May Buff Update

There has not been a lot of news in the Buff program since Spring practices ended.  However, there has been enough happening of late for an update.

The biggest news involved a couple of defections, the first when QB Nick Hirschman quit on his teammates, supposedly to pursue a Master’s degree at an Ivy League school. It turns out Hirschman didn’t actually end up at an Ivy League school after all (big, big surprise). Instead, he settled for the only program that would take him: football powerhouse and academically renowned…Akron!  They were also 1-11 last year against way worse competition than the Buffs, but Nicky get to be the starter and kinda big man on campus I guess.  Whatever Nick, that Akron grad degree will make a big difference in your post-college non-football life.

The second defection came as projected starting offensive guard Alex Lewis suddenly announced he was transferring to Nebraska.  It appears Lewis wanted to play tackle and saw a better opportunity to win at Nebraska.  He will have to sit out a year and will have two years to play.  Lewis had told MacIntyre he just wanted to explore his options and was given a release, however, it appears he always had intended to transfer and then did not even bother to inform coach MacIntyre himself, who instead had to hear the news from the media.  Although he was expected to start, since he missed all of spring ball, the line and new coaching staff doesn’t really “lose” anything, especially if he had a poor attitude and bailed on his teammates. 

That brings the number to eight scholarship players with eligibility (plus four walk-ons) who have left the program, although a couple of the scholarship players were basically walk-ons getting a free ride from previous coaches.  Besides Bahktiari headed to the Packers, Hirschman and Lewis quitting on their teammates, DB Sherrard Harrington and LB Kyle Washington took medical retirement, while K Zach Grossnickle and WRs DaVaughn Thorton and Jarrod Darden (should have never been given scholarship by Hawkins), who were told to hit the road by Embree, didn’t bother to stick around even when offered by MacIntyre.  So far, there have been no other reports of players wanting to transfer after spring ball.

Depth Chart: The CU post spring depth chart came with few surprises but a couple of changes. 

QB Shuffle: Of course, Jr. Connor Wood inherits the QB spot for now; he feels very confident and comfortable with the new offense and thinks he experience from last year will help him on the field this season.  We will see if R-Fr. Shane Dillon of incoming true frosh Sefo Liufau can mount any kind of a challenge.  Sr. Jordan Webb, who tore his ACL in the spring, is progressing well and may actually be able to play this season (since it looks like he would not be granted a 6^th year), possibly being available as early as the first Pac-12 game against Oregon St. Sept. 29.  Hopefully, he just provides a solid, experienced backup and we do not need him for anything more than a fill-in.

Even losing Lewis, the offensive line should be fine if it stays relatively healthy.  Four starters are basically set. William Gardner was on the most recent BuffStampede podcast (usually records Monday afternoon and covers both football and basketball with Adam M and William Whelan of Rivals) and he said that he thought the Buffs tackles Jack Harris and Stephane Nembot looked great in the spring, although it is not known for sure who will be left (likely Harris) and right.  Gus Handler (and backup Brad Cotner) struggled somewhat with the Pistol snaps in the spring, so Daniel Munyer will definitely get some reps there in August if those two haven’t shored up their problems by then.  The loser of that battle will be one of the guards.  Kawai Crabb is the frontrunner to grab the last guard spot on the line, but I believe it will be one of the younger guys, maybe Alex Kellley or Jeromy Irwin.  Gardner said his sleeper pick for playing time on the line was incoming frosh Colin Sutton.

So. Christian Powell tops the RBs ahead of Jr. Tony Jones, then Sr. Josh Ford AND So. Donta Abron.  Three, if not all, of those four will play. Walk-on transfer So. Jordan Murphy is listed atop the fullbacks, with Sr. Alex Wood having moved back to TE, but I doubt they are going to play the FB that much. Jr. Kyle Slavin and Sr. Scott Fernandez lead the TEs for now, at least until So. Vincent Hobbs returns to Boulder, which he is still expected to do.  These two positions are being coached together this year since how they pass protect and slip out for some receptions is so similar.

The WRs are deeper than they have been in years, led of course by Paul Richardson.  The other starter for now is Nelson Spruce, backed up by Tyler McCulloch.  DD Goodson is listed behind P-Rich, but will often be the third receiver in the slot.  G-Fr. Jeff Thomas and Keenan Canty are the number threes, with So. Gerald Thomas slated at 4.  Plus, they have three incoming true freshman who all have the potential to contribute right away, although at least one, if not two, will probably redshirt (especially if G. Thomas keeps his shit together).  One of the new guys, Devin Ross was on BuffStampede and says he is excited to report to Boulder in June and start working with the team and Connor Wood; he is also excited to work with Coach Walters.

On defense, the line shuffled a little with sophomores Josh Tupou and Tyler Henington grabbing the #1 DT slots ahead of Sr. Nate Bonsu; So. Justin Solis is the other backup and will be part of the rotation for sure, as could R-Fr. Kyle Rasmussen.  So. Samson Kafovalu going across from Sr. Chidera Uzo-Diribe at DE.  Jr. Juda Parker could challenge there in the fall after missing the spring with a shoulder injury.  R-Fr. De’Jon Wilson, who was the star of the scout team last year, but has had some struggles, was moved back to 3^rd string DE from DT.  Jr. Kirk Poston will contribute and G-Fr. Derek McCartney and R-Fr. John Stuart will try to break into the rotation at end, but will have some competition from incoming frosh Timmy Coleman and Jimmie Gilbert.

Greyshirt frosh Addison Gilliam remains above Jr. Brady Daigh at the inside Mike LB and both will play. So. Jr. Woodson Greer appears to have solidified the Sam outside slot with SR. captain (likely) at the Will LB in the middle. Sr. Paul Vigo will likely see action on passing downs as a former safety, and juniors Lowell Williams (had a decent spring) and KT Tu’umalo, who are listed as Webb’s backups, could also get onto the field.  It will be hard for R-Fr. and former FB Clay Norgard and true frosh Markeis Reid (or other newcomers) to get on the field.

 So. Kenneth Crawley and Jr. Greg Henderson are the CB starters, with R-Fr. John Walker and Jr. Josh Moten (who was tried out at all four secondary slots) backing up, with sophomores Yuri Wright and Jeff Hall (who auditioned at WR but moved back to D) listed third.  Jr. Jered Bell and Sr. Parker Orms are listed as the #1 safeties but I expect to see a lot of both Sr. Terrel Smith and So. Marques Mosley.  I would not be surprised at all to see a true frosh crack the secondary rotation.

Obviously, the kicker and punter, juniors Wil Oliver and Darragh O’Neill are solid, with Oliver listed as “C0-#1” for kickoffs with Sr. Justin Castor and O’Neill appears to have won the holder job from Justin Gorman.  The long snapper will be Sr. Ryan Iverson, but the returners won’t be named until the Fall and could very like include a true frosh or two.

Recruiting: Unfortunately, there have been no commitments yet, leaving CU as one of the last Pac-12 schools to get on the 2013 board. Coaches are out on the road, but to no avail yet.

The first day of the recruiting window opened April 15 and even in the blizzard that hit Colorado that day, the coaches hit the road and visited 30 Colorado high schools that first day.  They plan on visiting every school in the state and meeting with every head coach.  Mike MacIntyre will also hit the road this week with Tad Boyle and Linda Lappe for the now-annual CU Coaches Caravan.

Instate recruits: Valor Christian RB Christian McCaffery, the top prospect in the state to many people, committed to Stanford. Offensive lineman Dalton Rizner committed early to Kansas St. but recently received an offer from CU.  It seems that CU has offered most of the top Colorado recruits but without any luck yet.  The biggest uncommitted name is Falcon’s do everything man Kaleen Ballage, who is being recruited nationally, including by Oregon.  It may be another year before MacIntyre’s crew makes enough inroads in state to secure some of the bigger names in Colorado.

Out of state: It sounds like MacIntyre and staff are also combing the west, trying to get into the ear of coaches and players.  They have spent a lot of time in Texas and California and have supposedly offered many of the bigger names out there.  We’ll see what kind of success they have this year.

For the latest info, rumors and speculation on the recruiting front, check out the AllBuffs.com Recruiting board: http://www.allbuffs.com/forumdisplay.php/14-Colorado-Football-Recruiting-Central

Other Buff Notes: Congratulations to the original Coach Mac as Bill McCartney was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.  Mac said that although he didn’t agree with the Embree firing and that it was premature, he fully supports the program and the new coaching staff.

Buffs in the NFL: Besides David Bahktiari being drafted in the 4^th round by the Green Bay Packers, Nick Kasa will get a shot with da Raiders getting selected in the 6^th round, and a few player signed free agent contracts: S Ray Polk with the Seahawks, defensive lineman Wil Pericak with the Ravens and LB Doug Rippy with the Denver Broncos!  LB Jon Major was also invited to tryout out the Chicago Bears mini-camp.