Tuesday Buffs Bits: CU's McMillian Quietly Enjoying Standout Season

BOULDER — Anyone who follows college football with even a mild interest is aware that 5-0 and nationally ranked Colorado (No. 19 AP, No. 18 USA Today) has one of the most dynamic combinations in the nation in quarterback Steven Montez and wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr.

Shenault leads the nation in receiving yards per game (141.6) and receptions per game (10.2) while Montez is second in the nation in completion percentage (.752) and 15th in the nation in passing yards per game (284.0).

The two have gained plenty of national attention as a result, with their media responsibilities growing on a daily basis. Tuesday's weekly CU press conference had its biggest gathering of media yet this year, and the hype around the Buffs duo was clearly the focal point. They are no doubt a hot commodity as the Buffs prepare for Saturday's 8:30 p.m. matchup with USC at the Coliseum (FS1).

But running under the radar — at least thus far — is another Buff who is putting together a standout year. Colorado running back Travon McMillian, a grad transfer from Virginia Tech, is 20th in the nation in rushing yards per game, averaging 105.6 per contest. That makes the Colorado one of only three teams in the nation — joining Ole Miss and Oklahoma State — with a player in the national top 20 in passing, receiving and rushing yards per game.

Overall, it has given the Buffs excellent offensive balance. CU is second in the Pac-12 in total offense (490.6 yards per game), averaging 197.6 yards on the ground and 293 in the air.

"He's carried the load," head coach Mike Macintyre said. "Travon on the last drive the other night (a game-ending 7-minute possession by the Buffs) was pretty sharp. He knew we had to get one last first down and had a Herculean effort to get there. He was totally exhausted after that. I think he had 30 carries and he hadn't had 30 carries since he was a freshman in college."

McMillian left Virginia Tech after his playing time declined each year there. As a redshirt freshman, he carried 200 times for 1,043 yards. But those numbers steadily went down, from 145-for-676 to 104-for-439. When he made the decision to transfer to Colorado, he rededicated his offseason to improving his game in every facet.

"I dedicated my life to my footwork, jump cuts, pass protection, making sure that my hands are inside and that I'm striking, and just having good eyes, really," he said. "That's what it's really about. When you're a running back, you have to have good eyes, seeing the backers, see the flow of the defense, and knowing the running scheme. ... I worked extremely hard this offseason to become a better student of the game and really understand what's going on."

The work has paid off. He has four 100-yard games this season, with 528 yards on 84 carries, including touchdown runs of 75 and 49 yards, and a career high 162 yards against New Hampshire. That all puts him on pace to become CU's 17th all-time 1,000-yard rusher.

"He is killing it right now," Montez said. "He's playing well and he loves to pass block as well when we pass the ball. He does it all for us."

But McMillian and the Buffs will have their work cut out for them against the Trojans. After giving up back-to-back 100-yard games to opposing backs to open the season, USC has held its last two opponents (Washington State and Arizona) to under 100 yards total.

"Each and every week, I feel like our O-line, our backs, and everybody, even our receivers, have been way more physical, blocking on the perimeter," McMillian said. "Our O-line has been handling a lot of movements and things like that. It is a challenge every week. Every week you have to be physical and every week is a new week. The stage gets bigger and bigger each week. You have to be more physical each and every week. That is how it is."

HOW GOOD IS 'VISKA'? Shenault is being mentioned as a candidate for a long list of national awards, and for good reason. He's putting together a spectacular season, one that has already seen him catch 38 passes for 581 yards and four touchdowns, with four 100-yard receiving games (he had only 67 yards against New Hampshire when he played just one half).

He is also proving to be a beast as a running back, carrying 13 times for 41 yards and four touchdowns, mostly out of the wildcat formation. When he caught two touchdown passes and ran for two more in last week's 28-21 win over Arizona State, he became the first player in CU history to have a multi-touchdown game rushing and receiving.

But despite all his recent national notoriety, Shenault is remains humble. He shrugs off the chatter, and told reporters on Tuesday, "I'm not really worried about it right now. I'm just worried about getting wins."

Thus, reporters are resorting to asking his teammates to describe him. Montez had perhaps the most vivid description yet at Tuesday's press conference

"This is kind of a crazy comparison, but he reminds of LeBron (James)," Montez said. "He keeps getting better. You think, 'Alright, he has already played this well up to now, maybe he'll have a slower game.' It is just never like that. He is doing more crazy stuff and keeps getting better every week. That is the scariest thing about him because you think, 'What he is going to do this week?'"

That, of course, is a question defensive coordinators are asking themselves.

"That is very intimidating for a defense because I'm sure they are thinking, 'How are we going to stop this guy? How are we going to try to contain him this game?'" Montez said. "I really don't think you can. He can just do so many different things. He can beat you at receiver, we can put him at running back, we can use fly sweep, and put him in wildcat. We can do so many different things with him that it is just so difficult to stop him. He is an animal. He is just a great ball player who knows the game, and is very, very good at it."

MONTEZ IMPROVEMENT: Of course, someone has to get those passes to Shenault, and Montez is doing an excellent job of that this season, and is also finding his name on a long list of awards candidates.

His .752 completion rate (115-for-153) is just hundredths behind national leader Tua Tagovailoa of Alabama. He has thrown for 1,420 yards, 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions, and has a 174.2 passing efficiency rating (10th in the nation).

That completion percentage is a significant step ahead of last season, when he finished the year at 60.5 percent (228-for-377).

But equally impressive is how he has improved his play in the pocket and reading defenses.

"The thing I love about Steven is he can make a mistake, learn from it, and put it right behind him and move on," MacIntyre said. "Some guys let it bother them and they freeze in the pocket or they don't want to throw it again. Not Steven. He learns from it and keeps playing. Coach (Kurt) Roper has done a great job of teaching him that, working with him on a lot of different things and having his eyes in better spots. Of course Chev and Klayton (co-offensive Coordinators Darrin Chiaverini and Klayton Adams) have done a good job of utilizing him in the offense."

TAKEAWAYS NEEDED: After producing seven defensive takeaways in the first three games this year — and converting five of them into touchdowns — the Buffs have gone two straight games without another takeaway.

The good news is the Buffs have also taken care of the ball in that stretch and not had an offensive turnover. For the year, CU has lost just one fumble and thrown three interceptions.

Still, the Buffs would like to crank up the takeaway number this week. USC has thrown three interceptions this year and lost four fumbles.

"We need to get some more turnovers," MacIntyre said. "We've dropped a few picks that we could've gotten. Both (Pac-12_ teams we've played have had good ball security, they took care of the football. We didn't have any turnovers either. If we do that, we'll be OK. But we do need to make turnovers and I'm pretty sure they're thinking they do too."

REPLACING CALLIER: The Buffs will play their second straight game without sophomore linebacker Jacob Callier, who underwent season-ending surgery on Tuesday.

Callier, a pass-rush specialist, will still have three years eligibility remaining, thanks to the new NCAA redshirt rule.

His absence means the Buffs will continue to lean more heavily on redshirt freshman Carson Wells, who has started three games, as well as junior college transfer Alex Tchangam, Nu'Umoto Falo and Buff back Davion Taylor.

"Carson Wells has had a little time to come on," MacIntyre said. "Davion has gotten a lot better, Alex Tchangam has gotten a lot better, all those guys have kept improving."

USC FRESHMAN QB: After opening the year with three interceptions in his first three games, USC freshman quarterback JT Daniels hasn't thrown a pick in his last two games.

MacIntyre said he expects Daniels to continue to improve, especially coming off a bye week.

"He can make every throw," MacIntyre said. "You hear that, but he can do it. I've been very impressed with him. I imagine with the week off he'll get even better watching his mistakes and seeing where he can improve."

BROADCAST CREW: Saturday's FS1 folks in the booth will include Joe Davis (play by play), Brady Quinn (color) and Bruce Feldman (sidelines). On the call for KOA radio will be Mark Johnson (play by play), Gary Barnett (color) and Bobby Pesavento (sidelines).

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu