NFL Draft Highlights CU Coaches' Talent Evaluation, Development Skills

BOULDER — With four players selected in the just-completed NFL Draft and four more signing free agent deals, there is no doubt the Colorado Buffaloes are back in the thick of things when it comes to producing NFL-caliber talent.

But what may have been lost in the shuffle over the weekend is that Mike MacIntyre's program has bounced back thanks in large part to two oftentimes overlooked factors: talent evaluation and talent development.

The two go hand-in-hand. As MacIntyre told me over the weekend, "Good coaches still have to have good players."

But one big key for MacIntyre and his staff since they arrived in Boulder four years ago has been identifying talent, bringing it on campus and then turning that potential into production.

"It just shows you that we evaluate pretty well in the way we evaluate talent for recruiting," MacIntyre said on a Pac-12 coaches conference call Monday morning. "None of those guys were big-time stars and they all ended up getting drafted, and they'll play for a while. It's exciting and the guys that went in free agency, I think a couple of those guys will make it also. I'm excited about where we're headed and we'll have more guys every year getting drafted and be able to build our program in the right direction."

Indeed, none of the four Buffs drafted over the weekend — Chidobe Awuzie, Ahkello Witherspoon, Tedric Thompson and Jordan Carrell — were highly recruited, "can't-miss" prospects out of high school. But all four followed a steady trajectory of improvement in their time in Boulder — and all four are now reaping the benefits as they negotiate the NFL contracts.

Of course, there's no coach in the nation who wants to bank his career on building solely from diamonds in the rough. But thanks to some outstanding talent evaluation and development over the past four years, Colorado put together a turnaround 10-4 season last year that included a division title and bowl berth.

This spring, MacIntyre and his staff realized the rewards of that season by producing a top-30 recruiting class, the best yet in MacIntyre's tenure in Boulder.

And that's where the second part of the equation — talent development — comes in. Given the recent successes, beginning with strength and conditioning coordinator Drew Wilson's programs and finishing with the direction the players get on the field, that's something that shouldn't change.

Throughout the weeks leading up to the draft, CU's coaches have regular conversations with NFL personnel. Those front-office folks (obviously) want to know everything about the players they are considering selecting, and the conversations are usually quite frank.

"I think the thing that people saw in our kids was the fight they had inside them," MacIntyre told me over the weekend. "They saw the work ethic, their coachability, their desire. They knew where we came from and they saw what our kids did — the whole group of them. No doubt I think our coaching staff has a good eye and I think we've done a good job with them. We've instilled that work ethic and I think that's one thing a lot of the NFL people saw in our guys."

That's also something that should remain a constant. That work ethic — on display continuously from players like Awuzie, Thompson, Sefo Liufau and Jimmie Gilbert — has been passed on to the next group of Buffs seniors. It's why players such as Phillip Lindsay, Jeromy Irwin and Afolabi Laguda are determined not to let the program slip this year, and it's one reason youngsters such as Steven Montez have embraced that attitude. They have seen what CU's program has produced: of the 10 seniors from last season who had starting roles, all 10 have established an NFL connection: four were drafted, four have signed free agent contracts and two others have been invited to NFL minicamps.

"The kids are working hard," MacIntyre said. "You saw it in the spring and you saw it in the weight room. When you have a draft like this, and they see how hard the guys worked who got drafted, that's a motivation for them. It becomes one of those things that is a constant if you have good leaders."

In Monday's conference call with reporters, MacIntyre was also asked about a variety of other story lines concerning the Buffs, including:

POSSIBLE "HEISMAN HYPE" FOR RB LINDSAY: "He's an all-around back," MacIntyre said. "He's not just a guy that you hand the ball to, he's not just a guy you bring in on third down. He's an all-around football player. I'm excited about his future. Hopefully we have an excellent year this year and he'll get some of the recognition he deserves."

Indeed, Lindsay had one of the best seasons by a CU running back in years in 2016. Lindsay rushed for 1,189 yards (1,252 including bowl yardage) and 16 touchdowns, and caught 47 passes for 390 yards and another score. His 17 touchdowns led the Pac-12 and he also had 74 yards in kickoff returns to finish 33rd in the nation in all-purpose yardage.

"He's a key guy that everybody has to worry about," MacIntyre said. "He's going to be a huge, huge role in our offense like he was last year."

CENTER OF ATTENTION: After three years with Alex Kelley as the starter at center (37 starts in the last three seasons), the Buffs will have a new man at the position next fall.

All indications are it will be senior Jonathan Huckins, who has spent much of his career at guard but played at center for much of the spring.

"He had a great spring, he's in great shape, his weight is really good," MacIntyre said. "I saw him this morning and he's excited about everything he's doing. I think he'll be an excellent center. He's athletic for us, he understands the game, he's played a lot of snaps and I'm excited about Jon. I hope he has a great senior year."

Huckins actually saw time at center a year ago in the spring, but was sidelined for part of fall camp last year with a stomach ailment. He regained his health when the season began and played in eight games at guard, including four starts down the home stretch of the season.

HIGH HOPES FOR MONTEZ: While nothing is official, all signs continue to point to sophomore Steven Montez as next season's starting quarterback.

Montez, who had three starts last season, had an outstanding spring, MacIntyre said.

"He had a better grasp of the offense," MacIntyre said. "He knew where he was going with it, he was cleaner with his alignments, he was cleaner with getting guys lined up, he understood exactly what we were looking for. He understood when he made a mistake he could correct himself. He's in much better shape than he's ever been and he is moving well and his arm is extremely strong and even more accurate than it was last year. He's kind of elevated everything a little bit."

MacIntyre also said Montez has made a smooth transition in the the role as a team leader — something that is helped by his performance last season, when he led Colorado to wins over Oregon and Oregon State. That, he said, earned him some significant credibility with his teammates.

"You can talk it, you can say it, but once you've done it, you don't have to talk it anymore," MacIntyre said. "They know it, they realize he can play and they know that he'll be prepared and ready to go."

INJURY UPDATE: MacIntyre said linebacker Derek McCartney (knee), wide receiver Juwann Winfree (knee) and running back Donovan Lee (leg) should all be ready for fall camp. He also said running back Kyle Evans (hip) is well ahead of schedule, but it's still unknown whether he will be ready to go when camp opens July 28.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu