Practice Report: WR Brown Brings Consistency To Table
August 14, 2018 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — At a position loaded with big-play talent, Colorado junior Tony Brown has quietly been perhaps the most consistent receiver in the Buffaloes' fall camp.
It is why Brown, who sat out last season after transferring from Texas Tech, is expected to be a key part of the rotation when the Buffs open the season Aug. 31 against Colorado State in Denver.
"He just makes plays every day," said Colorado co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini. "He's been really, really consistent. With Juwann (Winfree) being a little limited, Tony has had to step up and be the starter, and he's played like a starter. He's going to be very valuable to us this year."
Brown — who Chiaverini recruited to Texas Tech when he was an assistant there — led receivers with four catches for 42 yards in Saturday's first scrimmage of camp. He's shown the ability to go deep, catch the ball in traffic and run precise routes.
Most importantly, in a camp where one or two of the receivers has been coming up with a big play every day, Brown has proven to be a consistent, reliable target for quarterbacks in virtually every practice.
"That's a big part of my game," Brown said. "When I transferred from Tech, I felt like I wasn't being consistent enough. I've been working on that and to come out here and be consistent — catch balls, run routes perfectly, show coaches what I can do — was really important."
The competition at wide receiver has been intense since camp opened. With just one starter returning from last year, senior Jay MacIntyre, there are at least a half-dozen players vying for playing time. Along with Winfree, Brown and MacIntyre, the group includes senior Kabion Ento, sophomores Laviska Shenault Jr. and K.D. Nixon, and redshirt freshmen Jaylon Jackson and Maurice Bell.
All have had their moments as coaches have moved the receivers back and forth between the No. 1 and No. 2 offensive units. It has created a friendly but intense competition among the wideouts every day.
"It's fun," Brown said. "We all get along, we like to have fun and we have a little swagger. We support each other, and we're all happy when someone makes a big play. The thing you realize is that we all have a role in this thing and we just want to be as good as we can be."
While the Buffs do drop into a four-receiver set on occasion, it still means there will be some talented wideouts on the sidelines. But, they also believe they will all get their opportunity, no matter who starts.
"I think we all just want to keep improving and get our chance," Brown said. "For me, that means just working every day, trying to be a guy the quarterback can depend on and improving my craft. I think we'll all have an opportunity, and when it comes, you just want to make the most of it."
MORE WATCH LISTS FOR MONTEZ: Junior quarterback Steven Montez was named to the preseason watch list for a pair of awards on Tuesday, the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm.
The Campbell award goes to a player who was either born in Texas or graduated from a Texas high school, and/or played at at Texas junior college or four-year college. Montez grew up in El Paso and played high school football there for Del Valle H.S. Named in honor of the former NFL star, the award recognizes "the top offensive player in Division I football who also exhibits the enduring characteristics that define Earl Campbell: integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community and tenacity; specifically, tenacity to persist and determination to overcome adversity and injury in pursuit of reaching goals."
The Unitas award, named after a player considered to be on of the greatest to ever play the position, is presented to the nation's top college quarterback.
PRACTICE REPORT: The Buffs hit the practice fields in full pads Tuesday. Part of the practice was devoted to special teams, as well as two-minute situations and last-minute field goal drives.
Tuesday was the 11th practice of camp, meaning their Thursday workout (No. 13) will put them past the halfway point of the 25 practices before the season opener.
"You still have to be physical and you have to play at the speed of the game in different times in practice," head coach Mike MacIntyre said. "You can't do it the whole time, of course, but you have different phases where it's emphasized. You want to keep players fresh, but at the same time, you have to get the speed of the game and the physicalness of the game or you won't be ready. So far, I think our guys have looked good in that respect." …
While there were a number of big plays in the end-of-game situation drills, the play of the day may have come from inside linebacker Jonathan Van Diest. The redshirt freshmen made a great play on wide receiver Kabion Ento, who grabbed a short pass on the sidelines and was speeding to the end zone. Van Diest took a perfect angle, caught Ento near the sideline and made a diving, one-hand grab of Ento's ankle, tripping him up and preventing what looked to be a sure touchdown. …
Defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson was back in full pads Tuesday and looked strong in one-on-one pass rush drills. … Redshirt freshmen Jake Moretti and William Sherman continued to get snaps with the No. 1 offense at left tackle. … Junior college transfer Mekhi Blackmon, who didn't sign with the Buffs until late June, has put himself in the battle for a starting spot at cornerback, according to corners coach Ashley Ambrose. Blackmon has moved up the depth chart over the last week by consistently closing on the ball and making plays. … Also moving up in the secondary is true freshman safety Hasaan Hypolite, a welcome sign at a position where the Buffs need to develop some depth. … Cornerback Delrick Abrams had a pick-six against the No. 2 offense in 7-on-7 drills. … Jay MacIntyre had a nice sideline grab in 7-on-7s. … Davis Price hit a 43-yard field goal in a last-minute drill. ...
The Buffs will practice in the mornings on Wednesday and Thursday, then conduct a closed scrimmage under the lights Friday evening at Folsom. The Buffs open their season with a night game (7:30 p.m.) and MacIntyre likes to get his players a chance to see the ball — especially kicks, punts and long passes — under the lights. They will have a second evening practice on Aug. 24, one week before the opener.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.eduÂ
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