Colorado University Athletics
LB Falo Ready To Be Next Man Up For Buffs
October 14, 2015 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — When it comes to inside linebacker for the Colorado Buffaloes, it's literally been “next man up.”
N.J. Falo is ready to be the next man.
Falo, a true freshman who looks like anything but, is expected to see some significant playing time Saturday when the Buffs play host to Arizona in a 7 p.m. game at Folsom Field (Fox Sports 1). He'll get the opportunity because Addison Gillam is out with a knee injury suffered against UMass, Kenneth Olugbode is out with a leg injury suffered in the Oregon game and Ryan Severson is nursing a sore ankle suffered last week against Arizona State.
Now, the Buffs' inside linebacking corps will consist of redshirt freshman Rick Gamboa, Falo, sophomore Christian Shaver and true freshman Grant Watanabe.
“Three freshmen and a sophomore,” head coach Mike MacIntyre said, “with Rick Gamboa the only one that has played a lot of plays. But they had a good day of practice (Tuesday), they had a good day of practice Monday. They'll get out there and do what they can do.”
Falo, who has turned heads since the day he put on a Buff uniform, is ready. Along with some special teams appearances, he's played 38 snaps on defense this year, including six last week against Arizona State.
“He's going to have to be ready to go,” defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt said. “He's a great kid. He's got the biggest heart in the world and he works hard at everything he does. But he's a true freshman who's going to be playing linebacker in the Pac-12. It's not easy. It's hard to do. But I guarantee he's going to give us everything he's got.”
What Falo has to give is a terrific amount of physical ability and potential. An outside linebacker and defensive end at Inderkum High School in Sacramento, Calif., he was moved to inside linebacker when he arrived for fall camp. When injuries thinned the ranks at the outside spot, he moved there temporarily.
Now, he's back on the inside.
“He can play outside, we know that,” Leavitt said. “But because we've been banged up so much inside, we had to pull him back inside. It's not necessarily what we wanted to do, but it's the reality of life.”
After learning what inside linebacker entails, Falo said he enjoys that position more. But truth is, he's just ready to test his skills — no matter what position he plays.
“I know I'm going to have to work hard and watch as much film as possible this week,” Falo said. “I know I'm going to have to step up for the people on this team. It's another challenge for me to see how good I can be. I am willing to take that challenge.”
Falo has played in three games defensively and has recorded seven tackles — five unassisted — in 38 snaps. He's also played on special teams, and has a pair of knockdown blocks.
But linebacker is where is heart is, and where he was recruited to play by the Buffs.
Falo was originally recruited by former defensive coordinator Kent Baer and committed to CU when Baer was still with the Buffs. Falo said when Baer left for UNLV, he almost decommitted — until he met Leavitt.
“When Leavitt came to see me in Sacramento, we built a really strong relationship,” Falo said. “I believe he can get me to where I want to be.”
Where Falo wants to be is at the top. When he came to CU for his official recruiting visit, one thing caught his eye almost immediately: the trophy case in the Dal Ward Center. There, he saw two Butkus Award trophies, awarded to the outstanding linebacker in college football each year. The first belonged to Alfred Williams (1990) and the second to Matt Russell (1996).
Falo's goal is to add a third trophy to the collection.
“My next four years here, I want to win the Butkus Award,” Falo said. “I know it's going to take a lot of work — an unbelievable amount of work — but that's what I'm willing to work for.”
But the first step for Falo is helping the Buffs stop a 13-game Pac-12 losing streak.
“We're talking about getting a win,” Falo said. “This team has got to win. We're going to work as a team. We've got to believe what a team is: one heart, one soul. That's where it's going to start. We're focusing on Arizona and doing everything we can to go out and beat them.”
