Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Will Rotate At Right Guard
August 22, 2015 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — When the Colorado Buffaloes opened fall camp, only a handful of starting positions were considered up for grabs.
It looks like one of those spots, right guard, will end up seeing playing time split between two players, junior Shane Callahan and sophomore Jonathan Huckins.
Obviously, only one of them can actually start the game. But Saturday, head coach Mike MacIntyre said he would likely rotate the two, at least early in the season.
“If we've got some guys that can rotate, that are good enough, then you have more depth and you are going to play fresher,” MacIntyre said. “Usually, the offensive lines you settle in, but if you've got a couple guys who can do some things, it's always good to roll them because you always get nicks and bruises as the season goes along.”
The 6-foot-6, 300-pound Callahan, a prized recruit out of Colorado's Chaparral High School in 2012, originally signed with Auburn and spent two years there. He redshirted his first season there, then played sparingly as a redshirt freshman and opted to transfer to Colorado. He appeared in one game last year at guard, playing 21 snaps vs.Southern California.
Huckins, a 6-foot-4, 305-pounder from The Woodlands, Texas, played in six games last year, including 29 snaps on the offensive line.
The two have virtually split repetitions with the No. 1 offensive unit throughout fall camp. Neither seemed to ever really gain a clear edge — which MacIntyre says isn't necessarily a bad thing. Because teams seldom make it through a season without an injury or two on the offensive line, having more players who have game experience can help in those instances.
MacIntyre also said unless one of them “lays an egg,” he'll continue the rotation system throughout the season.
Another spot still up for grabs is placekicker, where Diego Gonzalez and Chris Graham are battling. MacIntyre said he is “close” to naming a starter, but wants to put the two through a few more pressure situations in Folsom Field before making a decision.
As for a depth chart, MacIntyre said he and the coaching staff are closer on their two-deep, but they are still watching players who have been sidelined for a practice or two with minor injuries.
“We basically know now, but it's a nicks and bruises type of thing,” MacIntyre said. “We're just rolling guys and repping guys right now.”
Saturday's practice, conducted in helmets and shorts, was CU's 20th of fall camp. The Buffs did get some special teams work in, and spent much of the morning working on their game plan for the season opener.
The Buffs now have seven practices remaining in Boulder before they depart for their Sept. 3 opener at Hawai'i. They will then have two more practice sessions there before the game.
SCHEDULE: With two-a-days done for the year, the Buffs will begin to work into their regular season mode.
They'll practice Sunday in the morning and take Monday off, as classes begin at CU. MacIntyre said earlier in camp that the team will practice Sunday evenings during the regular season and take Mondays off. He hopes that schedule will help the players rest and recuperate, something that will be a must this year, as they play 13 consecutive weeks without a bye.
