Woelk: Buffs Haigler, Kaiser Building Unity On O-Line This Summer

BOULDER — Colorado tackle Aaron Haigler is growing — literally and figuratively — into the role of a team leader.

The process may prove to be one of the most important pieces of the entire Colorado football puzzle in 2018.

Haigler, a junior, will enter the season as the second-most experienced O-lineman on the Buffs' roster, with 16 career starts and 1,311 snaps under his belt. That trails only fellow junior Tim Lynott Jr., who has 24 career starts and 1,649 snaps.

But when Lynott was forced to miss last spring rehabbing a torn Achilles tendon, Haigler and fellow tackle Josh Kaiser stepped into the job of helping shape and mold a young offensive line that will be a key to the CU offense's progress next fall. It is a group that will have at least three starters with relatively little experience, with one or two of those spots possibly going to redshirt freshmen.

Haigler has done his best to make sure everyone on the line — from the top to bottom of the depth chart — has been part of the bonding experience as they progress through their summer workouts.

"I think every year has a little different feel," Haigler said. "But I think something that might have been missing at times over the last couple of years is togetherness throughout the whole group. There's been a little separation at times between people and personalities, and I think Josh and I have really focused on making it a fun place for everyone. We want to make it an accepting place and put us all on an equal footing."

Nowhere on the field is that kind of unity more important than on the offensive line, where five players must operate almost as one on every play. With so many young players up front, along with some transfers, every opportunity to come together as a unit is magnified in importance.

"When you have young guys, you have to realize they are going to be good players," Haigler said. "We have guys who can play and will play and will be great players. It's just a matter of how you bring them along, how you get them to play the way we need them to play. A lot of that is every day in the runs and lifts and PRPs (player-run practices). Molding them, making them feel like they're a big part of the group and that we're all one group is really important to the process."

Haigler appears to be a perfect fit for assuming the task of guiding that process. From head coach Mike MacIntyre on down, CU coaches have raved all spring and summer about his progress, both physically and mentally.

"Aaron is an all-around, well-rounded person who inspires those around him," MacIntyre said. "He's intelligent, he's very social with the guys, he's an extremely hard worker, football is important to him and he's an excellent student. He's also an excellent leader in the fact that he has no ego, so he helps all the guys on the offensive line. He does extra work, he teaches them and he works with them. They see the way he can handle all the things college life presents — academics, athletics and social — and they want to follow his lead. He's a big reason why this offensive line is so close-knit."

MacIntyre said the leadership from Haigler and Kaiser has been evident.

"With so many young guys, that leadership is really important," MacIntyre said. "Aaron's work ethic and understanding of the game is big. Josh Kaiser has been a heck of a leader in that same way. They are good young men who you want your players to look up to. Aaron and Josh want to help the younger guys be successful and they understand there's talent there and they want them to succeed. It's a good environment."

Physically, Haigler has also "caught up" to his size. After playing as a redshirt freshman at about 265 pounds — he started seven games in 2016 — he added about 20 pounds to his 6-foot-7 frame before the 2017 season. But while he needed that extra weight to handle the brawling in the trenches against Pac-12 defensive linemen, it has also taken him some time to adjust to the additional bulk.

"It's learning how to control your momentum, things like that," Haigler said. "The heavier you are, the more work it takes to move. You have to be better conditioned, learn how to move in an efficient way, learn how to use your size to your advantage. These last couple of months have been really good for me in securing that part of what I need to do."

Haigler started at both right tackle and right guard last year, as the Buffs were forced to deal with a variety of injuries up front. But he concentrated mostly on left tackle throughout the spring, and by all accounts, had his best spring session yet as a Buff.

That's where he will likely spend most of his time this fall as O-line coach and co-offensive coordinator Klayton Adams tries to put together the best possible combination in time for the Aug. 31 opener against Colorado State.

It will make for an interesting fall camp, to say the least.

Lynott appears to be back at 100 percent and will step back into the right guard spot. Haigler will likely move in at left tackle, although the Buffs are also hoping to get some snaps there from redshirt freshman Jake Moretti as he returns from a knee injury.

Kaiser, meanwhile, will get his share of duties at right tackle, while redshirt freshman Colby Pursell is the odds-on favorite at center.

But there are plenty of candidates who will push for playing time. Right guard could see redshirt freshman William Sherman and junior Brett Tonz vying for time, while freshman Kanan Ray is also likely to push for repetitions. Newcomer Kary Kutsch, a junior college transfer, can play all three spots up front, while Heston Paige (center), Hunter Vaughn (tackle) and Jack Shutack (tackle) will also compete for time.

It will mean a highly competitive camp, with Adams mixing and matching to find the most cohesive group possible.

But the key thus far has been a group that has worked closely together this summer in the weight room and in the player-run practices.

"One of the things I can for sure say about this summer is that we have guys who are closer to each other, and that's on every part of the team — offense and defense," Haigler said. "Guys are hanging out together, doing the right things, enjoying each other. That's a huge part about coming to workouts, when you enjoy the guys you are working out with."

It's no secret that summer workouts are a grind. The season is still distant on the horizon and it's easy to be distracted. Showing up for early morning conditioning sessions is nobody's idea of a summer vacation.

But so far, Haigler said, this summer has been a positive experience.

"It's one of the most challenging times," Haigler said. "But when you have guys you want to be there with, that make you want to come to practice and make you want to work hard, it makes it a lot easier. I think that's the kind of team we have now. They want to be here, they want to do well. They don't want to do just what's required, they want to do more. That's a big difference and I think it will show up when we get to camp."

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu