Position Preview: Buffs Tight Ends Versatile, Valuable Part Of Offense

BOULDER — It is a position that does not always show up in the stat sheet, but one that is quietly becoming more and more of an integral part of the Colorado Buffaloes' offense.

Technically listed as tight end/H-back, the players who man those positions for the Buffs are far more versatile than their title suggests. Their duties include lining up at as many as a half-dozen places in CU's various offensive sets, and the tasks involved can include everything from taking on an offensive tackle as a pass blocker to lining up wide and running a deep pass route to serving as the lead blocker for a tailback in short-yardage situations.

"Slot, inline, split, outside, backfield — they have to know all of those formations," says CU assistant Gary Bernardi, whose job it is to prepare the tight ends for their wide variety of duties. "They do a lot of things and they have to learn how to do them all correctly. They have to practice them, know what they're doing and you have to have guys who know how to do all those things and use the right technique when they do it."

Not that CU's tight ends pile up the kind of statistics that are easily measured. Last year, CU's leading receiver from the position was junior Chris Bounds, who finished with a modest seven catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns. But their other duties — extra protection in passing situations, carving out holes on short-yardage run plays — make them a valuable piece of the puzzle.

"What I try to teach these guys every day is that the success of the team comes first," Bernardi said. "Each week is different, and you never know what's going to happen or what your role might be. But the true football player is going to do the little things that don't show up in the newspaper or on the stat sheet, and these guys embrace that opportunity."

Over the last couple of years, the Buffs have slowly but steadily improved their athleticism and playmaking ability at the position. Bounds, a 6-foot-4, 250-pounder, has the size to play inline and take on an offensive lineman, and also the necessary skills to run routes over the middle and downfield (one of his two touchdowns receiving last year was a 39-yard catch and run against Arizona).

They have also added Jared Poplawski (6-4, 240), Brady Russell (6-3, 250) and Derek Coleman (6-5, 235) to the mix, along with junior college transfer Darrion Jones (6-6, 250). Together, they bring a solid mix of players capable of performing all the tasks necessary to the position — and the ability to be difference makers in the offense.

"We have a lot of weapons that we can attack you with on our offense," Bernardi said. "That's what we're trying to do and these guys are going to be a part of that. We're going to take advantage all the good players we have on offense. I don't know how many great players we have that are going to be up for the Heisman Trophy, but we have an awful lot of good players and our guys are part of that."

Russell, a redshirt freshman walkon from Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, has been one of the more pleasant surprises for the Buffs. After catching coaches' eyes last year as a solid performer on CU's scout team, he has moved up to become a regular part of CU's No. 1 offense. He is a capable pass blocker and has also shown a knack for making tough catches — and he is not easy to bring down after the catch.

"He bangs into everybody and he's actually made a lot of catches in traffic when he's getting banged around," Bernardi said. "He's done a lot of good things."

Poplawski has been hampered by injuries as of late, which has opened the door for Jones, who joined the team this year after transferring from Los Angeles Harbor Community College. Jones is a big, athletic player who has the speed to get open, and his size makes him an inviting target for quarterbacks.

"He's learning," Bernardi said. "He came to us from a program where he didn't really have to put his hand on the ground as much as our guys do here. He didn't have to play so many different positions. That part is a little learning curve for him, but in terms of want-to, attitude and those things, he has all those attributes."

As the veteran of the bunch, one of Bounds' duties is to serve as a teacher on the field and in the film room as the duties for the position have slowly increased.

"We're doing a lot of stuff out there," Bounds said. "Working in the running game, working in the passing game, working in the screen game — they definitely have us moving around a little more, which is great."

And, Bounds said, he believes the Buffs could be a surprise team this year on both sides of the ball.

"I think our defense is definitely underestimated," he said. "We have some guys over there who can play. Fast guys, smart guys, and same on the offensive side of the ball. Playmakers on the outside and some tough dudes on the inside. I think you're going to see a little surprise out of us."

WHO'S BACK: Junior Chris Bounds; sophomores Jared Poplawski, Derek Coleman; redshirt freshman Brady Russell.

WHO'S NEW: Junior (transfer) Darrion Jones, freshman Vincent Colodny.

PENCIL DEPTH CHART: Bounds, Russell, Poplawski, Jones, Coleman.

WHAT'S IN STORE: The Buffs turned to the tight end more last year, and it won't be a surprise to see that production increase again this year. With CU's wide receivers expected to draw all kinds of attention, it could open the gate for the tight ends/H-backs to make plays in clutch situations.

STAT TO REMEMBER: With two touchdown catches a year ago — both against Arizona — Bounds had as many scoring catches in 2017 as any player on CU's current roster.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu