Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Bits: CU Tight Ends Russell Up Some Catches
October 23, 2018 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — When Colorado redshirt freshman Brady Russell caught four passes against Washington last weekend, it was the most by a CU tight end since 2013, when Scott Fernandez caught four against Utah.
Last week also marked the first time a tight end has caught a pass in a CU game this year, as junior Chris Bounds added one catch to the tight end total.
"It was an awesome experience," Russell said at Tuesday's weekly CU press conference. "I knew it was going to happen at some point. I just had to be ready to get my first catch. I feel like I've been ready for a long time. I was just waiting for the right opportunity. Washington showed us a good look to do that."
Russell, the nephew of former CU linebacker great Matt Russell, said he heard from his uncle after the game.
"It was actually pretty funny," Russell said. "The announcers on the TV said that he was my dad. He sent me a video and said, 'I didn't realize I was your dad!" He told me good job. My whole family is really excited about it."
Russell came to CU as a preferred walkon in 2017, but was awarded a scholarship in August. That, he said, made the decision to walk on with the Buffs — instead of accepting a scholarship at a smaller program — all worthwhile.
"I am really happy with that decision in the end," he said. "I knew in my mind that I could play at this level. I just wasn't getting a shot. I was happy CU gave me an opportunity to walk on. That was great of them. I thought at the end, that with the D-IAA opportunities I had, I would rather be playing big time Division I college football and see what I could do at that level. That was my dream ever since I was a kid."
While he finally got his name in the record books with his catches at Washington, he has already had a big impact this season as a blocker. He has helped open holes for several big plays this year, including a 49-yard touchdown run by Laviska Shenault Jr. at USC and a 35-yard Montez run for a touchdown against UCLA.
"One of my favorite plays is when I get to pull around with the guard," Russell said. "I love getting to run up and smash heads with other guys. That is definitely one of my favorite parts of the game. Football is all about hitting."
INJURY UPDATE: MacIntyre announced Tuesday that redshirt freshman cornerback Chris Miller will be out the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his hand Monday. Miller, a promising young player, was just rounding into shape after being hampered by a hamstring injury early in the year, and had started Colorado's last two games.
With Miller out, the Buffs will count on Delrick Abrams Jr., Trey Udoffia and Dante Wigley at corner. Safety Evan Worthington can also play the position in a pinch. Abrams, who missed last week's game with an injury, has been practicing this week and MacIntyre said he expects the junior to play.
"We've alternated those guys in and done different things," MacIntyre said. "Our corners have got to play better than they've played. They know that. We know that. With what we do defensively, they're going to get thrown at. That's the way it is. If we can do that, then we'll be able to stop the run and play really good football. Those guys are good enough to do it. They had a really good practice today and they're excited about playing."
As for the wide receiver situation, MacIntyre said Laviska Shenault Jr. (toe) and Jay MacIntyre (concussion) are still day-to-day, but he expects senior Juwann Winfree to be back closer to full speed. Winfree played last week after missing four games with an ankle injury.
"He's moved around better in practice this week than he has," MacIntyre said. "I think he'll be ready to go unless he has a setback."
HONEST FISHER: In last week's game against Washington, safety Nick Fisher and linebacker Nate Landman were credited with forcing a UW fumble near the goal line that resulted in a touchback and gave Colorado the ball.
Tuesday, Fisher said the forced fumble belonged to Landman.
"I'm not going to lie," Fisher said. "I wanted to say that I did, but then I saw the replay and it was just me holding him up. I thought I got it the first time, my hand was there. He came in and knocked it out."
NO COMPLACENCY: Head coach Mike MacIntyre said he doesn't expect his team to take the Beavers lightly, even though they come to Boulder with a 1-6 record and a five-game losing streak.
"You only get so many opportunities to play," MacIntyre said. "I talk to our guys all the time that your role can change at any time. The week before, we had four starters playing and the next week, those four starters didn't even make the trip. You're not guaranteed your next game so you better play every chance you get."
 OSU INJURY UPDATE: The Beavers are battling injury woes of their own. Starting quarterback Conor Blount left last week's 49-7 loss to Cal with a concussion and is undergoing the protocol this week. Backup Jake Luton, meanwhile, was unable to play because of an ankle sprain suffered early in the season (he started the year as the No. 1), and the Beavers finished the game with No. 3 quarterback Jack Colletto at the helm.
Monday, head coach Jonathan Smith said Luton did take part in Sunday's practice and will hopefully be able to do more as the week progresses.
The Beavers also hope to have the services of freshman running back Jermar Jefferson, the leading rusher in the Pac-12. Jefferson, who has 899 yards and 12 touchdowns on 132 carries, had just two carries against Cal because of a sore quadricep. Smith said he is "optimistic" that Jefferson will be able to play against Colorado.
If Jefferson can't go, the Beavers still have Artavis Pierce, who has run for 343 yards and three touchdowns. Pierce had 168 yards against Ohio State — including touchdown runs of 80 and 78 yards.
OSU ROAD WOES: Oregon State has lost 22 straight games on the road. The Beavers' last road win came in 2014, when they held on for a 36-31 victory over Colorado at Folsom Field.
LINDGREN REUNION: Former Colorado quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren now serves in the same roles for Oregon State. Lindgren recruited Steven Montez to Colorado, and was his position coach for his first three years in Boulder.
"We have been keeping up with each other, texting back and forth and whatnot," Montez said. " Him, (former CU assistant Jim) Jeffcoat and Mac were the first people to give me my shot here. I am always thankful for them. I am very excited to see him (Lindgren). He was a great coach for me while he was here. Even if we don't get to talk for a long time, we'll have a, 'Hey, what's up? How are you doing? How are the kids?' I am excited to play Oregon State and to see Coach Lindgren as well."
Montez said Lindgren was a huge influence in helping understand CU's playbook.
"He helped me get super comfortable with our offense," Montez said. "It wasn't so much the defensive side of football, more so worrying about what we were doing on offense and knowing where everyone was going to be and where everyone needed to be lined up. He ingrained the playbook into my mind to where I was always thinking about it. He is obviously a great man as well. He is a great human being. It was good to get to know him and get to know what type of person he is."
BROADCAST LINEUP: Saturday's game will be televised by the Pac-12 Network with Roxy Bernstein on play-by-play, Anthony Herron with color commentary and Lewis Johnson on the sidelines. The KOA radio lineup will be the usual: Mark Johnson on play-by-play, Gary Barnett with color commentary and Andy Lindahl from the sidelines.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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Players Mentioned
