Woelk: Buffs Sign Pair To Wrap Up 'Developed' Recruiting Class
February 07, 2018 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre put the finishing touches on his 2018 football recruiting class Wednesday, adding a pair of players he expects to come in and immediately contribute next fall.
Outside linebacker Alex Tchangam, a junior college transfer from De Anza (California) Community College, and running back Travon McMillian, a graduate transfer from Virginia Tech, signed the necessary paperwork Wednesday to become Buffs.
Both players fit the profile of this year's 23-member recruiting class, a group MacIntyre has called the "most developed" class he has signed in his tenure in Boulder. The class includes 21 players who signed in the first-ever early signing period that began in December.
That early signing date meant Wednesday's announcement did not have the same sense of overall excitement and drama that has accompanied the annual February announcement in previous years. Still, the latest additions were the final pieces to a puzzle MacIntyre and his staff believe will help Colorado return to the upper echelon of the Pac-12 next season.
"Our staff does an excellent job of evaluating, we always have, as you can tell from our first and second classes that are still playing (in the NFL)," MacIntyre said. "The exciting thing about this class to me is that we have more guys developed earlier who can play right away."
Tchangam and McMillian certainly fit that bill.
Tchangam, a native of Cameroon, could become an immediate contributor at an area the Buffs must improve dramatically — rushing the quarterback. Colorado saw its pass rush production endure a precipitous drop last year, finishing with just 22 sacks, a drop of 14 from the previous season.
"We felt like last year on defense we didn't play as well as we'd like, but I thought a glaring miss for us last year was we didn't get the 13 sacks out of a Jimmie Gilbert and all the pressures and hurries," MacIntyre said. "We have some guys on campus that we think can do it but we found a young man who we think has some special talent in Alex Tchangam."
Tchangam, a 6-foot-3, 250-pounder, averaged more than a sack per game at De Anza, recording 16 in 15 games. Last season, he had 69 tackles (23 for loss) and 12.5 sacks.
"He's active and loves football," MacIntyre said of a player who was recruited by assistant coach Gary Bernardi. "He can turn the corner, he can bend, he can rush, he's powerful. He's a guy that a lot of people started sniffing around on late."
McMillian, who played in 39 games and started 23 in three years with the Hokies, should immediately compete for playing time at a position that will be wide open. While the Buffs have a number of running backs returning — among them Beau Bisharat, Donovan Lee and Kyle Evans — as well as redshirt freshman Alex Fontenot, the overall experience of the group is limited. Bisharat, who can also line up as a fullback when the Buffs run a two-back set, was CU's second-leading running back last season (behind departed Phillip Lindsay) with 61 yards on 21 carries.
McMillian, a 6-0, 210-pounder was a productive back in his time at Virginia Tech, finishing with 2,153 yards and 16 touchdowns rushing along with 35 receptions for 351 yards and seven touchdowns. It is the kind of versatility that fits CU's spread offense.
"He's a guy that can do all the things in the backfield," MacIntyre said. "He can catch, he can block, he can run. … I'm really excited about Beau Bisharat, Kyle Evans, Donovan Lee and Alex Fontenot. We've got some guys in there that we're excited about. (But) this was a unique situation that a young man sought us out and really wanted to be here. He had a lot of other opportunities to go to a lot of other places."
McMillian, who will be immediately eligible after he earns his degree this spring from Virginia Tech, did indeed initiate contact with Colorado — but not with CU's coaches. Instead, he called Phillip Lindsay first to inquire about the atmosphere and environment around the program.
Tchangam and McMillian are by no means the only players from the newest class MacIntyre and his staff expect to come in and have an impact next fall. Seven of those newest Buffs — five junior college transfers, a high school signee and a transfer from UCLA — are already enrolled and on campus, as are a pair of grayshirts from the 2017 recruiting class. All nine are currently participating in offseason conditioning and will be available for spring ball.
Among those who could compete for significant playing time right away are junior college transfers Davion Taylor (Buff back), defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson, tight end Darrion Jones and defensive backs Delrick Abrams and Aaron Maddox.
But there are also some true freshmen who won't be on campus until the summer that could be contributors right away. Among those that MacIntyre mentioned Wednesday are defensive lineman Israel Antwine and offensive lineman Frank Filip.
"It's rarely been that we've been able to sign an offensive lineman (Filip) who's going to come in at 280-plus that I think right now can step on the field and play as a freshman," MacIntyre said. "Will he? I don't know, but I think he can. Israel Antwine, a defensive tackle that's 285 pounds and built like a Greek god, I think can step on the field as a true freshman and play and play well. Usually you have to develop those guys."
JULY SIGNING DATE? While MacIntyre said he liked the December early signing period, he also said he is still a proponent of a signing date before the season begins.
"Now that we have official visits in April, May and June, let's have a signing day in July over the dead period," MacIntyre said. "They sign, and now you have another signing day in February, just like basketball does. That's what I keep proposing to do and I think eventually that'll happen."
AFRICAN CONNECTION: Tchangam is the latest in a growing line of Buffs who were either born in an African country or are the first-generation American sons of African immigrants. Previous such players in the MacIntyre era include Stephane Nembot, Chidobe Awuzie, Kenneth Olugbode and Afolabi Laguda.
"All of them have played well at CU and all of them have had opportunities in the pros for a while," MacIntyre said. "I think he's another one in that line."
PREFERRED WALKON: MacIntyre also announced that Cherry Creek standout safety Dustin Johnson has accepted an offer to become a preferred walkon at Colorado.
Both Johnson's parents attended CU. He received scholarship offers from several FCS schools, but chose to pursue his dream to play for the Buffs. MacIntyre compared him to former Buff Ryan Moeller, who also began his career at Colorado as a preferred walkon.
"Dustin has a chance to be a really good player for us," MacIntyre said.
HEALTHY COMPARISON: MacIntyre said defensive back Hasaan Hypolite, who signed in December, reminded him of former Dallas Cowboys defensive back Roy Williams. MacIntyre, a one-time assistant with the Cowboys under Bill Parcells, coached Williams,
"Hasaan's another guy that when you meet him in person, you're going to go, 'That's a freshman?'" MacIntyre said. "He's built really well, he'll hit you, he's very physical, he's very athletic and he's explosive. He reminds me a lot of – and I'm not going to put this on him – what Roy Williams was at the Dallas Cowboys. He's built like Roy. He's 200-and-something pounds as an 18-year old. When I coached Roy he was like 220 or 225. He has that explosion and he's built like a running back, but he has great hips and he can flip and he can move. … He's another guy that I want to give him an opportunity to get on special teams early and be a guy that can help us this year. I think he's that physically set and ready to go."
THE NUMBERS GAME: Colorado currently has 64 players on scholarship prior to this signing class. With the 23 newcomers, it will technically put CU two above the NCAA maximum of 85. The Buffs do, however, have plenty of time to hit 85 through several factors (attrition, injury, etc). CU could also utilize "grayshirts," the process in which a newcomer chooses to delay his enrollment until next spring and thus count toward the 2019 class. Colorado has had nine grayshirts in the last five classes.
Among the players from last year who won't return to finish their eligibility at CU are defensive back Isaiah Oliver, who has opted to declare for the NFL Draft; and outside linebackers Terran Hasselbach and Michael Mathewes. Both will graduate in May and could decide to finish their careers elsewhere.
Also, tight end Dylan Keeney has ended his career for medical reasons (back); and wide receivers Johnny Huntley and Lee Walker were granted transfer releases in December.
FALO BACK: Another "newcomer" of sorts this spring is a familiar name — Nu'umoto Falo (formerly known as N.J. Falo), who returns to the Buffs after a semester's suspension. Falo has chosen to go by Nu'umoto to honor is late father.
MacIntyre said Falo, who has played inside and outside linebacker for the Buffs, will remain on the outside.
"I'm excited to see the changes in his life," MacIntyre said. "We will keep him outside. He's better off the edge. He's sees better and reacts better. I really believe he'll make a jump in his pass-rushing ability, just like Jimmie (Gilbert) made a jump in his pass-rushing ability in his junior and senior year."
MacIntyre has known Falo and his family since Falo was in middle school.
"His dad died when he was in fifth grade and I started to know him after that with his mom, Becca, and his older brother, Nate, who played for me at San Jose State," MacIntyre said. "I've seen a young man that realizes his opportunities and realizes the responsibility to his family and to himself. I see a new brightness in his eyes if that makes sense. I see that and I'm excited about what he brings to the table, so hopefully he'll do well."
BUILT FOR BUFF BACK: It's becoming increasingly clear that junior college transfer Davion Taylor, who is already enrolled and working out, will have a clear shot at becoming CU's Buff back on defense next fall.
"He was ranked the No. 1 outside linebacker in America out of a junior college," MacIntyre said. "He'll play our Buff position that Ryan Moeller played. He's very athletic, very fast. He's 225 pounds and runs a 10.5 (second) 100 meters. I'm really excited about him. He'll be able to pass-rush and do that for us. He's a guy that I see that'll pass-rush out of that class. There are other guys too, but he's a guy that's already here and working out and will practice in the spring."
SPRING BALL START: CU has set its tentative spring ball schedule. The first practice will be held Feb. 23, with the "Spring Showcase" set for March 17 (set to be televised by the Pac-12 Networks). The tentative schedule calls for three more practices after the showcase.
The tentative practice dates are Feb. 23, 24, 26, and March 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21 and 23. CU's annual Pro-Timing Day is set for March 7.
FALL BALL: Players will report for fall orientation and meetings on Aug. 2, with the first practice set for Aug. 3 and the first day in full pads on Aug. 7.
CU's season opener against Colorado State in Denver is currently scheduled for Sept. 1.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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