Colorado University Athletics
Buffs DB Laguda Ready For Bigger Role
August 11, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
CU junior will line up at nickel, safety
BOULDER — There was a time when a nickel back was essentially an extra on defense, a fifth defensive back called upon occasionally to provide more coverage in obvious passing situations.
Those days are long gone -- particularly in the pass-happy Pac-12. Today, while most "base" defenses still don't technically include a fifth defensive back, the reality is that teams are playing the alignment more often than not, and the Colorado Buffaloes are no exception.
Last year, CU started 10 of its 13 games with a nickel back in the lineup — most often, Chidobe Awuzie, who saw nine of his 12 starts come at the position.
Awuzie is back this season, and is expected to see time again at the nickel. But the Buffs will also employ the services of Afolabi Laguda, a hard-hitting junior who played 237 snaps on defense last year and finished with 22 tackles (17 solo). Laguda was listed as the No. 1 nickel back on the pre-camp depth chart, and has seen plenty of repetitions at the position thus far in camp, as well as free safety, where he's listed as the backup to Ryan Moeller.
"He's definitely going to have a bigger role than he did last year, especially in some of our nickel packages," said CU safeties coach Joe Tumpkin. "We're expecting a lot out of him. We need him to be more consistent this year, but he's done a really good job in sitting and learning and picking it up. He's going to play some nickel situations and safety for us, and also some special teams."
For Laguda, who transferred to CU a year ago from Butler (Kan.) Community College, Â the more the merrier.
"I'm excited for it," he said. "It's my second year, it's time to step up. It's still X's and O's. It's applying that coaching from the film room to the field. That's what it is. Great players know how to take that coaching and come out here and apply it and be great every day."
Laguda admits last year wasn't the easiest of times. After an outstanding freshman season at Butler, he found himself being asked to watch and learn when he arrived in Boulder.
"I had to learn how to be a player all over again," said Laguda, who played his prep ball at Brookwood High School in Snellville, Ga. "You come from a program where you are that guy, you are a star, and then you have to work your way up again. Last year I had to adjust to that. I was glad the coaches made me work. I appreciate Coach Mac's philosophy that you have to work for everything you get. Coach Mac has definitely instilled that work ethic in me. When I first got here, it was work and then trust. Work hard for it, then earn that trust."
Laguda has earned that trust. Defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt has said repeatedly that the Buffs will need a big year from Laguda, and MacIntyre has said he'll be an integral part of a defense that's expected to take another big step forward.
That's fine with Laguda, who believes he's ready for the challenge.
"They believe in me, and I have to play not for myself, but for the Colorado across my chest," Laguda said. "That's the role I need to play and the role I need to embrace and make people proud, make people know that Colorado is back — it's the rise, that's what our coaches believe in.
"If I do play a major role, it's not for me. I'm playing it for the team. I might be exhausted, but the team needs my extra step. We need it from everybody. When the team wins, the individuals shine more. I want the team to shine. If that happens, everything else will take care of itself."
Laguda has earned a reputation as a player who enjoys contact. He had a career-high five tackles against USC a year ago, and was also the coaches' selection for the team's Special Teams Belt Award, presented to the player for outstanding coverage unit achievement.
"Chido's still going to play some nickel and be in that rotation, but Afolabi is going to play more, especially when we're in our odd-front stuff," Tumpkin said. "He's a bigger body, a really athletic hybrid type of player who can play the run and he's athletic enough to play in the pass game. He can come in and set the edge as well as Chido did last year, and he's gotten much better in his coverage skills."
Laguda likes the idea of coming off the edge on occasion and pursuing the quarterback — something Awuzie did extremely well last year, finishing with four sacks.
"I love to get in there and scrap it out," Laguda said. "I'm a scrappy kid myself. Coach Leavitt definitely tries to bring it out in me, and I appreciate that."
Most of all, though, Laguda wants to be part of a team turnaround. After just one season, he's already had his fill of coming up short.
"Last year, the attitude was just a little different," Laguda said. "Now, we work for it. We're working for everything. We ran, we lifted, we worked all summer. My teammates look stronger than they ever have before. We're all for one right now.
"It's time."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
