These Buffs Are Poised To Become Key Offensive Contributors

BOULDER — Last season, the Colorado offense had a solid season.

The Buffs took a step forward in virtually every key offensive category, moving up from 67th in the nation in total offense in 2015 to the top 25 at the end of the regular season; from 86th to 56th in rushing offense; and in the most important offensive category of all, from 97th to 56th in scoring offense.

Significant improvement by any standard.

But while the Buffs offense was making strides, it was the defense making headlines. CU's defense finished as a top-20 unit nationally, and as the Buffs were making their run to a Pac-12 South title and a bowl berth, the defense grabbed most of the attention.

That could all change this year. The Buffs lost just two starters to graduation on offense, and while one is arguably the most important position on the team — quarterback — CU has a quite capable replacement in the wings. Four-year starter Sefo Liufau may be gone, but ultra-talented sophomore Steven Montez, who has already proven himself on the field in pressure situations, is ready to step in.

Montez is clearly blessed with all the physical tools. If there's an unknown, it's that we don't yet know how he'll handle being the man in the crosshairs instead of the backup. Head coach Mike MacIntyre and offensive coordinators Brian Lindgren and Darrin Chiaverini have expressed complete confidence in Montez, but it will still be interesting to see how he handles moments of adversity as the clear starter.

As one CU staffer put it recently, Montez was "playing with house money" a year ago as the backup. He'll have no such luxury this season.

But one thing we do know for certain: Montez will be surrounded by as talented an offensive group as CU has seen in years. It includes a wide receiving corps led by Shay Fields and Devin Ross, both of whom are getting some preseason all-Pac-12 love; running back Phillip Lindsay, whose name is appearing on national awards watch lists; and what MacIntyre has already called the best offensive line he's had in his five-year tenure in Boulder, a group anchored by sixth-year senior tackle Jeromy Irwin.

It is, quite simply, a group brimming with potential and playmakers, an offense that could put up some record-breaking numbers if all goes as planned. Making the scenario even more inviting is that the Buffs have now had a full season and two springs under their co-offensive coordinators and the up-tempo pace that Chiaverini brought to the program. Instead of instituting changes in spring ball, the Buffs were able to concentrate on timing and fine tuning.

But along with the aforementioned stars of the show, there are a handful of other offensive players who could go a long way in making the difference between a good season and a special one. While there are no unknowns in the group, they are still relatively unsung players — for now — who could be difference makers by season's end.

WR Kabion Ento. The Buffs have plenty of returning receivers who put up gaudy numbers last fall, including Fields (team-high 845 yards receiving, 11 touchdowns), Ross (team-high 66 catches) and Bryce Bobo (41 catches, 523 yards). Ento, meanwhile, finished the year with just eight receptions in his first season in Boulder after transferring from East Central (Miss.) Community College. But in spring ball, it was Ento who consistently turned heads, particularly with his ability to get open on deep balls as well as his ability to go up and get the ball in traffic. In what will no doubt be the most hotly contested position battle of fall camp, Ento will almost certainly be a factor.

OG Gerrad Kough. One of three players remaining on CU's roster who signed his original letter of intent under former coach Jon Embree (Jeromy Irwin and Derek McCartney are the others), Kough started the first 10 games at left guard last season. But an ankle injury forced him to miss the next three, and while he did play in the Alamo Bowl, he was sidelined for all of spring ball because of the ankle. Now, though, he has by all accounts had an outstanding summer of strength and conditioning and appears ready to make his final season in Boulder one to remember. Along with fellow senior Jonathan Huckins at center and sophomore right guard Tim Lynott Jr. (another Buff getting some preseason all-Pac-12 attention), the Buffs could have three legitimate, experienced 300-pounders on the interior and pave the way for another big year for Lindsay.

RT Aaron Haigler. The redshirt sophomore had seven starts last year, finally taking over the permanent starting spot down the home stretch of the season. His size — 6-foot-7, 280 pounds — has people already drawing comparisons to former Buff and first-round NFL pick Nate Solder. His technique is already sound, and if he can add a few more pounds to his frame down the road, he will likely catch the eye of NFL scouts. This year, he will be a key part of the equation up front, particularly as teams test him early in pass rush situations in an effort to avoid Irwin on the other side.

WRs Juwann Winfree, Laviska Shenault Jr. and K.D. Nixon. Did we mention the Buffs are loaded at wideout? It's highly unlikely that all three of these players will have a big impact this year, but it's quite possible that at least one could emerge from the bunch.

A year ago, Winfree had an outstanding early fall camp — so much so that coaches temporarily gave Bobo a look at safety. But Winfree suffered a season-ending knee injury and Bobo returned to wide receiver, where he made a pair of ESPN SportsCenter catches while Winfree went through a long season of rehabbing his knee.

Now, the transfer from Maryland is finishing up a solid summer of rehab and looks to have regained the speed and strength that made him such a threat a year ago.

As for Shenault and Nixon, both are incoming freshmen, and CU is no longer in the position that the Buffs have to use first-year players — in fact just four true freshmen saw the field for Colorado in 2016. But both are ultra-talented, athletic wideouts who could vie immediately for playing time. Shenault is a fast, big-bodied player who doesn't look like a freshman. Nixon has a great first step and excellent speed. The guess here is that if they don't play much, they will still elevate the play of those ahead of them on the depth chart.

RBs Michael Adkins II, Donovan Lee and Beau Bisharat. Even though last year's backup, Kyle Evans, is far ahead of schedule in his rehab from a dislocated hip, it's unlikely that he'll be full speed early enough in camp to be the No. 2 guy behind Lindsay when the season opens.

That opens up the spot to seniors Adkins and Lee and sophomore Bisharat.

Adkins clearly has the ability. He ran for 535 yards as a true freshman in 2013 and nearly 400 a year later. But since then, he's been hampered by injuries. He had a good spring, however, and if healthy, could be a terrific change of pace when Lindsay needs a breather.

Lee, who has played wide receiver and tailback at CU and even dabbled at defensive back, has big-play potential and surprising power inside. Bisharat, meanwhile, has the potential to help CU in a two-back set. How it all shakes out obviously remains to be seen, but the chance is there for one of these players to separate himself from the pack in fall camp.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu