Woelk: NFL Talent Is Rolling Through Boulder
May 04, 2018 | Football
Colorado's coaching prepares Buffs for the NFL
BOULDER — The National Football League is taking notice of the Colorado football program.
Over the last two years, 14 Buffs have signed NFL contracts, the most in any two-year span in at least the last 15 years.
In 2017, eight of Mike MacIntyre's players signed NFL deals — four of whom were drafted and four more who put their names on free agent agreements after the draft was completed. Of those eight, five finished the year on NFL rosters.
That is the most Buffs to sign pro deals in any single season since 2003.
Last weekend, six former Buffs signed NFL deals — one draft pick and five free agents — with three others earning invitations to free agent camps in hopes of landing a contract. Those six represent the second-most since 2007, surpassed only by the 2017 group, with the chance of the list growing after the free agent camps are completed.
"I think it's indicative of the talent that is coming to Boulder, the coaching they are receiving when they get here and the competition they face regularly in the Pac-12," MacIntyre said. "We have recruited good players and good young men and we will continue to recruit that way. They come here and compete in an elite conference that pro scouts watch closely. It means our guys are going to get noticed and be on people's radar."
The 2017 draft/free agent class represented MacIntyre's first recruiting class in Boulder. This year's pro class included one early entry, cornerback Isaiah Oliver (a second-round selection), as well as players from MacIntyre's first and second Colorado recruiting classes.
While the Buffs have earned a reputation over the last couple of years of producing NFL-caliber defensive backs — CU has had four DBs drafted in the last two seasons — Colorado has been well-represented on both sides of the ball when it comes to players signing pro deals.
Along with the defensive backs, positions represented over the last two years have included quarterback, running back, linebacker, wide receiver, defensive and offensive line.
Of course, success on the field hasn't hurt the Buffs in that two year span. Colorado has won 15 games over the last two seasons — again, the most in any two-year span in more than a decade.
"When you play in a conference like the Pac-12 and are competitive in that league, the NFL is watching," MacIntyre said. "Also, Colorado has earned a reputation over the years of having NFL-ready guys. They leave here with the fundamentals in place. That's a credit to our coaches here and a credit to those young men being willing to do what we ask and really work at improving their craft on a daily basis."
MacIntyre, who coached under Bill Parcells (Cowboys) and Eric Mangini (Jets) in his two NFL stops, also noted that CU has several assistants who either played or coached at the professional level, including Ashley Ambrose, Darrin Chiaverini and Darian Hagan.
"I think our staff does an excellent job of preparing our players with concepts of both sides of the ball," MacIntyre said. "Our players understand the importance of the meeting room, which is something we stress. When they get to the next level, they're prepared in that regard and that is something the NFL wants to see in a guy they are investing in."
Contact:Â Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
