Buffs' Pursell Believes O-Line Ready To Take Big Step Forward

BOULDER — Last season, only one Colorado offensive lineman started every game for the Buffaloes, and he did it at the same position for all 12 games.

Perhaps the most surprising part is that it was a redshirt freshman, center Colby Pursell. While every other position on the line featured at least two different starters over the course of the season — and a couple had three — the man snapping the ball at the beginning of every game for the Buffs was the 6-foot-4, 290-pound Pursell.

Pursell finished the year with not only the most starts, but also the most snaps of any lineman, 830. Second on the team with 750 was left tackle Will Sherman, another redshirt freshman who stepped into the starting role in week four and started each week from that point on.

The presence of those two young players, both of whom improved steadily as the season progressed, is one reason CU's new coaching staff is quietly optimistic about the Buffs' prospects up front for 2019.

"I just tried to work hard and play my best every game," Pursell said of his durability and consistency. "Coaches thought I was the best guy to do it and that's why they left me in there. Every game, I just tried to do my best and do what I could."

It's no secret that CU's line struggled down the stretch last season. After giving up eight sacks in CU's first five Pac-12 games, the Buffs yielded 17 over the last four.

But Pursell believes the experience CU's youngsters got last year will be invaluable, as will the return of several other players with significant experience. That list includes senior Tim Lynott (33 career starts) and Brett Tonz (six starts last year).

"We have a lot of guys with a lot of playing time," Pursell said. "Tim's been a starter for three years now and has started a lot games. Will had a lot of playing time, Brett had a lot of playing time. We're all older guys now and should know what we're doing."

Sherman, who has added roughly 20 pounds to his frame since the beginning of last season, improved steadily with each start. Lynott, who was coming back from an Achilles injury that forced him to miss spring ball, should be 100 percent healthy this year.

The Buffs are currently in the midst of a nine-week strength and conditioning session, a key part of their development. But the most important part of their spring will come in late March and throughout April, when head coach Mel Tucker and his staff begin to implement new offensive and defensive schemes.

While CU players have not yet had much time to meet with their new coaches — the staff has been on the road recruiting — they do have an idea of what's ahead.

For the offensive linemen, it will mean every film session and every practice session this spring becomes exponentially more important.

"We know it's changed," Pursell said. "We know we'll be getting a different scheme, a different setup and a different vocabulary. Everything's going to be new. We have to make sure we're studying and paying attention and learning all the new things. To a degree, we're going to be adapting on the fly."

Along with those players with experience from last year, there are also some redshirt freshmen from last year who could very well figure into the equation this spring, including Kanan Ray and Josh Jynes, as well as returnees Kary Kutsch, Jack Shutack, Chance Lytle and Hunter Vaughn. The Buffs also hope Jacob Moretti — who started two games last year — will continue to make a comeback from a knee injury that has hampered his development over the last two years.

And, the Buffs already have two players on campus from this year's signing class. High school signee Austin Johnson and junior college transfer Va'atofu Sauvao are enrolled and working out.

"We all get along really well," Pursell said. "We've got new guys in and a bunch of guys from last year. We're putting in the work and I think there's a lot of promise here."

When Tucker arrived, he changed the Buffs' spring schedule back to a more traditional approach. It means the strength and conditioning session now lasts nine weeks, with spring practices now set for March and April.

Now, players get more time with CU's strength and conditioning staff before they hit the practice fields.

"Right now, everyone's just concentrating on getting bigger, stronger and faster," Pursell said. "We have more time this year to fix some of the little things before spring ball starts, and it gives the strength staff more time to address things maybe they saw in the season. It allows us to broaden what we're doing strength-wise and hopefully become better athletes."

But Pursell and his linemates are also anxious to get started under new O-line coach Chris Kapilovic.

"Every coach has something new to teach you, something new to help you," Pursell said. "It's a chance to get some more tools for the toolbox. There's always something new that can help you improve. It's always good to have as many tools available as you can get and I think we're all ready to get started with the new staff."

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu