Buffs WR Winfree Glad To Finally Be On Field For Spring
February 24, 2018 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — When Colorado wide receiver Juwann Winfree walked onto the turf for Friday's first practice of the spring session, he couldn't help but smile a little.
Winfree, who will be a fifth-year senior next fall, hasn't participated in a spring football session since his freshman year at Maryland.
Thus, while spring ball may be a grind for some of his veteran classmates, it is a treat for Winfree to simply be on the field.
"It's a really important time for me," Winfree said Saturday, just after the Buffs wrapped up their second spring practice. "I want to put everything together that I've been working for in the offseason — and this is the year I have to put it all together in the fall. It's my final year and I want to get to the next level. If I'm going to do that, I have to prove everything this year."
Winfree transferred to Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College after his freshman season, and junior colleges don't have spring ball. He then transferred to Colorado and was on his way to a great fall camp in the summer of 2016 — only to see a torn ACL end his season just two weeks into camp and also make him unavailable for spring ball.
Now, after a 2017 junior year in which he finally got back to "normal" down the last half of the season, he is ready to vie for a starting spot while helping the Buffs rebound from a difficult 2017.
So far, so good. In Winfree's first practice of the spring, he recorded a highlight-reel catch, coming back for an underthrown deep ball while fighting off a defensive back for the reception.
"Honestly, it feels great to finally be out here for a spring," Winfree said. "It's a great opportunity for me. I had to trust God's plan. This is my senior year, I waited patiently, we have a young squad and this is my chance. I'm taking it upon myself to be a leader and show why I should be the guy."
Winfree has been a tireless worker in the offseason, spending as much time as possible catching passes from anyone who would throw them — and when no one was available, he spent hours on the business end of a JUGS gun.
He has also made the most of his time in the weightroom, adding muscle to his 6-foot-3, 212-pound frame.
Now, he's part of a receiving corps that is wide open to competition. With three starters from last year gone to graduation — senior Jay MacIntyre is the only returning starter — it's anybody's ball out wide. Along with Winfree, among those battling for time will be senior Kabion Ento, transfer Tony Brown and sophomores Laviska Shenault Jr. and K.D. Nixon.
"We're counting on Juwann and Kabion to make big plays for us," wide receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini said. "We know they have the ability, now we want to see that consistency."
Winfree put his big-play potential on display near the end of last season when he had five catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns against USC, with the scores coming from 79 and 57 yards out. The following week, he added four more catches for 53 yards at Utah.
But now, he believes he can put himself into a starting role.
"This spring is important," he said. "The first day was a confidence builder. Now I just have to stack up more good days, try to get better every day. I think we're all hungry to get back to winning some games, and we know this is where it starts."
TONZ AT CENTER: It was just a little more than a year ago that Brett Tonz saw some action in the Alamo Bowl as a redshirt defensive lineman.
But the following spring, he was converted to an offensive lineman, and he's now in his second spring at the position — and progressing rapidly. The 6-foot-3, 295-pound junior is taking regular snaps at center with the No. 1 unit in spring ball, proving his versatility.
"I'm starting to feel pretty comfortable on offense now," Tonz said after Saturday's workout. "Every practice I can get, the more reps I can get, the better off I'll be."
Tonz did see some playing time last year at guard. But with three starters from last year's line gone to graduation, the Buffs are moving their linemen around in practice to see who might be the best fit at a variety of positions.
"I'll play wherever they ask me to play," Tonz said. "I like center, I like guard — if I could play tackle, I'd play tackle. I just want to be out there playing."
Tonz has been playing on a line that has included a variety of combinations. One group that is seeing some significant snaps early includes Aaron Haigler and Josh Kaiser at the tackles, Tonz at center and a combination of Dillon Middlemiss, William Sherman and Chance Lytle at the guards.
While Tonz has had to play "catch-up" learning to play on the offensive side of the ball, he also believes his time on defense has helped him make the switch.
"It was difficult just learning all the new techniques, but I think it also helped me because I can anticipate on what a defensive lineman might do," Tonz said. "I can get a read on them because I've been there and done that. I kind of know what they're trying to do."
PRACTICE NOTES: The Buffs are also trying out a variety of combinations on the defensive line, something head coach Mike MacIntyre said they will likely do throughout the spring
"We are mixing and matching and moving them around," MacIntyre said. "Can a guy play the right end, can he play the left end? Can he play the right tackle, can he play the left tackle? It sounds simple, but the footwork and hand placement (matter). You want to be able get the best guys out there, whichever scenario happens for you, so we're doing a lot of that."
Among those getting snaps up front against the No. 1 and No. 2 offenses are returnees Chris Mulumba, Javier Edwards, Lyle Tuiloma and Jase Franke, along with freshman Terrance Lang and junior college transfer Mustafa Johnson. Also getting some time at nose tackle is freshman Jalen Sami, while Nu'umoto Falo Jr., Dante Sparaco and Carson Wells are seeing time at the outside linebacker spots.
WIDE OPEN AT RB: Another spot that is wide open to competition is running back, where the Buffs are looking for a replacement for Phillip Lindsay.
CU's second-leading running back last year was junior Beau Bisharat, who has been getting his share of snaps with the first unit. Saturday, MacIntyre said he would like to see Bisharat become CU's version of Ryan Nall, the big, bruising back for Oregon State.
"I think he can be that guy, I really do," He's got a little bit more weight to put on to be kind of near that, but he's showing that and running good out there. We'll see as we get into pads. He's such a big part of our special teams, too. He'll still play on a couple special teams and play tailback."
SCHEDULE: The Buffs were inside again on Saturday in shorts and helmets.
They will don full pads for the first time Monday, but it will be a "thud" practice (no tackling). They will have their first full-contact drills Wednesday, when MacIntyre said they will likely get some brief scrimmage work done.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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