Buffs DB Awuzie: 'There's A Big Storm Coming'
July 17, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — A year ago, Chidobe Awuzie toiled in near obscurity, flying under the radar as much as one can when he is the starting cornerback/nickelback for a Pac-12 football team.
But this year, with an outstanding junior season in the rearview mirror and his fourth year as a starter for the Colorado Buffaloes on the immediate horizon, Awuzie is starting to get the attention his coach believes he deserves.
Already this summer, Awuzie has been named to the national watch list for three of college football's most prestigious awards for defensive players: the Thorpe Award, the Nagurski Trophy and the Bednarik Award. He's also been named to a variety of preseason all-Pac-12 teams (although no first-team selections), and is listed among the nation's 100 players this year by NFL.com.
The preseason accolades should come as no surprise. A year ago, he played a team-high 897 defensive snaps for the Buffs, finishing second in tackles with 90 (78 unassisted). He had a team-high 13 tackles for loss — including four sacks — the first time a defensive back has led the Buffs in tackles for loss since 1969, when the statistic was first tracked. He also finished with two interceptions, including a game-clinching pick against Oregon State, and had three games when he was in on at least 10 tackles.
It's no wonder head coach Mike MacIntyre has consistently referred to Awuzie as one of the best defensive backs in the country.
Awuzie also has the full attention of opposing coaches in the Pac-12. Coaches at last week's Pac-12 Media Days called him everything from CU's "centerpiece defender" to "a player you have to account for on every snap."
Bruce Feldman, college football reporter for Fox Sports, heard much of the same during Media Days.
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Heard many good things from rival coaches abt #CU CB Chidobe Awuzie..Impressive guy to speak w/ as well>Came across very thoughtful & mature
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) July 16, 2016
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That follows directly in line with ESPN college football and NFL draft analyst Todd McShay Tweeting earlier this summer that "now he's one of my favorites. Plays CB like a Mike LB!"
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Didn't know much about Colorado CB Chidobe Awuzie till I popped in tape this am. Now he's one of my favorites. Plays CB like a Mike LB!
— Todd McShay (@McShay13) June 29, 2016
CU safeties coach Joe Tumpkin, new to the staff a year ago, quickly learned to appreciate Awuzie's versatiltiy and what it means to the Buffs' defense.
"He brings a lot of dynamics to what we do in the secondary," Tumpkin said. "He can play corner, he can play nickel, he can play safety. He's got great man coverage skills, he can blitz off the edge, he has a knack to get to the quarterback in those situations and he does a very good job of tackling in open space. He does a lot of things very well and we try to utilize that."
But despite the early accolades, Awuzie is still a relative unknown — and perhaps slightly underrated — by many who cover the Pac-12. In a conference loaded with quality defensive backs, he wasn't anyone's first-team all-conference selection.
"I'm not worried about that," Awuzie said during Media Days. "I use it as motivation, as a matter of fact. When I'm (lifting weights), I think about the people that are doubting me. I'm using them as motivation. If I put another year together, I know it will all work out."
Awuzie, a business major (finance), is on schedule to graduate in December. If he stays on that schedule, it means he will have earned his degree in 3 1/2 years. He will also leave as a four-year starter, having started at least seven games in each of his three previous seasons in Boulder.
Listed as the starting cornerback on the preseason depth chart, Awuzie spent much of his season last year playing nickelback. He has played all three secondary positions — corner, nickel and safety — in his time in Boulder, something MacIntyre constantly reminds the media about.
"He can play all three spots at a high, high level," MacIntyre said. "I'm a little biased because I coach him, but I'm even more biased because I remember seeing him as a ninth grader. I've seen him from 15 to now 21, and the change in him and how he's grown. I'm really excited about watching him play this year."
A year ago, Awuzie was defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt's main weapon. Leavitt used Awuzie in coverage, as a pass rusher off the corner and as a quality run stopper.
"When Coach Leavitt came, his first speech was that he wanted the defense to be the strength of our team," Awuzie said. "I think we really proved that last season. Coach Leavitt put us in position to make plays. That's why I had a good year; he was able to use me in different ways to produce. I really think a change of attitude with Coach Leavitt, Coach (Charles) Clark and Coach (Joe) Tumpkin, what they did for our defense, really helped.""
It remains to be seen whether Awuzie will spend most of his time at corner this year, where he's listed No. 1 on the preseason depth chart, along with sophomore Isaiah Oliver. The depth chart has safety Afolabi Laguda listed as the No. 1 nickel, and Leavitt has said Laguda will "be a front-line guy for us. He's different than Chido, but we'll be asking him to do a lot."Â
No matter where he plays, Awuzie will be part of a secondary that should be a strength of Colorado's defense. At the other corner will be either Oliver or returning starter Ahkello Witherspoon, while returning starters Tedric Thompson and Ryan Moeller will be at safety.
It's a group that will be expected to help CU's defense take another significant step forward — something Awuzie firmly believes will happen.
"Our confidence is really high," Awuzie said. "If we are focused on ourselves and love each other and are having fun with it, we're going to win. We're really confident now, especially with how we're progressing throughout these years.
"We know there's a big storm coming."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
