12 Buffs Newcomers/Freshmen Making Their Mark In Camp
August 13, 2018 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — While it may seem like fall camp just began, the Colorado Buffaloes are already close to hitting the halfway mark.
Monday marked their 10th of 25 practices before the Aug. 31 season opener against Colorado State in Denver, with Friday's second scrimmage of camp (a closed affair under the lights at Folsom Field) putting the Buffs just two weeks away from the CSU game.
It means that CU coaches are now sorting out their positions, making tough decisions where necessary, formulating depth charts and deciding who will be in the mix for playing time.
There are still plenty of spots where the starters are far from being decided. Offensive line, cornerback, running back, wide receiver, defensive line and outside linebacker are all places where a handful of players are still in the mix. One thing this camp has showcased is that the Buffs have recruited well and developed depth.
Part of that depth comes in the form of either newcomers — members of the most-recent recruiting class — or redshirt freshmen, players who have yet to take a game snap in a CU uniform.
Here are 10 of those players who have had solid camps thus far and could be contributors in their first year playing for Mike MacIntyre's Buffs:
Defensive lineman Israel Antwine: We'll start with a true freshman who has been impressive since the day he arrived. A 6-foot-4, 315-pound defensive end, Antwine is not a "typical" freshman. A dedicated weightlifter — he was the Oklahoma high school powerlifting champ — he's been steadily moving up the depth chart. He got some time with the No. 1 defense in Saturday's scrimmage, posting four tackles (including one for loss) and also putting pressure on the quarterback.
"Izzy Antwine is what we thought he was," head coach MacIntyre said Monday after a weekend of reviewing film of the scrimmage. "He was excellent."
Redshirt freshman Jacob Moretti: If and when he does take the field in a game, it will be one of the more anticipated debuts for a Buff in a while — especially for an offensive lineman.
Moretti is coming back from a knee injury that sidelined him for his senior year in high school and his first year at CU. Complications with the injury kept him off the field last fall, and it wasn't until the spring that he finally got to put on pads and participate in practice.
Now, while CU coaches are being judicious in bringing him along slowly, there is also no doubt they would love to see him play.
"He can move his feet, he can roll his hips, he understands how to play," MacIntyre said. "He gets out there and it looks like he's had a hundred reps, a thousand reps. To me, there are some guys that have that 'it' factor."
Moretti was back on the field practicing and taking reps Monday, two days after Saturday's scrimmage. It was a good sign for a player the Buffs hope to be able to count on more and more as the season progresses.
Buff back Davion Taylor: A junior college transfer who is still learning the game — he did not play in high school — Taylor has quickly fit into the CU defense. He has the speed, strength and quickness to drop into pass coverage, play the run and also rush the passer.
Along with playing Buff back, Taylor is also getting some time at what amounts to a rush end position. As Colorado seeks to improve its quarterback sack totals from a year ago (CU had just 22 in 2017), Taylor could be a force in that regard.
Center Colby Pursell: Another redshirt freshman, Pursell is a player CU coaches considered getting into action last year. But now, they will have him for four more years, and they are happy with the decision.
Pursell, a grayshirt who enrolled at CU in the spring of 2017, used his time to "take off bad weight and put on good weight." He is now a solid 290 pounds and is proving he has the mental acuity necessary to call the signals up front. Coaches were anxious to see how he would perform in Saturday's scrimmage, and he didn't disappoint.
"It was really good to see Colby Pursell out there," MacIntyre said. "We didn't have a bad snap the whole day in his first live scrimmage in that situation."
Defensive end Mustafa Johnson: Another JC transfer, Johnson missed Saturday's scrimmage with an injury.
But, Johnson had a solid spring and was making strides in camp until being sidelined. However, he's expected to be back soon. Johnson has been solid against the run and shown an ability to push the pocket. He will be a player the Buffs will need when the season rolls around.
Tight end Brady Russell: A walkon from Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, Russell is a 6-foot-3, 250-pound tight end/H-back who can take on a linebacker or defensive lineman in pass protection, serve as lead blocker for a tailback, run routes from the outside and catch the ball in traffic. He has been getting more and more snaps with the No. 1 offense, as his versatility offers a variety of options.
Coaches call Russell an "old-fashioned" football player because of his enthusiasm, in particular his apparent enjoyment of the contact that comes with the game. (That comes naturally — his uncle is former Buffs great Matt Russell, a Butkus Award winning linebacker for the Buffs in 1996).
Russell probably won't have any eye-popping stats this year, but it won't be a surprise to hear his name called in some crucial situations.
Offensive lineman William Sherman: We'll throw in one more offensive lineman here, as he's part of a group that will almost certainly be CU's future for the next several years.
A long, lanky 290-pounder, Sherman can play guard and tackle. He took some snaps at both in Saturday's scrimmage, and was back at tackle for some reps with the No. 1 unit on Monday. Sherman still has room on his frame for more muscle and will almost certainly be a key part of the equation up front in the future.
Wide receiver Tony Brown: A transfer from Texas Tech, Brown has quietly been one of the most consistent performers at an incredibly competitive position throughout camp, and was the leading receiver (four catches) in Saturday's scrimmage.
"He just keeps making plays," said co-offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini. "He's going to help us this year."
Defensive lineman Terrance Lang: A highly regarded recruit from 2017, Lang spent last year putting on some weight and muscle. He showed flashes in the spring and is now adding consistency to his game, both against the run and in pushing the pocket. He is another player that should add depth up front and give the Buffs more options in the trenches.
Wide receiver Jaylon Jackson: Another redshirt freshman coming off a string of injuries, Jackson has thrust himself into the conversation of playmakers with consistent efforts from the beginning of camp. Somehow, he has come back with his speed, quickness and agility still intact, a testament to his dedication in his offseason workout regimen. Competition for playing time at wideout is fierce, but Jackson has proven he deserves to be at least considered when it comes time to deciding who gets quality snaps in the regular season.
Cornerback Delrick Abrams Jr.: Abrams, a JC transfer, is a long, lanky corner who is vying for a starting spot. He can run, cover and is making plays on the ball on a regular basis. He "has really flashed for us," according to defensive passing game coordinator Shadon Brown. Also showing up at corner as of late is another JC transfer, Mekhi Blackmon, who could also work his way into seeing some playing time at a spot that is already crowded with Trey Udoffia and Dante Wigley, both of whom started in 2017, and redshirt freshman Chris Miller, another player who has "flashed" according to Brown.
Linebacker Jonathan Van Diest: Yet one more redshirt freshman coming off an injury, Van Diest is playing well at inside linebacker. It's a spot where the Buffs have solid vets and up-and-coming sophomore Nate Landman, but Van Diest is making the most of his snaps when he gets them — and while he may not get a ton of time this year, he's laying down the groundwork for a bright future at the position for the Buffs.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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