The Buffs finished their allotment of 15
spring practices, answering some questions, but still leaving many unanswered. Mike
MacIntyre cited eight players that caught his eye during the spring session, most
were names (italicized and bolded) we
saw over and over again in practice notes and heard about in coaches’
interviews, and best of all, six are redshirt freshmen or sophomores (Addison
Gillam should probably be on here as well, but it has just become common knowledge and
taken for granted that he is a total stud that continually impresses). While the team appears generally improved
across the board, arguably the two groups that can best propel or impede this
team’s success-the lines-are the ones most in limbo after spring work.
Stuart at CUattheGame.com
posted some nice analyses of each unit:
Here are my dos pesos on
each position grouping with projected starters, depth and impact, if any, of
incoming recruits (the guys that I especially like are italicized).
Special Teams: We know the kicker (Will Oliver), we know the punter (Darragh O’Neill), we hope the Mexicano (Diego Gonzalez) wins the kickoff job but he hadn’t surpassed Oliver yet, and we know next to nothing about the returners, except that Nelson Spruce is likely the sure-handed guy on punts and will keep the job if no one else grabs it in August. Numerous incoming freshmen will be given the opportunity to win the return jobs. They didn’t really practice live kickoffs and returns at all, and punt returns were minimal as well.
Cornerbacks:
What has been a nightmare position for many years, is finally starting
to look respectable, on paper and even on the field. The team has stockpiled some decent talent
and there is some serious competition going on. Greg Henderson is already a senior and will be counted on to lock
down one side. So. Chidobe Awuzie will be a big-time contributor again this season,
likely manning the (basically starting) nickel slot again as he did as a true
freshman. The main competition is at the
second CB spot between incumbent Kenneth Crawley and transfer Ahkello
Witherspoon, who was the star of the spring game and is much more aggressive to
the ball. That is four pretty solid corners and they still have some potential
talent in Yuri Wright, John Walker and others. Freshman Jaisen Sanchez should
be able to redshirt.
Safeties: While maybe not yet considered a
position of strength, this group is also pretty deep with five players who
could garner some field time. They are
led by a solid senior, Jered Bell, who will not sprint by anyone, but brings a
lot of experience. The biggest question
is who will flank him? Will Marques
Mosley ever live up to the expectations set by playing as a freshman or has he
been permanently surpassed by So. Tedric
Thompson? Sr. Terrell Smith has always been undersized and counted out, but
has always found a way to get on the field could line up in dime packages. The last wild card is R-Fr.Ryan Moeller, who
is a walk-on but continues to spin heads with his play (a BoulderDevil
favorite) and is not content to jut play special teams. Evan White has a lot of potential and may
play as a true frosh, but it will be mostly for special teams, as it will be
hard (I can’t believe I am writing this) to crack the defensive lineup at this
point.
Linebackers: This is yet another grouping that is
building some depth and starting to look like a Pac12 worthy unit. Addison
Gillam is a sophomore captain, the unquestioned leader of this defense in
every way, and will rarely leave the field.
Who plays alongside him, will depend on the opponent and situation. It looks like the frontrunner to start most
days is the “really freaking good” So. Kenneth Olugbode. The battle for any other playing time is
between transfer Deaysean Rippy, who was very quiet during the spring, and two former
starters, last year’s third LB Jr. Woodson Greer, and Sr. Brady Daigh, who has lost some weight (which he had been forced
to put on by Embree’s staff), but will still be counted on as an early down
run-stopper against some teams. This group is receiving an influx of freshman
talent, all of whom will be able to redshirt, unless they are called upon for
special teams duty like Ryan Severson last year.
Defensive
Line The fairy tale ends
at this group, at least for now, as there are still way too many questions here
between academics, injuries and general shuffling, we really don’t know what we
are getting here yet. They definitely
have some numbers, it is just not clear yet how many and where everyone will
settle. Jr. Josh Tupou will start
at one of the tackles, but two candidates for the other spot spent the spring
in the library and not the practice fields, leaving the job to Sr. captain Juda
Parker, who moved from end. If both
Kafovalu and Solis return in good academic and physical shape, they are deep
and ready; if both can’t handle it and are gone, this group is worrisome and
thin, with only really the undersized Clay Norgard and walkons as backups. The defensive ends are in little better shape
with R-Fr.
Derek McCartney living up to the family name and Tyler Henington making
some strides after switching spots with Parker. Jimmie Gilbert will add depth
when healthy in August, along with Markeis Reed, who had a quiet spring, and
possibly Tim Coleman, who is still not recovered from his Achilles injury. One of the two incoming frosh, Eddy Lopez or
Jase Franke, will likely end up getting immediate playing time, possibly even
both.
Offensive
Line: Another work in progress, much like their
counterparts on the other side of the line, there is definitely some potential
here, but the line is far from settled. and the situation remains basically the
same as it was at the start of spring ball: we know four of the probable
starters-RT Stephane Nembot (beast in run game but a little scary at times in
pass protection), Kaiwi Crabb is number one LT for now but could also play
anywhere inside, Sr. Daniel Munyer will play one of the guards, and So. Alex
Kelley has probably played himself into the center, or maybe a guard spot,
depending on the last few factors.
Coaches, media and fans alike are expecting Jeromy Irwin to finish
recovering from his off-the-field foot injury (going on almost a year now) and
take the LT slot, allowing Crabb to move inside. The other wild card is transfer Sully
Wiefels, who will compete at both tackle spots.
With Marc Mustoe, Jonathon Huckins, Sam Kronshrage, Gerald Kough and
others adding depth to the top seven guys, any incoming freshmen will be able
to redshirt.
Tight
Ends: This group is probably still a year or two away
from significantly contributing to offensive production, but it appears So. Sean
Irwin has emerged as the starter, with disappointing Sr. Kyle Slavin and a slew
of walkons as backups. Both Dylan Keeney
and Hayden Jones (could also line up on d-line) will both get an opportunity to
play, if they are big and strong enough and can figure out the playbook.
Wide
Receivers: This is most people’s pick for surprise
grouping, mostly because there is so much depth and potential, that losing
P-Rich may not be as big as many would expect.
Sefo has shown the ability to spread the ball around and has a lot of
weapons to utilize in a variety of formations.
The most talked about player this spring was probably R-Fr.
Bryce Bobo, the offensive star of the Spring game who was mentioned
after almost every practice and appears to have locked down the starting job
opposite Nelson Spruce. DD Goodson has a
nice spring in the slot and could be a versatile weapon. So. Devin Ross and
R-Fr. Elijah Dunston both struggled with injuries this spring but provide
excellent depth, along with seniors Keenan Canty (this kid would have been a
superstar at the right smaller school but has never broken through at this
level) and Tyler McCulloch (former starter who may not even play). This is a position group that has also lost
two very fast and talented Thomases and others over the last few years, but
remains a deep group that still has one more potential star in four-star recruit
Shay Fields who will report in August.
Running
backs: This group has
also built some depth, but there are many questions as to what the pecking
order will be this year. Last year’s three leading performers are all back and
will play some role. Christian Powell
will line up as fullback and provide a one-two punch in two-back sets with the
other guys. Although Michael Adkins was
listed fifth on the depth chart before the spring game (mostly due to having
missed practice for injury) is still expected to be the starter, but Sr. Tony
Jones made sure nobody will forget about him with a strong Spring game, and R-Fr
Phillip Lindsay might be the most talked about offensive player this
spring besides Sefo and Bobo. Sr. Malcolm
Creer looked good when he touched the ball in scrimmages. Terrence Crowder and Donta Abron will have to
wait. With seven horses in the stable,
and only two seniors who might not even play much, the team did not feel
pressed to sign a lesser back after a big recruit flipped to Washington late in
the cycle.
Quarterback: Sefo is the starter and looked more and
more in command of the offense, improving in all aspects of his game: footwork
and mechanics, general accuracy and arm strength on both short and deep balls, and
team leadership (voted sophomore captain). Jordan Gehrke is the backup coaches
say they feel comfortable with after having seen him in the spring, but I would
prefer that we only see him in mop up time. I do think he can hold off Cade Apsay for the
number two job, hopefully allowing the frosh to redshirt and put two years
between he and Sefo.
“Programming
Note” I will still continue to update any offseason
or recruiting notes as the come along, but will be focusing more attention to
another blog chronicling our trip this summer to the World Cup in Brasil. If you have any interest in that other futbol, check out http://copabound.blogspot.com/.
Buff em up!
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