Colorado University Athletics
These Under-the-radar Buffs Defenders Might Not Stay That Way For Long
July 20, 2017 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Everyone who follows Colorado football knows the CU defense is in for a change this year.
The question is whether the Buffs are reloading or rebuilding.
What isn't up for debate is that Colorado lost eight starters from last year's defense, one that helped produce one of the more dramatic turnarounds in college football history. Also new this year on the CU sidelines are three defensive assistants: defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot, secondary coach ShaDon Brown and linebackers/special teams coordinator Ross Els.
But folks on the inside, beginning with those who matter most — the coaching staff and players — believe CU can produce another quality defense, despite the losses.
The reasons are many.
For starters, while Colorado did technically lose eight defensive starters, the Buffs will still have at least six defenders with significant starting experience. Along with defensive backs Afolabi Laguda and Ryan Moeller and linebacker Rick Gamboa — all of whom had at least nine starts last year — the list also includes defensive lineman Leo Jackson III, outside linebacker Derek McCartney and cornerback Isaiah Oliver. There's little doubt that each of them will be key contributors.
As for the coaching changes, the names are different but the scheme and terminology is the same. Head coach Mike MacIntyre made the change to a 3-4 alignment before the 2015 season, and his search for a coordinator last winter led him to Eliot, who ran the exact same defense at Kentucky (the same defense also utilized by LSU and Oklahoma). It is a scheme tailor-made for today's college game, as it is geared for the fast-paced spread offenses that have become so prevalent.
Still, conventional wisdom strongly suggests Colorado will take a step back on defense because of the turnover on the field and on the sidelines. If the Buffs are to buck the CW, they'll need some contribution from players not currently on the front-line radar, players who will step up and become difference makers.
A year ago, the Buffs had several of those types of contributors. Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon and defensive lineman Jordan Carrell went from virtual unknowns to NFL Draft picks. Samson Kafovalu and Josh Tupou became DL stalwarts and Laguda went from a key reserve to a 14-game starter.
A couple of things to remember about CU's defense: one, while it is technically a 3-4 scheme, the Buffs spend more time in other alignments simply because of the offenses they face. More often than not, there are five DBs (or more) in the game, including the specialized Buff Back, a hybrid linebacker/safety position created a year ago specifically to match the talents of Moeller when McCartney went down with a season-ending knee injury.
The other thing to remember is that MacIntyre is a defensive coach at heart with a particular affinity for the secondary (where he coached in the NFL under Bill Parcells). While the Buffs did lose former cornerbacks coach Charles Clark, it's worth remembering that Clark joined MacIntyre's staff as a graduate assistant under MacIntyre's tutelage at Duke, and it was MacIntyre who turned Clark into a highly sought DBs coach.
So, we return to the original question: reload or rebuild? If the Buffs are going to reload here are seven players who might not be on everyone's radar at the moment, but could become significant contributors who make a name for themselves by season's end:
LB Drew Lewis. The heir apparent to Kenneth Olugbode's spot inside, Lewis has the athleticism to become a standout second-level defender. He put up some outstanding numbers in CU's offseason strength and conditioning tests, and has added strength and speed. He'll benefit from playing alongside heady veteran Gamboa and has the potential to put up the same kind of numbers Olugbode posted.
DB Evan Worthington. A big (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) defensive back who has the athleticism to play virtually every position in the secondary. He emerged from spring ball as the backup at Buff Back and safety and is a player CU coaches will likely rely on in a variety of situations. Because Colorado plays so many DBs in a variety of formations, Worthington will almost certainly see a significant amount of playing time and could become a big contributor.
Safety Nick Fisher. The junior has just one career start — that coming as a freshman — but he made a name for himself last fall when he stepped in for Laguda in the Washington State game and played a season-high 67 snaps on defense (he had played just 39 total prior to that). He finished with six tackles, three third-down stops, a fourth-down stop and a pass breakup, and earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts. This year, he's penciled in as the starter at free safety. If he can add consistency to his game, he could become a big-time contributor.
NT Javier Edwards. OK, it might be a little difficult to say a 6-foot-3, 360-pound guy flies under anyone's radar. But Edwards, a Juco transfer expected to help fill the shoes of Tupou, is someone the Buffs will need, particularly in run defense. Edwards made some good strides in spring ball adjusting to the speed and power of the Division I game, and he needs to make plenty more progress in fall camp. But he's displayed a solid work ethic and willingness to put in the extra time to improve his stamina. If he can become a dependable run stopper and short-yardage guy, he'll be a big help to the defense.
DB Anthony Julmisse. Blessed with great athleticism, Julmisse turned heads a year ago as a true freshman when he came in as a wide receiver, then made the switch to DB and played both positions. He ended up playing sparingly, but saw most of his time on defense, where he recorded a fumble recovery in the opener vs. Colorado State and had an interception vs. Idaho State. Julmisse is now a full-time DB — and he'll need to take his game to the next level in order to secure a starting spot at corner. He has the ability, but he will have to show the consistency, dedication and discipline to earn the spot. What's very clear already is that whoever plays the spot opposite Isaiah Oliver will get plenty of attention and opportunity to make plays, as opponents will almost certainly avoid Oliver's side whenever possible.
DL Frank Umu. A big (6-foot-4, 315 pounds) sophomore who has played sparingly to this point, Umu showed signs in spring of becoming the type of player who could anchor CU's defensive line over the next couple of years. He and fellow soph Lyle Tuiloma were named most improved defensive linemen in the spring and if he has a good fall camp, he could become a factor here.
OLB Terran Hasselbach. The junior played 117 snaps on defense last fall, so he has a feel for the position. He's made good strides in his time at Colorado and while he missed spring ball because of shoulder surgery, he's had a good summer in the weight room and coaches are hoping to see him take the next step in fall camp.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
