#NFLBuffs: 2018 Season Recap
February 05, 2019 | Football
The University of Colorado had 13 former players see NFL action during the 2018 season. Four NFL Buffs made postseason appearances, while Phillip Lindsay enjoyed a historic season for an undrafted rookie and David Bakhtiari earned first-team All-Pro recognition.Â
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Awuzie recorded six tackles and a pass deflection in each of the Cowboys' two playoff games, helping Dallas defeat the Seahawks in the first round before falling to the eventual NFC Champion Rams. On the season, Awuzie started 14 of the 15 he played in and was in on 71 tackles. He also recorded 11 pass breakups, as well as an interception and a forced fumble. Â
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Tedric Thompson – Seahawks S #33
Thompson made five tackles in the Seahawks' first round loss to Dallas. On the year, Thompson recorded 57 tackles, three pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble. He took over as Seattle's starting free safety in Week 5 after an injury sidelined Pro Bowler Earl Thomas and started the next 10 games before missing the final two regular season contests due to injury.
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Jimmy Smith – Ravens CB #22
Smith registered seven tackles and a pass breakup in the Ravens' first round loss to the Chargers. He also played a crucial role in a Week 17 win that punched Baltimore's ticket to the playoffs, tallying two interceptions in a game for the first time in his eight-year NFL career. On the season, Smith recorded 45 tackles, nine pass deflections and two interceptions as the Ravens won their first division title since 2012.Â
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Ken Crawley – Saints CB #20
Crawley saw action on special teams during the Saints playoff run that ended in the NFC Championship. On the season, Crawley recorded 31 tackles and six pass breakups.Â
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Lindsay became just the first undrafted offensive rookie to be named to the Pro Bowl and was just the third such player in league history to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark. On the year, Lindsay took 192 carries for 1,037 yards and nine touchdowns, while adding 241 yards and a touchdown on 35 receptions. His 1,037 rushing yards and nine touchdowns both rank fourth among all CU rushers in NFL history. He was also one of just nine players in the NFL to amass over 1,000 rushing yards in the 2018 regular season but was the only to do so on fewer than 200 carries. His 5.4 yards per carry ranked third among all qualified rushers and was the highest average of any player to rush for over 750 yards on the season.
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David Bakhtiari – Packers LT #69
For the first time in his career, Bakhtiari was named a first-team All-pro by the AP. He was also recognized as the NFL's best left tackle by Pro Football Focus, who named Bakhtiari a first-team All-Pro, as well as honoring him as their Pass Blocker of the Year. He is the 10th Buff to be named first-team All-Pro and the first since Chad Brown in 1998.
Mason Crosby – Packers K #2
On the year, Crosby converted 30-of-37 fields goal tries and 34-of-36 PATs. Crosby was among the league's most consistent kickers from long range, making five of his seven attempts from 50+ yards. The 34-year old Crosby has accounted for 1,469 points in his 12-year career, the seventh-most among active players and 26th-most in NFL history.
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Isaiah Oliver – Falcons CB #20
Falcons' cornerback Isaiah Oliver recorded the first interception of his NFL career in a 24-10 win over Carolina in Week 16. On the year, Oliver started two games and saw action in 12 more, making 23 tackles and breaking up seven passes.
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Ahkello Witherspoon – 49ers CB #23
Witherspoon started 12 of the 14 games he played in during the 2018 season, recording 37 tackles and breaking up four passes before suffering a season-ending injury against the Broncos in Week 15.
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Paul Richardson – Redskins WR #10
Richardson recorded 20 catches for 262 and two touchdowns prior to suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 9.
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Nate Solder – Giants LT #76
Solder started all 16 games at left tackle and was on the field for all 1,027 of the Giants' offensive snaps this season.
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Daniel Munyer – Cardinals OL #62
Saw action in 14 games on offense and special teams during the 2018 season, including making his first NFL start at right guard against the Broncos in Week 7.
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Josh Tupou – Bengals DL #91
Recorded nine tackles in six games of action. Had a career-high five tackles against the Saints in Week 10.
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Postseason Buffs
Chidobe Awuzie – Cowboys CB #24Awuzie recorded six tackles and a pass deflection in each of the Cowboys' two playoff games, helping Dallas defeat the Seahawks in the first round before falling to the eventual NFC Champion Rams. On the season, Awuzie started 14 of the 15 he played in and was in on 71 tackles. He also recorded 11 pass breakups, as well as an interception and a forced fumble. Â
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Tedric Thompson – Seahawks S #33
Thompson made five tackles in the Seahawks' first round loss to Dallas. On the year, Thompson recorded 57 tackles, three pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble. He took over as Seattle's starting free safety in Week 5 after an injury sidelined Pro Bowler Earl Thomas and started the next 10 games before missing the final two regular season contests due to injury.
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Jimmy Smith – Ravens CB #22
Smith registered seven tackles and a pass breakup in the Ravens' first round loss to the Chargers. He also played a crucial role in a Week 17 win that punched Baltimore's ticket to the playoffs, tallying two interceptions in a game for the first time in his eight-year NFL career. On the season, Smith recorded 45 tackles, nine pass deflections and two interceptions as the Ravens won their first division title since 2012.Â
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Ken Crawley – Saints CB #20
Crawley saw action on special teams during the Saints playoff run that ended in the NFC Championship. On the season, Crawley recorded 31 tackles and six pass breakups.Â
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Other NFL Buffs
Phillip Lindsay – Broncos RB #30Lindsay became just the first undrafted offensive rookie to be named to the Pro Bowl and was just the third such player in league history to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark. On the year, Lindsay took 192 carries for 1,037 yards and nine touchdowns, while adding 241 yards and a touchdown on 35 receptions. His 1,037 rushing yards and nine touchdowns both rank fourth among all CU rushers in NFL history. He was also one of just nine players in the NFL to amass over 1,000 rushing yards in the 2018 regular season but was the only to do so on fewer than 200 carries. His 5.4 yards per carry ranked third among all qualified rushers and was the highest average of any player to rush for over 750 yards on the season.
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David Bakhtiari – Packers LT #69
For the first time in his career, Bakhtiari was named a first-team All-pro by the AP. He was also recognized as the NFL's best left tackle by Pro Football Focus, who named Bakhtiari a first-team All-Pro, as well as honoring him as their Pass Blocker of the Year. He is the 10th Buff to be named first-team All-Pro and the first since Chad Brown in 1998.
Mason Crosby – Packers K #2
On the year, Crosby converted 30-of-37 fields goal tries and 34-of-36 PATs. Crosby was among the league's most consistent kickers from long range, making five of his seven attempts from 50+ yards. The 34-year old Crosby has accounted for 1,469 points in his 12-year career, the seventh-most among active players and 26th-most in NFL history.
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Isaiah Oliver – Falcons CB #20
Falcons' cornerback Isaiah Oliver recorded the first interception of his NFL career in a 24-10 win over Carolina in Week 16. On the year, Oliver started two games and saw action in 12 more, making 23 tackles and breaking up seven passes.
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Ahkello Witherspoon – 49ers CB #23
Witherspoon started 12 of the 14 games he played in during the 2018 season, recording 37 tackles and breaking up four passes before suffering a season-ending injury against the Broncos in Week 15.
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Paul Richardson – Redskins WR #10
Richardson recorded 20 catches for 262 and two touchdowns prior to suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 9.
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Nate Solder – Giants LT #76
Solder started all 16 games at left tackle and was on the field for all 1,027 of the Giants' offensive snaps this season.
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Daniel Munyer – Cardinals OL #62
Saw action in 14 games on offense and special teams during the 2018 season, including making his first NFL start at right guard against the Broncos in Week 7.
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Josh Tupou – Bengals DL #91
Recorded nine tackles in six games of action. Had a career-high five tackles against the Saints in Week 10.
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Banged Up Buffs
Not unlike the 2018 Colorado Football team, which saw 10 opening day starters miss time due to injury, the NFL Buffs dealt with a rash of injuries over the course of the season. Of the 13 players to open the 2018 season on active rosters, four (Paul Richardson, Josh Tupou, Ahkello Witherspoon and Phillip Lindsay) suffered season-ending injuries that landed them on the IR list. In addition to the four players who ended the season on injured reserve lists, four others missed multiple games due to injury (Tedric Thompson – 3, Chidobe Awuzie – 2, Isaiah Oliver – 2, Ken Crawley – 2).Â
2018 Twitter Moment
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