Transformation Nearly Complete For Buffs' Awini

BOULDER — Consider the transformation complete.

Jaleel Awini is ready to tackle someone when it counts.

It's been two years since Awini played in a college football game. In his last appearance, he passed for 89 yards and ran for 68 more and a touchdown as the starting quarterback for Air Force in a Sept. 21, 2013, loss to Wyoming.

Back then, he said, “As a quarterback, you tried to play with a little finesse.”

Today, there is no finesse in Awini's game. Awini is now a linebacker in Colorado defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt's system, a 6-foot-2, 220-pounder who will be asked to use his substantial athletic abilities to wreak havoc on whoever roams into his neighborhood.

“It's been a mental transition,” Awini said. “Growing up, I was always taught to be physical, but as a quarterback, you wanted to avoid hits. Now, I've had to go out there and change my mentality. You have to go out there and be more physical, more violent. There's no finesse involved.”

Awini left the AFA in the fall of 2013. He considered transferring to several schools, but ended up choosing Colorado — where he was originally recruited by former Colorado coach Dan Hawkins.

After ending up where he originally believed he might play, Awini practiced last fall as a quarterback with the Buffs. But when Leavitt arrived as the Buffs' new defensive coordinator, he brought with him a system that required more linebackers. CU coaches took at look at Awini's size, strength and speed, and asked him to make the switch to defense in the spring.

He's responded by becoming hard to ignore. He's practiced at a variety of positions in fall camp, and will almost certainly see significant playing time in next Thursday's opener at Hawai'i, either as a nickelback or linebacker. CU plans to release its latest depth chart sometime Friday, and it won't surprise anyone if Awini's name is at or near the top at one of those positions.

“He did well in the spring, but the last 12 practices, every day he is just making great strides,” head coach Mike MacIntyre said midway through fall camp. “He's really athletic, really quick. Now he understands everything, he's running and hitting — I'm really excited about Jaleel.”

Awini has proven to be a quick study when it comes to learning the defense, something he attributes in part to his history as a quarterback.

“Playing quarterback has actually helped me out making the transition,” Awini said. “As a quarterback, you have to know what everyone is doing on the field — offensive line, running backs, receivers, the defense.

“That's helped me out on defense because when I see a formation, I have a pretty good idea of what routes are going to come. I can kind of tell what they offense might be doing.”

But Awini also admits there's still plenty to learn as he continues to pick up the nuances of a position he began playing barely eight months ago. He wants to get to the point that everything he does on the field is instinctual.

“I'm a lot closer,” Awini said. “There's a couple times here and there where I'm still thinking about plays. But I think I'm a lot closer to being able to just go out there and play like Chido (Awuzie), for instance. That's someone who I look at right now, who's been a mentor for me on the defensive side. Just the way he goes out there and plays with instinct, learning from him has been great.”

The last time Awini played in a college game, his job was to avoid contact when possible.

A week from now, his job will be exactly the opposite. In his words, “You have to be ready to be a little violent.”

But most of all, Awini will be happy to once again be playing the game.

“I'm just excited to get back on the field again,” Awini said. “I've learned that you can't take things for granted. … I'm just looking forward to getting out there, playing and being able to cherish every moment.”

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu