Buffs' Udoffia Aims To Take Next Step At Corner

BOULDER — Colorado cornerback Trey Udoffia remembers what it was like to be a freshman.

He remembers his head spinning at every juncture of fall camp. He remembers trying to learn the playbook, trying to adjust to college life and trying to simply not fall so far behind that he would never catch up.

It was, he admits, overwhelming at times.

But Udoffia, now entering his third year with the Buffs, also remembers the veterans who stepped in and helped. Those were the people who made a difference.

Now he wants to be one of those players who helps the newcomers.

"You get here as a freshman and you don't know a thing," Udoffia said. "I was struggling when I first got here and it wasn't fun. But guys like Chido and Ahkello and Isaiah would talk to me and help me. They were a huge difference. Now, I'm trying to be that for our young guys. If they have questions, I want them to talk to me and I try to talk to them."

Those are some rather big footsteps Udoffia is trying to follow — both as a leader and as a starting cornerback for the Buffs. Chidobe Awuzie and Ahkello Witherspoon both went on to become early round selections in the 2017 NFL Draft. A year later, Isaiah Oliver also became an early round pick.

Now, after starting eight games last season as a redshirt freshman last year, Udoffia is battling for a starting spot again at a position that is loaded with talent — and one that has become a marquee spot for the Buffs.

Udoffia played well last season, but battled injuries at different junctures. Still, he finished with 33 tackles in nine games while recording 10 pass breakups (second-high on the team to Oliver's 13) and also recording his first career interception.

This year, he entered fall camp atop the depth chart, along with redshirt freshman Chris Miller. But he also knows that competition is stiff, as the Buffs have some returning experience and also added some talent via the 2018 recruiting class.

"We have good corners everywhere," Udoffia said after Tuesday morning's practice. "That helps. We have Chris Miller, Dante Wigley, 'Slim' (Delrick Abrams Jr.), Ronnie (Blackmon) all right there, and we're all capable of starting. That's good competition and it's only going to make you better."

Indeed, it is a deep group. Wigley started seven games last season, Blackmon saw time on special teams and defense, Abrams arrived in the spring with junior college experience, and Miller is a highly regarded redshirt freshman.

So far, Udoffia has had a solid fall camp, producing several pass breakups in each practice. Earlier this week, had a head-turning play on a one-on-one deep ball, when he knocked away what looked to be a long touchdown pass to senior receiver Kabion Ento.

CU's production of NFL-caliber cornerbacks is no accident. Head coach Mike MacIntyre played defensive back in college and has coached the position in the NFL and in college. While MacIntyre watches every position during practice, he keeps a close eye always on the secondary, and stresses "finishing" plays.

"Coach Mac gets on me all the time about finishing the deep routes," Udoffia said. "We work on it every day and I'm getting a lot more comfortable with my play. It's a big confidence booster when you know you can handle the one-on-ones deep."

The Buffs also added a specific cornerbacks coach in the offseason, Ashley Ambrose, who joins ShaDon Brown in the secondary. The former NFL standout said he likes what he's seen thus far from Udoffia.

"I think he has a real good feel for the defense, a good grasp," Ambrose said. "He's a very coachable kid. He's always asking questions, and that's what you like. He has the physical ability to be a good corner in the Pac-12. He's very instinctive. I think he does a really good job of seeing routes, seeing the combinations, and being able to defend them. I'm glad to have him because he's a good leader for us as well. He just does everything right."

Even though he's just a sophomore in terms of eligibility, Udoffia is still one of the "elder statesmen" among the cornerbacks. He believes communication and helping the newcomers learn the ropes — even if they are his competition — are part of his job.

"Growing up, I've always tried to help and communicate," he said. "Now I know the playbook very well and I know how it feels for the new guys to come in here. I want to be the guy who can help them and make the team better, because guys before me did that for me."

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu