Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Agree To Free Agent Deals
April 28, 2018 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — This is by no means new territory for former Colorado star running back Phillip Lindsay.
The young man who has already made a career out of proving the doubters wrong — from the football field to the classroom — will now simply move to the next level: prove that he can play in the National Football League.
Lindsay, who beat the odds to become CU's all-time all-purpose yards leader (5,760) and second-leading all-time rusher (3,707), did not hear his name called in the NFL Draft. The only Buff who had that honor was cornerback Isaiah Oliver, taken in the second round by the Atlanta Falcons.
But almost as soon as the draft concluded Saturday afternoon, Lindsay agreed to a free agent contract with the Denver Broncos — the team he grew up watching and following. Now, Lindsay will concentrate his efforts on making the Broncos' roster.
"He can do everything you want a running back to do," Colorado head coach Mike MacIntyre said. "He can block, he can catch and he can sure run. He is extremely durable and he never fumbles the football. He can also play on every special team unit and can return kicks, so he is a guy that an NFL team can take to the game and he is going to play plays for them. To me, he is a no brainer, he will bring great energy and will do a lot for the Broncos."
Also agreeing to free agent deals Saturday were former Buffs wide receivers Devin Ross (Titans) and Shay Fields (Redskins), offensive lineman Jeromy Irwin (Saints) and safety Afolabi Laguda (Rams). While players can agree to contracts, they cannot officially sign deals with the teams until Monday.
Ross finished his career in eighth place on CU's career receptions chart (140) and 12th in receiving yards (1,621) as he blossomed his last two years in the slot for the Buffs.
"Devin Ross is a really quick, athletic slot and he will be a great fit for the Titans with his athletic ability in the slot," MacIntyre said.
Fields was a four-year starter in Boulder. He finished his career third on CU's all-time receptions list (190), second in receiving yards (2,552), tied for third in in touchdown receptions (21) and 30th in scoring (132 points).
"Shay Fields has the burst and ability to make plays on the outside," MacIntyre said. "He has a knack as a receiver of getting open."
Irwin, who spent the majority of his career at left tackle for the Buffs, played in 46 games at CU with 36 career starts. He is being projected as a guard at the NFL level.
"Jeromy Irwin is a physical guy that I think would be an excellent guard in the NFL," MacIntyre said. "He is big and has a physical nature to him that I think will help out the Saints."
Irwin will rejoin former teammate Ken Crawley in New Orleans. Crawley, also an undrafted free agent who signed with New Orleans in 2016, is now a starter for the Saints.
Laguda started in his last 26 games at CU — 12 as a senior and 13 plus the Alamo Bowl as a junior in 2016.
"Afolabi is good, physical and meets all the measurable that you are looking for in a safety," MacIntyre said. "He would be a good fit for teams at his safety position because he is big, he is physical and has played a lot of football."
Lindsay came to Colorado as a lightly recruited running back out of Denver South. After a redshirt season, he played mainly on special teams as a return specialist. He then started six games at running back as a sophomore, but came into his own as a junior, when he helped Colorado to a turnaround 10-4 season and Pac-12 South title. Lindsay run for 1,189 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior, then last season became the first back in CU history to produce back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons when he ran for 1,474 yards and 14 touchdowns.
He also became a fan favorite because of his unbridled passion for his home state and home university. While he was no doubt frustrated at not hearing his name called in the draft despite some excellent workouts, he shrugged off the snub in typical Lindsay fashion.
"For me, it's just about moving on," he said Saturday afternoon. "I'm very fortunate that the Denver Broncos have given me the opportunity to play football again and I'm going to take it and do great things with it. I'm going to use everything I have to make sure that I help my Broncos win games again. I'm excited to be able to stay home."
Lindsay's background on special teams should help him in his quest to earn a roster spot. The Broncos did draft two running backs this year, picking up Oregon's Royce Freeman in the third round and Arkansas' David Williams in the seventh.
But more than anything, his determination to succeed in the face of the longest of odds may end up being his biggest asset.
"You have to have that mentality," Lindsay said. "You have to have that in the back of your mind — for me, it never stops. I'm ready to go to battle. I'm not there just to be there, I'm there to play football and that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to make plays. I'm going to be a playmaker on special teams and wherever I fit in and at the end of the day, we'll see how it goes."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
