Colorado University Athletics
CU's Witherspoon Has Grown Into Quality Cover Corner
November 08, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — On the surface, it might appear as if Colorado cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon is regressing.
A year ago, Witherspoon finished CU's 13-game season with a respectable 41 tackles, averaging 3.2 per game. This year, the Buffs senior has just 13 tackles after nine games — a scant 1.4 per game.
The verdict?
Witherspoon is having an outstanding year.
You see, quarterbacks throw to receivers when they feel they have a chance to complete the pass. Cornerbacks most often make tackles when a pass is completed to someone they are covering.
Neither is happening with any frequency this year in Witherspoon's territory. Quarterbacks have learned that throwing the ball in his direction isn't a high-percentage option. Witherspoon is currently tied for seventh in the nation in passes defended with 12 (best in the Pac-12, followed by teammate Tedric Thompson with eight), and opposing quarterbacks are becoming less and less inclined to throw his direction.
That's OK with Witherspoon, whose rise from unheralded junior college transfer to high-level Division I defensive back has been one reason for No. 16 CU's overall defensive success this year.
"It's actually a compliment when they're not throwing to my side," Witherspoon said. "To be honest, I'm not worried if I'm not getting action my way. It's about doing my job, play in and play out. If that means making a play on the ball or them staying away and doing something else where my other teammates can make plays, then I know I'm doing my job.
"The end result is we're winning."
Indeed, the 7-2 Buffs are winning — they've already matched the most wins by a CU team since 2005, with three games to go — and their defense is a big reason.
Coming into the season, most CU observers knew Colorado would have one "shut-down" cornerback. Buffs senior Chidobe Awuzie was a preseason second-team All-Pac-12 selection, and was being tabbed as a future NFL draft pick.
Awuzie certainly hasn't disappointed. Playing both corner and nickel, he's racked up 36 tackles, three sacks and eight pass breakups.
But when opposing quarterbacks decided to avoid Awuzie and throw at Witherspoon early in the year, they found a player whose long, lanky frame (6-foot-3, 195 pounds), big wingspan and rapid closing speed has also caught the eye of NFL scouts.
Now, quarterbacks have to make a choice — and neither has proven to be much of a successful venture. CU currently ranks ninth in the nation in total defense, 10th in passing yards allowed and sixth in pass efficiency defense.
"I have to admit, it's even exceeded my expectations a little," Witherspoon said. "I expected us to do well, but I didn't know if we could be so dominant in the run game and pass game like we are. I think it's just a result of working really well together in all three spots — D-line, linebackers and DBs."
Indeed, there doesn't seem to be a weak spot in CU's defense. The front seven has been stellar against the run. The Buffs have also managed to put good pressure on quarterbacks, and when those QBs do have time to throw, they're seeing a secondary that is tied for 12th in the nation in interceptions with 12.
Witherspoon, who had two interceptions a year ago, has just one so far this year — but it will be one that CU fans remember for a long, long time. With less than a minute to play in Oregon, Witherspoon intercepted a Dakota Prukop pass in the end zone on first-and-goal to clinch a 41-38 Buffs win.
It was one more play in an ever-growing list that has boosted his confidence.
"It just comes with making plays," he said. "When good things happen out there on the field, you can't fake the feeling that it gives you for the next play. You just believe you can do it again. Game after game, I've just been working on getting better each game and I really think I've done that, just kept improving week in and week out."
Witherspoon is a student of the game who has had to play a little catchup. Because he didn't start playing seriously until his senior year in high school, he doesn't have years and years of experience on which to draw.
But he does learn quickly. He's become an excellent cover corner, he has learned how to read quarterbacks and receivers and his anticipation skills are improving on a weekly basis.
One other thing he's learned in his his three years in Boulder — winning is a whole lot more fun than losing.
"I can't explain how fun it is, to be out there with your guys who you've worked with for years," Witherspoon said with a grin. "For it finally to come together this year is very enjoyable."
Witherspoon and his teammates have spent much of their season thus far ending losing streaks to Pac-12 foes. They've already knocked off Oregon, Stanford, UCLA and Arizona State — teams against whom they were 0-18 in Pac-12 play before this season — and they next face 2-7 Arizona, a team that owns four straight wins over the Buffs.
But this time around, the Buffs are favored while it's the Wildcats attempting to salvage something from a season gone south.
"Each week, teams are out to get us, teams are out to ruin our season like we were out to ruin other teams' season last year," Witherspoon said. "We understand the position we are in. We just have to show we are an elite team, and elite teams come out week in and week out and find a way to get the win."
To be blunt, it's a new experience for the Buffs. It's the first time in any of the current players' college careers that they are the team with the target on its back.
"It's definitely new, but it's fun," Witherspoon said. "Trying to ruin somebody's season … that's petty. You really don't want to be in that spot. You want to be the guys that are fighting it off. That's what's enjoyable."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
