Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Severson, Lisella Prepare For First Start
October 08, 2015 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Already this year, 11 different players have made their first career start for the Colorado Buffaloes.
A handful came in the first couple games of the season, when the Buffs were replacing graduated players.
But at least five have come because of injuries — and more are on the way. If, as expected, junior linebacker Ryan Severson and redshirt freshman right tackle John Lisella II add their names to the list Saturday at Arizona State (8 p.m., Pac-12 Networks), the number will hit 13, tying for the sixth-most first-time starters in the nation this season.
Both have seen significant playing time this year, including last weekend against Oregon, when they replaced injured starters. Severson stepped in when Kenneth Olugbode suffered a leg injury; Lisella took over at right tackle when left tackle Sam Kronshage suffered a concussion, with regular right tackle Stephane Nembot moving to the left side.
Both Lisella and Severson performed well, especially considering the circumstances — but both also acknowledged this week they'll have to take their games up a notch in their starting roles.
"You've got to get better every day," Lisella said. "I was watching film, and it really kind of woke (me) up a little bit as to the speed of the game and what you have to do to prepare going into the next week."
CU offensive line coach Gary Bernardi chuckled when he heard Lisella's comment on the speed of the game.
"They don't understand until you throw them in there — that's when you learn," Bernardi said. "In terms of knowing what to do, he's in good shape — but now he's better because he understands the speed of the game."
Lisella played 18 snaps against the Ducks after Kronshage's injury. Because he'd played 42 snaps the previous week against Nicholls State, and also got some time in against UMass earlier in the season, he wasn't going in completely cold.
"(The Nicholls game) was huge for me in playing time and experience and getting out there and having fun," Lisella said. "It also built some chemistry with the starting guys, because I got in a few drives with them."
The Buffs were also prepared for an injury up front because they regularly move linemen around during practice in case of just such a situation.
"You just keep preparing," Bernardi said. "In spring, Stephane played left tackle twice and on double days (in fall camp) he played left tackle twice. So, there's some recall. You just keep preparing."
Lisella will line up against an ASU defense that utilizes a wide variety of fronts and loves to blitz. The Sun Devils have 11 quarterback sacks this year and are ninth in the nation in tackles for losses, averaging 8.8 per game.
"John's a heck of a competitor," Bernardi said. "When he goes into the game, he's done a pretty darned good job."
After Olugbode was hurt, Severson had two big plays in a row against the Ducks, helping stop Ducks running back Royce Freeman on back-to-back runs. The second stop, on fourth-and-1, gave the Buffs the ball near midfield and put CU in position to drive for a score that closed Oregon's lead to a touchdown, 31-24.
"We needed a stop at the time and we got them back to back," Severson said. "Coach (Jim Leavitt) made a great call and the D-line came up huge. They didn't let any push come toward us. There was an open hole and we just ran through and made the play."
Listed at 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds, Severson is undersized for a linebacker, particularly inside. But, as head coach Mike MacIntyre noted, "He's sawed off pretty good. He's rocked up and he'll bring it. He's 205 pounds, but it's a solid 205 pounds."
Severson has extensive experience on special teams — he's played on all punt and kick coverage and return teams this year, and last season was the team's leader in special teams points — and he's played 51 snaps on defense this year.
But he's never started, and he's spent the week preparing by watching as much extra film as possible while being tutored by his roommate — Olugbode — in the process.
"I'm going to be ready, motivated and very determined to play well," Severson said. "I've had a lot of playing time, getting in on first and second and third downs. I've had enough playing time — but to go through a whole game is what's really firing me up."
