Young Buffs 'Backers Turning Heads In Camp

BOULDER — Part of the most celebrated Colorado recruiting class in recent years, they have the potential to be what CU coaches hope will be the heart of the Buffs defense for years to come.

Meet the Buffs' young guns at linebacker, five true freshmen who have turned heads in camp virtually since Day One. They've produced sacks, interceptions and other big plays, and slowly but surely they are pushing their way into the picture for playing time this season.

"They're talented, they're eager and for their age, they are really mature," defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot said. "They continue to get better every day and I'm excited to watch them play."

The group of true freshmen include outside linebackers Carson Wells, Jacob Callier and Dante Sparaco, and inside linebackers Jonathan Van Diest and Nate Landman. Of course, the list also has to include redshirt freshman Akil Jones, who has elbowed his way into getting plenty of snaps with the No. 1 unit at inside linebaker by consistently making plays at every opportunity.

"There's no doubt the future is bright for us at linebacker," Eliot said. "(Starter) Rick Gamboa only a junior, Drew Lewis is only a junior and Akil's a redshirt freshman. Then we have all those true freshmen who have gotten a lot of practice reps already in camp, and some of them are going to get game reps this year."

Exactly who might be getting some of those game reps isn't clear yet. But what is already quite evident is that they are all bringing something to the table — and as they progress, they are also developing a camaraderie that will only grow stronger in the coming years.

"It's really a lot of fun because I think we're all already starting to get close and know each other," Callier said. "We can't wait for another couple of years when we have chemistry with each other and we actually know what we're doing out there."

Callier, a 6-foot-2, 240-pounder from Downey, Calif., has already shown a propensity for big plays. A defensive end in high school, he's translated those pass rush skills to his new position quickly, and has also shown a natural knack for dropping into coverage, where he has recorded a couple of interceptions in camp.

"At the end of the day, it's football," he said of the position switch. "I've never played outside linebacker before, but I think I'm picking it up fairly quickly. I love dropping into coverage because anytime I can get my hands on the ball, that's great."

Van Diest, a 6-foot-1, 230-pounder from Cherry Creek High School, also made the switch from defensive line — and he has also adapted quickly.

"He's done super in there," head coach Mike MacIntyre said. "It doesn't look like he's a D-lineman playing linebacker, he looks like a linebacker playing linebacker, which is very encouraging."

Van Diest has also had his share of big moments in camp, but also knows the learning curve is a steep one.

"It's been a really fun but also difficult transition, learning to play inside," Van Diest said. "The fundamentals, the technique, the vision — it's all different than what I played in high school. I feel like I've progressed since the beginning, but there's still so much to learn. It's a matter of focusing every day, grinding and moving past mistakes."

MacIntyre said every one of the true freshmen, along with Jones, has had outstanding moments thus far.

Of the inside 'backers, Jones is the most likely to see some significant playing time, especially early. But, MacIntyre noted, "no one's really pulled away yet" when it comes to the true freshmen.

Outside, it's the same story. Callier "might have a chance to play some this year for us because he's such a good pass rusher, (and) Dante Sparaco is doing the same thing."

But, as MacIntyre noted, "If one of them plays as a freshman it doesn't mean the other one's never going to play. You see that happen all the time, things change. We're working at that and giving those guys a lot of reps to see who's ready the quickest right now."

The big key, Eliot said, is continuing to get the young players as many repetitions as possible.

"When you see them figure things out and execute in practice, it makes you have confidence in them to put them in the game on Saturday," Eliot said. "We just have to continue to stress that and push them to the point that they're game ready."

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu