Colorado University Athletics
Buffs' Awuzie Aims For More Game-Changing Plays
March 07, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Last season, Colorado defensive back Chidobe Awuzie was arguably the Buffaloes' biggest impact player on defense.
The second-team all-Pac-12 selection led the team in unassisted tackles (78), was second in overall tackles (90), third in sacks (4), first in other tackles for loss (9), tied for second in third-down stops (10), tied for third in interceptions (2) and second in passes broken up (10). He also forced one fumble, had a team-leading eight tackles for no gain and had three quarterback pressures.
So what's on his agenda for his senior season?
More. More of everything. More tackles, more takeaways and more game-changing plays — all of which should translate into more wins.
“I would say his area would be causing some more turnovers, some game-changing plays,” CU head coach Mike MacIntyre said after CU's second spring practice. “He had a couple last year. If he could have just two or three more, because he's around the ball so much, those are game-changing plays. I look for him to be a guy that other teams worry about as kind of a turnover magnet.”
Awuzie, who has played safety, nickelback and cornerback — and could well play all three positions again next fall — agrees wholeheartedly.
“I feel the exact same way,” Awuzie said. “I feel like there were a couple games last year that we lost that some people looking at it probably wouldn't blame it on me, but I blame myself. I had opportunities to make plays. If I drop a pick or if I get to a guy and I'm not able to get the ball out, that can change the game. I need to start making those plays to change the game in our favor. I feel like we could have won two or three more games if I would have made a few of those plays.”
The 6-foot, 205-pound Awuzie might be a little too harsh on himself, but those high expectations of himself have also helped turn him into one of the Pac-12's premier defensive backs. The fact that he is a senior has only increased his drive.
“You realize that every practice is the last time you'll practice on that day here,” Awuzie said after Monday's workout, the Buffs' third of the spring. “I know I'm not going to go through spring ball again. I think everyone here has a sense of urgency, but I think for the seniors, we know that whatever we've done in the past probably wasn't good enough. We've got to find a way to be great.”
Awuzie's ability to play every position in the secondary makes him a valuable weapon. He was on the field last year for 897 snaps — more than any other player on defense. But this year, he could see more time as a true cornerback.
“With our league and so many people having great receivers, we're going to give him that challenge of being able to play the deep balls and give him the opportunity to make some more of those big plays for us,” said CU cornerbacks coach Charles Clark. “We're going to concentrate on him at corner this spring and get him a lot of reps there.”
For his part, Awuzie says he doesn't have a preference as to the position — as long as he's on the field.
“At the end of the day, I love playing football — that's how I look at it,” Awuzie said. “Wherever they tell me to play, I get excited. I'm excited to compete, excited to learn and excited to try to perfect something new.”
Awuzie recorded four sacks last year — the only sacks by a Buffs defensive back — and he's also a quality run defender. It's another part of his game that makes him such a valuable weapon.
“It's a special talent,” MacIntyre said. “We're excited about all the things he can do. It's a luxury to be able to move him around.”
FULL PADS: The Buffs hit the practice field in full pads Monday, the first time this spring. They did run some brief drills, including a short No. 1 offense vs. No. 1 defense situation, but MacIntyre said they expect to get some scrimmage-type work in on Wednesday during a “50-50” tackling practice.
“I think they enjoy getting the pads on,” MacIntyre said. “Wednesday will be our first situational, competition scrimmage-type thing. They'll be excited. It will get a little heated — they got heated out here today, a little competition, which is good.”
NCAA rules allow 15 spring practices: three in shorts (no contact), four in pads (no tackling), five in pads (tackling allowed no more than 50 percent of the time) and three in pads (tackling allowed throughout).
BUBBLE TIME: The Buffs opened Monday's practice on the lower outdoor practice fields, but moved inside the adjacent practice bubble for the last half hour when lightning was detected in the area.
YOUNG CORNERS: With four-year Ken Crawley gone to graduation, the Buffs will be doing some adjusting at cornerback. Awuzie will definitely see plenty of time there, and senior Ahkello Witherspoon, who started eight games last year, is returning.
But also getting some long looks in spring are sophomores Isaiah Oliver and Nick Fisher. Oliver started three games at cornerback last year and finished with 216 snaps on defense while Fisher saw action on a variety of special teams as well as 57 defensive plays.
“Isaiah played really well as the year went on last year and got better,” MacIntyre said. “Nick played on all of our special teams and jumped in there some at nickel. Ahkello and Chidobe are also really good corners. We've got four guys that have a chance to be pretty good.”
ADKINS HEALTH: Junior running back Michael Adkins II, who played in just three games last year before being sidelined for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury, has had a good spring thus far.
“He's gone every day and done well,” MacIntyre said. “He hasn't missed anything. Hopefully he'll stay healthy. I definitely hope he can stay more durable, I know he wants to.”
When healthy, Adkins has been a solid producer. He ran for 90 yards in the season opener at Hawai'i and followed that with 119 yards against UMass. But he carried just once in CU's third game and did not play again the rest of the year.
“He's in great shape, he's powerful and he's strong,” MacIntyre said. “I think he's in better shape than he has been because he's been able to work so long on all of those areas.”
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
