University of Colorado Athletics
Buff Youngsters Ready For Duty Vs. Arizona
October 14, 2015 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — When the season began, Colorado's two starting inside linebackers boasted 34 career starts and nearly 300 career tackles between them.
It was seen as one of the Buffs' strongest positions, both in terms of depth, ability and experience.
Saturday, when the Buffs play host to Arizona in an 7 p.m. game at Folsom Field (Fox Sports 1), Colorado's starting inside linebackers will have a grand total of four career starts and fewer than 50 career defensive tackles to their credit. It is the result of not one, not two, but three injuries, a stretch of misfortune that will result in Colorado starting two freshmen instead of two juniors when the Wildcats visit.
Now, redshirt freshman Rick Gamboa — who took over when Addison Gillam suffered a knee injury in the second game of the season — is the “veteran,” with four starts under his belt. Starting alongside him Saturday will be either true freshman N.J. Falo or true freshman Grant Watanabe. Whichever one it is will be taking the place of junior Ryan Severson, who took the place of original starter Kenneth Olugbode.
It will be a classic case of baptism by fire. Falo has played a grand total of 38 snaps on defense this year, along with some special teams appearances. Watanabe has yet to play in a game. They'll face an Arizona defense that caught fire last week in a 44-7 win over Oregon State, piling up 645 yards offense in the win, including 368 on the ground.
“They'll get out there and do what they can do,” head coach Mike MacIntyre said.
Gamboa has played well in place of Gillam. Falo and Watanabe both had solid fall camps, and both are seen as having the potential to become future regulars for the Buffs.
It's just that no one expected them to all be thrust into such key positions so early in their careers.
“We'd obviously like to have our starters out there, but we trust our backups,” defensive end Derek McCartney said. “We trust what they can do. We're just going to keep trusting in them and their abilities.”
Watanabe was hampered early in the season by a shoulder injury, but is healthy now. He's been taking regular repetitions in practice and while MacIntyre said he hasn't decided on a starter to go alongside Gamboa, he expects both Watanabe and Falo to play Saturday.
Watanabe, originally a member of the 2014 recruiting class, did not join the team until last spring because of a foot injury. A 5-foot-11, 240-pounder, he has the potential to be a powerful inside presence.
“I'm looking forward to watching him play,” MacIntyre said. “I think he'll do well. He's very physical, he's got good instincts, so I'm glad he's healthy now.”
Falo, a 6-foot-2, 230-pounder, has played both inside linebacker and outside linebacker/defensive end this year. Defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt said Falo has “great heart and great potential” who will “give us everything he's got.”
As for Gamboa, he'll be counted upon to lend his experience to his cohorts Saturday.
“He's made a lot of plays in the games,” MacIntyre said. “He's had some mistakes, but overall, as a redshirt freshman, first year playing, he really really diagnoses well on the field. He has done some really good things for us.”
