-style QB” in his 2010 recruiting class. He has already been working some with the top receivers some in practice and everyone has raved about him. Supposedly he is also very fast and athletic, not a “runner”, but definitely able to move around the pocket and get outside or run if he needs to do so. Brent Burnette will hang around and throw some balls in drills. Hopefully, Dillon gives a good run but ends up redshirting.
§ It will be very difficult to replace Speedy at RB, but Tony Jones offers a very similar running style, can be effective catching the ball (some drops though) and looked generally good when he got in there, especially against Utah to close the year when Speedy’s ankle greatly limited his production. Jones will still need to improve his pass protection and blocking to be really effective in this offense. Josh Ford, when he can hold onto the ball, has also shown some flashes but also needs to block better. Malcolm Creer looked strong and offered more size before he blew out his knee, could actually end up redshirting next year. Any incoming frosh will be given a shot here. Whoever the QB is, they will need help from the RBs.
§ It looks like Alex Wood moved from TE and is the only possible FB on the roster at this point. They are recruiting this position, which is even less common at the high school level these days, and may still convert someone on roster or coming in, or even phase it some out and use more TEs/“H-backs”.
§ As anyone who has read any of my blog, I had been waiting for DeVaughn Thorton (since moved to WR) and Kyle Slavin (no catches) to break into the lineup and gameplan, but neither did much this season. Therefore, TE has become an important position of need. TFr. Alex Lewis (who split time at tackle as well) was actually listed third on the depth chart to close the year, the highest of the returnees. Nick Kasa thinks he can make an impact here as a senior. Scott Fernandez provides a little size for the jumbo package and could possibly replace Matt Bahr as the blocking TE 9or FB?). I am not sure whatever happened to converted RB Cordary Allen. They seem to be recruiting this position pretty hard and wants to sign three, so I would expect someone new to get in the rotation as well.
§ Another important camp question on offense will be: Who steps it up opposite Paul Richardson at WR? Keenan Canty and Tyler McCulloch (excellent blocker) both played a lot this year but didn’t do much. They will both have their chance but everyone will be given a shot in spring and summer. The move of DeVaughn Thorton bolsters the position with his size. There are a lot of young players waiting in the wings like TFr Nelson Spruce, So. Jarrod Darden, Drew (the younger) Ebner. They already have a few Texas speedsters committed so this is another position where I would expect to see some frosh play next year.
§ The offensive line actually returns some depth, especially inside. They will have to decide who will play center and who moves to guard between Gus Handler, Daniel Munyer and Kawai Crabb. TFr Paulay Asiata should be one guard (Ethan Adkins said he was very physical and would be very good there) with one of the above three at the other. David Bakhtiari is obviously the starter at LT and should start to garner some national and NFL attention. The right tackle will come from the group of Jack Harris, Ryan Dannewitz, and TFr. Alex Lewis (sometimes a TE) and possibly Fr. Brad Mustoe. They are looking at a couple of JC guys as well. I doubt that massive specimen Stephane Nembot will be developed enough to play yet. With all of those bodies, unless we surprisingly land some super frosh, most of next year’s o-line recruits should redshirt.
§ On Special Teams, the Kicker and Punter positions would look to be set for three more years with K Wil Oliver and P Darragh O’Neill, who have both had fabulous freshman campaigns and should only continue to develop and improve.
§ But what about return guys? Both return spots should be wide open in camps with Canty, Goodson, and some new true freshmen competing (incidentally, the Buffs used close to 20 guys total this year on punt and kickoff returns).
§ I would expect that they do a lot more work in the spring on special teams and that JD Brookhart will make sure that their coverage teams and overall numbers are way better next year.
§ Who is Captain material? You have to figure that Jon Major continues, with Rippy, Polk or Pericak also representing the defense; from the offense it could be juniors P-Rich or maybe David Bakhtiari? Does Connor Wood have the moxy to win the starting job and a captain’s spot as a sophomore in his first year in the program? Boy, it sure would be nice if he did!
§ For a look at how and why we have such a thin roster, see the “Part 1: Hawkruiting” post, at right in the November folder of the “Archives.”
§ Coming soon: A “Class by Class” look at the roster and how it shapes up for future seasons.
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