Brooks: Facilities Project Helps MacIntyre Sell Buffs

BOULDER - The names changed, but Mike MacIntyre's goal with his third Colorado football recruiting class remained very close to his first: Address as many needs as possible, collect a hidden gem or three, and work like a maniac to develop everyone who signs.

Until there are breakthroughs on the scoreboard and in the Buffaloes' final record - which look to be close - MacIntyre must continue to sell prospects on the school's football future and how they can help shape it. But this time around, the sales pitch carried more clout.

In this recruiting cycle MacIntyre could offer concrete (and steel) proof of CU's commitment to football and athletics in general. The transformational $153 million renovation project at the northeast corner of Folsom Field is speeding along, with football's Class of 2015 poised to reap full-term benefits during its four to five years on campus.

"It brings a whole new level of commitment - and they understand that," MacIntyre said Wednesday afternoon during his National Signing Day media conference. Prospects making their official campus visits, he added, "were very impressed" by a "hard-hat tour" of the new facilities conducted by Athletic Director Rick George.

And MacIntyre believes it won't be long before more future dividends from the project are realized. Later this spring, when CU football hosts its "junior days" for high school underclassmen, the project will be in the homestretch and should be an even more impressive selling point. Also, current players are scheduled to be given a tour of the new facilities - "And they'll be blown away by it," MacIntyre said.

Pitching the Buffs' gradual improvement to recruits wasn't difficult, according to MacIntyre. CU finished 2-10 overall last fall and 0-9 in the Pac-12 Conference, but the Buffs lost four league games by a total of 15 points - two of the losses coming in overtime. The Buffs weren't counted out of many games by the start of the fourth quarter.

"Anybody who watched us play (saw) we're right in there in the Pac-12," MacIntyre noted. When he was hired two winters ago, he said the first words he heard were "make us competitive. I think we were this year. Now we're at the point where we can starting winning those games."

He added that when recruits visited campus, they heard current players talking "about how we're going to get over the hump . . . they can see the tidal wave building."

As expected, his third recruiting class didn't wow the national analysts. CU checked in with the No. 11-rated class in the Pac-12, according to Rivals.com and 24/7 Sports, and is the No. 68-rated class nationally, according to the same two outlets. The "stars" - three and up, according to recruiting pundits - were not in abundance, but MacIntyre historically hasn't been heavily invested in the star system.

Citing a Super Bowl-related story he recently read, he said the average number of "stars" for players on the Seattle Seahawks roster was 2.4, with the corresponding number on the New England Patriots roster 2.3.

"I'm excited about this class," MacIntyre said, noting that four junior college signees "can walk in and play, and a couple of freshmen might."

Three JC signees are already on campus and will participate in spring practice, with a fourth JC player arriving in August. Also, one early high school graduate already has enrolled, making Wednesday's official signing headcount 15 although 19 newcomers are listed. In all, seven players reported last month and all seven, said MacIntyre, "can be a big part of the team."

Three of the JC signees play defense, with two of those - Jordan Carrell and Blake Robbins - scheduled for line duty. Afolabi Laguda is a defensive back. The fourth JC transfer is running back Aaron Baltazar, who is scheduled to report this summer. CU hasn't signed four junior college players since 2007.

Joining the currently enrolled JC players are high school offensive lineman Dillon Middlemiss, and three grayshirts -- linebacker Grant Watanabe, JC defensive lineman Leo Jackson and offensive lineman Isaac Miller. Jackson, Carrell and Robbins will compete at the position that the Buffs targeted in this cycle for the biggest upgrade.

"The only way to be consistently good on defense is to have a good defensive line. (It) needed the biggest advancement on the team and we got an immediate advancement," MacIntyre said. "We should be better, more stout up front . . . we'll look different when we walk on the field this fall."

The Buffs' defensive scheme, he added, will be tweaked with the hiring of a new defensive coordinator - a process that he indicated is nearing a conclusion and did not hinder recruiting. "I didn't have that question asked in one house . . . I don't think it affected recruiting at all."

In addition to the JC defensive linemen, high school prospects Brett Tonz, Frank Umu, and Lyle Tuiloma are D-linemen. Adding those players to the roster, said MacIntyre, will aid in the rotation to keep players fresh and will increase competition at D-tackle and end. "I'm excited about the defensive line," he said.

CU's in-state haul consisted of Umu (Heritage), offensive linemen Tim Lynott Jr. (Regis) and Middlemiss (Pomona), and punter/placekicker Alex Kinney (Rocky Mountain). MacIntyre called Kinney "one of the best in the country, and he was right down the road (Fort Collins). We lost our punter and our kicker last year; he's going to have the opportunity to punt and kick in our first game."

But MacIntyre is hopeful that he won't have to play many incoming freshmen and can redshirt the majority of them. The exception might be at running back, where CU landed three prospects - including former Boise State signee Baltazar.

"Last year we got beat up at running back," MacIntyre said. "This year, we definitely wanted to sign two, then coach (Troy) Walters did an unbelievable job on Pat Carr. Aaron Baltazar was a great find by Klayton Adams (and) we kept recruiting him. Donald Gordon is a strong athlete . . . we've got good young men who can play, and depth there. But hopefully we can redshirt one of the freshmen."

MacIntyre characterized Baltazar and Gordon as power runners, with the 5-9, 195-pound Carr, who initially committed to Arkansas, as the speedster of the trio. All of them are pass-catching threats, MacIntyre added.

The lone quarterback signee was Steven Montez, a 6-4, 205-pounder from El Paso who was ranked by Scout.com as the No. 12 QB prospect in the state. MacIntyre called him "very athletic and extremely bright." He was second-team all-state and All-District 2-5A. He will join scholarship players Sefo Liufau, Jordan Gehrke and Cade Apsay on the 2015 roster.

Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU