Colorado University Athletics
Buffs' Tucker Lauds First Recruiting Class At Colorado
December 20, 2018 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — New Colorado coach Mel Tucker's first recruiting class at Colorado appears to have checked all the initial boxes. Tucker met with the media Thursday to discuss his first Buffs class, one that added size on both sides of the ball — a central theme for Tucker as he evaluated each signee — as well as versatility, speed and a healthy dose of physicality.
"We recruited nationally," said Tucker, whose first Colorado signing day reaped 17 players. "A lot of the coaches we have on our staff are national recruiters. These are all players that were on everyone's radar across the country. There's really no secrets in college football in terms of prospects. It's just a matter of finding the right fit and recruit, recruit, recruit."
But while the former Georgia defensive coordinator was effusive with his praise of the group of newest Buffs, he didn't forget his current roster. The CU staff spent the majority of its time over the last two weeks evaluating recruits, but also took the opportunity to get an initial look at the current roster, a process they will dig into much deeper over the coming weeks.
"I feel like we have tough guys on our roster now," Tucker said. "The major reason you recruit is to enhance and improve your team. The cupboards are not bare here. There's an element of toughness on our roster right now and we're going to promote that. That's going to be paramount to what we do: toughness, relentless attitude, playing physical on both sides of the ball and special teams. We're going to be violent. I feel like we already have that on our team and we're just going to add to it."
Tucker's first class no doubt emphasized size. At least eight of the 17 players who signed letters of intent are 300-pounders or have the potential to hit that number in their time at CU.
"Big guy," Tucker said in his evaluation of new offensive lineman Austin Johnson. "You're going to hear me say that a lot. We need big guys on the offensive line, on the defensive line. This is what we're looking for. We have to be stout in the trenches. We have to be able to move people, we have to be able to run the ball on our terms."
That was just the latest hint that Tucker's offensive philosophy will quite likely be different than that of the last couple of years, when CU depended heavily on an up-tempo, spread formation attack.
When talking about running back recruit Jaren Mangham, Tucker said:
"How many big backs can we get? How many big backs can we put on the field, can we rotate in, can we be fresh and come at them in waves in the backfield? That's what we're looking for. We want guys that can run, yards after contact, yards after catch, dependable in pass pro."
Tucker also made it clear that CU's tight ends will be a regular part of the attack.
Last season, CU's tight ends combined for just six catches for 56 yards. But at Georgia this year, the Bulldogs' third-leading receiver was tight end Isaac Natua, who caught 29 passes for 427 yards and three scores. All told, Bulldogs tight ends this year accounted for 39 catches for 552 yards.
"We plan to use the tight end here extensively," Tucker said.
The Buffs could add as many as eight more players to the class in the February signing period. Tucker said he and his staff will continue to evaluate potential recruits who have not signed.
"We're looking for the best football players, the guys that can fit in what we're going to do here, how we're going to play football," he said. "Physical, fast, relentless, smart, tough, best conditioned – if that's a defensive back, if it's a linebacker, D-line, O-line, quarterback – we're looking to fill the class with those type of guys."
Also Thursday, CU announced tentative dates for spring football. The first week will begin Monday, March 18, the week before CU's spring break. It will then resume the week after break, with the spring game set for Saturday, April 27.
Tucker also took the time to provide a quick player-by-player evaluation of his first CU class while showing highlights of each signee. Here's what he had to say about each member of the class
JOE DAVIS, RB, 5-11, 210, Littleton, Colo. — "Outstanding player. Toughness. You can see right here on the video, this guy can do it all. He's a threat out of the backfield as a receiver, he's a run after the catch guy, yards after contact guy, outstanding leadership. High character guy and a guy who really really wanted to be here. He's a Buff through and through and those are the type of guys we're looking for. Very, very physical."
MARVIN HAM II, LB, 6-1, 220, Belleville, Mich. — "This is a special kid right here. He wants to major in engineering. That's very very important to him. He's a run and hit linebacker. He can do it all. He does a great job in space. He arrives with an attitude. He's a knock-back tackler, a head turner. He's got some pass rush ability off the edge. He's the type of versatile athlete that we need to have. He's a three-down linebacker. Those guys are hard to find."
BRAEDIN HUFFMAN-DIXON, WR, 6-2, 180, Eastvale, Calif. — "This is my guy right here. He is extraordinary. He has juice. He's a deep threat, he can do a great job intermediate. He's got the burst and the acceleration. He can stretch the defense and run away from folks and he's got the confidence and the juice we're looking for at that position. He's going to be a great player for us. We're just really excited to get him. He has a great family. I can't say enough about this kid. We're just really excited about him.
AUSTIN JOHNSON, OL, 6-4, 285, Highlands Ranch, Colo. —  "Big guy. You're going to hear me say that a lot. We need big guys on the offensive line, on the defensive line. This is what we're looking for. We have to be stout in the trenches. We have to be able to move people, we have to be able to run the ball on our terms. You see he's got good feet in pass pro. Good balance and body control. Already knows how to use his hands. He's been well-coached. These are the type of the guys we're looking for. Obviously at the second level he can sustain. He's a finisher, which is extremely important. In football, it's all about the finish. You can tell he loves to play the game. Up front, size and athleticism are critical for us."
JAREN MANGHAM, RB, 6-2 215, Detroit, Mich. —  "Big back, physical. Downhill, one cut, but explosive. How many big backs can we get? How many big backs can we put on the field, can we rotate in, can we be fresh and come at them in waves in the backfield? That's what we're looking for. We want guys that can run, yards after contact, yards after catch, dependable in pass pro. He's a young man who really, really wanted to be here. He believes in what we're doing, where this program is going. He's always going to fall forward for 1 or 2 yards. Those are the type of backs we're looking for."
ALEC PELL, LB, 6-4, 230, Englewood, Colo. —  "One of the most versatile defensive players probably in the country. He's a Buff through and through. He can do it all. Offense, defense, special teams. As a linebacker, he can play all four spots in our base 3-4. He's got excellent pass rush ability off the edge, great in block protection. Good balance and body control. He's got great acceleration, one-step quickness, everything we're looking for. Very high football instincts. Reactionary athleticism. Here's a guy that's going to be a three-down linebacker for us, do a great job for us on special teams. There's not anything really he can't do. His best football is ahead of him. Outstanding football player all around, all-around guy. He's the type of guy who's going to be a glue guy for us, going to be a leader for us. A tremendous asset for our program. I expect him to be difference-maker early in his career. He's a see-ball, hit-ball guy."
MARK PERRY, DB, 6-0 195, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. — "Love the long DBs. He's a versatile guy. We're going to be in nickel or dime probably 90 percent of the time. He can play all six positions. Extremely versatile. He can cover a lot of ground. He does a great job on both sides of the ball and also in the return game. You can see him playing corner, you can see him playing safety, whatever we need him to do, he'll be able to do. He's one of the leaders in this class. He's a guy that people are drawn to. He has that 'it' factor. Just extremely excited about him and what he's going to be able to do. I enjoyed watching his highlights and I can't wait to get my hands on this kid. His upside is off the charts. He's got great burst and acceleration. Loves playing the game. You see him multiple spots, different positions. He's a striker. You see him attacking ballcarriers with a flat back and really good hat speed."
NA'IM RODMAN, DL, 6-2, 295, Lakewood, Calif. — "Another big guy. He's got really good initial quickness and good balance and body control. He can make plays flat down the line, running the hill. He plays with emotion. Excited about him. Great get off. Good inside pass rusher. He'll be able to help us in sub and passing situations. He's stout, knows how to use his hands. Good lateral movement, lateral quickness, good feet. He's got good contact balance. He'll be stout in the trenches on the gap schemes and the double teams and the bump downs. Really excited about him. He's a loyal kid that stuck with us that wanted to be here. A playmaker. I'm very excited about him. He knows how to win. He's a winner and winners win."
VALENTIN SENN, OL, 6-7, 290, Volders, Austria — "Another big guy. Tremendous upside. Good balance and body control on the second level. He can road-grade guys, obviously something that appeals to me. You rarely see a guy with this type of size and length with that type of balance and athleticism in pass pro and the run game. He's got some versatility.
K.J. TRUJILLO, DB, 6-0, 165, Buena Park, Calif. — "He's the type of guy you want on the front of the media. A really sharp guy. He wants to be an attorney. Another versatile athlete. He's light on his feet, good balance and body control. Plays the game the right way. His dad is a coach. Good in press coverage. He's got a good burst, excellent ball skills, reactionary athleticism. Really just a great all-around football player who wanted to be here. He had opportunities to go elsewhere. People came in on him late to try to flip him, but he stayed with us because he feels like this is the best place for him on and off the field. Outstanding young man."
JAKE WILEY, OL, 6-6, 270, Centennial, Calif. — "Big guy. Long, athletic. He can bend in his stance, he's got a flat back coming off the ball with really good pad level. Able to move guys, be able to redirect at the second level. Plays with an extra heartbeat. Another guy that's a finisher, which is extremely important. A great guy off the field. Very mild-mannered, very personable. On the field, it's a different story. You love to see a big guy like that in his stance where you see that he can bend, not just at the waist, but starting at the ankle. Plays with a good flat back. Able to finish. You'll see our defensive linemen and our defensive linemen, they will finish. That's one of the things you look for. Not just being able to start a block, but to sustain and finish at the point of attack."
AUSTIN WILLIAMS, DL, 6-5, 320, Tifton, Ga. — "Big guy. Big arms, big neck, shoulders. Everything about him is big. He's got initial quickness and athleticism. Feel very fortunate to have him. He's a guy that obviously can move people. Once he gets his hands on you, he's going to move you. You see him kicking back in pass pro. When he arrives, he arrives with mean intentions. That's what we want on both sides of the ball. Brings that aggressive, that nasty attitude that we need to have to be able to control the line of scrimmage. You'll see the guys we have in the trenches, the common theme is they're big and they will finish and they love to play the game. They're going to play through the echo of the whistle. You love to see guys like that who can roll their hips and strike a guy and move a man against his will."
JASH ALLEN, LB, 6-2, 215, Tigard, Ore. (Riverside CC) — "This guy is a run-and-hit guy. See ball, get ball. At the end of the day, football is a simple game. Sometimes coaches make it hard, but he can do it all. He's a sideline-to-sideline guy. He's got good ball skills. Very instinctively plays aggressively downhill. You see him in coverage, as an add-on blitzer. Very versatile, another three-down linebacker that will be able to help us on first and second down and also in obvious passing situations. Great timing as a blitzer. Can run behind his pads. Again, another guy with a flat back and hat speed. When he gets there, he's got mean intentions. Another finisher. These guys are really, really hard to find. A mature guy who already understands how to play the game. Very, very productive."
JEREMIAH DOSS, DL, 6-4, 260, Jackson, Miss. (Hinds CC) — "Big guy. I'm really proud of this young man. He's done what he's had to do to get here, to be in a position to play at a great program like this. He's a combo guy, can play inside and outside. He's got great length. You could see him playing defensive end, he can be a really good inside rusher, can play a good four-out for us. Again, a finisher. Hard to find combo guys. A good get-off, inside pass rusher. Looks great in his stance. One thing we look for with the big guys is can they bend? Are they athletic? Can they change directions? It's all about the ball. Really proud of this young man. His best ball is ahead of him. He's versatile, anywhere in our front. Inside or defensive end, he's going to be able to play for us."
JANAZ JORDAN, 6-4, 305, Hampton, Va. (Hinds CC) — "This guy is huge. It says 6-4, 305. I think he's more toward 315, 320. Another big guy that can move people. Stout at the point of attack. When you go to the junior college ranks, you're looking for a great fit. All of these guys are a great fit for us. They help us fill immediate needs. Finisher. Another combo guy, not just an inside guy, not just a nose. Good initial quickness getting off the ball, running down the line. A chase player, a finisher playing through the echo of the whistle. A big guy that can run. Just because you're big doesn't mean you need to be slow. We're looking for big guys that can run."
VA'ATOFU SAUVAO,OL, 6-3, 320, Fagatogo, American Samoa (Modesto JC) — "Another big guy. I love big guys. Big guys that can move people, that are strong at the point of attack that love to play the game. When you can move a man against his will ...  you know you want to move him, he doesn't want to be moved and you still move him and you finish him to the ground and you finish on top. I'm getting excited just looking at these guys. He's a finisher and he wants more. He's really good pulling and getting blocks at the second level. A great finisher and loves to play the game. He's got really good quick hands, good balance and body control as a pass protector."
JALEN HARRIS, TE, 6-5, 255, Montgomery Ala. (Graduate transfer, Auburn) — "Had to coach against this young man for three years. Glad those days are over. Fills an immediate need for us. Great young man. High character guy, mature, smart. Wants to be an athletic director. Obviously we have tremendous examples here in our athletic department he can learn from. He fills an immediate need. You can see him going up to get the ball. He hadn't been targeted very much at Auburn. But we plan to use the tight end here extensively. He's going to be a mismatch guy, a run-and-catch guy that we can flex out. He's going to be stout at the point of attack. We can use him as an inline tight end as a blocker. Very versatile. He'll be ready to come in and play for us right away."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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