WR Winfree Has High Hopes For Buffs Offense
July 09, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
Transfer has had solid summer in team workouts
BOULDER — It didn't take new Colorado wide receiver Juwann Winfree long to realize that altitude does make a difference.
Winfree, a transfer from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, arrived in Boulder in late May and quickly figured out that he wasn't in Kansas anymore.
"I started working out my second day here, and I could tell the difference right away," Winfree said. "I wasn't cleared to work out with the team yet, but I worked out on my own. It was challenging getting used to the altitude, but after a couple of weeks, I adjusted. It really hasn't affected me since."
Winfree has indeed seemed to adjust quickly. He's been participating in strength and conditioning sessions as well as the player-run volunteer workouts, and said he has already become familiar with the playbook.
Now he can't wait to use the altitude to his advantage.
"We should be able to kill defenses," Winfree said. "Our air-raid pass offense and running the ball and going as fast as we do — it should definitely take a toll on defenses in this altitude. All the playmakers that we have, all the weapons, we should be able to pound teams. Knowing we can take advantage of that is a good feeling."
Winfree, from Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, N.J., originally signed with Maryland after a standout high school career. He was ranked among the nation's top 60 receivers coming out of high school, and finished with 11 catches for 158 yards and two touchdowns as a true freshman with the Terps.
He transferred to Coffeyville after his freshman season and recorded a 55-catch, 837-yard, seven-touchdown sophomore season that included four 100-yard games. He considered a variety of offers after last year but settled on Colorado because "it's a place you can tell is on its way up. We're going to be good."
Since arriving, the 6-foot-2 Winfree has been working out at every opportunity, putting in extra work on the track and in the weight room. He's actually shed a few pounds from his playing weight of last season and now weighs about about 207 pounds.
"I want to keep it right around there," he said. "That's where I think I can be the most effective."
Along with the organized strength and conditioning sessions, he's also had the chance to participate regularly in the player-run practices that include 7-on-7 drills. He's also had the opportunity to work with quarterback Sefo Liufau.
"I think we've been looking pretty good," Winfree said. "I like the offense a lot. It's simple to understand and there's a lot of passing, and that's what I came for. We obviously still have a lot of room to improve, but I think we've been doing some good things. I think Sefo and I are getting that connection already."
When asked about his goals for the upcoming year, it became clear that Winfree has done his homework.
"There are a lot of things I want to accomplish," he said. "I want to have a 3.0 GPA or better for the first semester. As a team, I want us to have a winning record and a bowl game. That hasn't been done for a while here and I want to be a part of that."
As for individual accomplishments, Winfree isn't shy about what he expects of himself.
"I have high expectations and high goals," Winfree said. "I want to come in and start, and I want to try to break Nelson Spruce's single-game record (19 catches for 179 yards). But most of all, I just want to contribute to the team and win games. That's how we're going to make our name known."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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