Spring Position Preview: Buffs Have Talent Returning Inside, Outside At LB

This is the third in a series of position previews as new Colorado head coach Mel Tucker and his staff prepare for their first spring ball session in Boulder. The first spring practice is scheduled for March 18, with two more workouts set that week before CU takes its spring break. The Buffs will then resume practices on April 1, with the spring game set for April 27 at Folsom Field.

BOULDER — There will be at least one very noticeable difference at linebacker this year for the Colorado Buffaloes. For the first time in four seasons, Rick Gamboa — 49 career starts, including 47 in a row — won't be in the lineup.

Still, there is some quality experience returning for the Buffaloes at linebacker, both inside and out. That includes junior inside 'backer Nate Landman, a second-team all-Pac-12 selection; and sophomores Jacob Callier and Carson Wells on the outside, both of whom have starting experience.

There will also be a familiar face coaching inside linebackers, as Ross Els — a holdover from the previous coaching staff — returns for his third season with the Buffs.

But 2019 will also see plenty of new faces, including outside linebackers coach Brian Michalowski, who followed new CU head coach Mel Tucker to Colorado from Georgia. And, there will be a host of new faces on the field, some of whom are on campus already and will be available for spring ball.

2018 IN REVIEW: While the Buffs benefitted from Gamboa's experience, it was CU's young linebackers who made perhaps the biggest impact.

Landman burst onto the scene, earning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week and Nagurski National Player of the Week honor in his first three games, and was also named to the Pro Football Focus midseason All-America team. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Landman finished the year with a team-leading 123 tackles and team-high two interceptions, while also recording four sacks, nine more tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Wells, meanwhile, earned six starts on the outside, and played 399 snaps, finishing with 4.5 sacks, 34 tackles and a team-leading 13 third-down stops. Callier, a pass-rush specialist, had his season cut short after four games by a knee injury — but thanks to the new redshirt rule, will be a sophomore again this season.

There will be, however, a big gap to fill in the wake of Gamboa's graduation. Gamboa played a team-high 824 snaps and had 96 tackles, leaving an open spot inside that will no doubt produce some stiff competition among players vying for playing time alongside Landman.

WHO'S BACK: Landman, Wells and Callier should give CU's new coaching staff a good starting point. All have played and played well, and should be healthy heading into the spring.

Meanwhile, there are other 'backers on the inside and outside who have seen playing time over the last couple of years. That list includes redshirt sophomore Jonathan Van Diest and junior Akil Jones on the inside, and seniors Nu'umoto Falo and Alex Tchangam on the outside.

One interesting note here: versatile Davion Taylor, who last year started 10 games at the outside linebacker/Buff back spot, will get a long look as a true defensive back in spring ball. The Buffs lost both starting safeties from last year to graduation, and Taylor's speed and size could make him a good fit there.

WHO'S NEW: The list here starts with Michalowski, a young (29 years old) defensive whiz who has worked at Arizona State, Wyoming, Memphis and Georgia; as well as serving as defensive coordinator for a year at Garden City Community College. Tucker and defensive coordinator Tyson Summers were both impressed with Michalowski's work at Georgia, and when the opportunity arose to add him to CU's staff as a full-time assistant, they jumped at the chance.

There will also be two new faces in pads this spring, as recruits Alec Pell and Joshka Gustav are enrolled and on campus. Pell is a Cherry Creek product who Tucker said has "excellent pass rush ability off the edge" and can play all four LB spots in CU's 3-4 lineup. Gustav is a grayshirt from the 2018 recruiting class.

SPRING STORYLINES: The first order of business will be getting CU's players up to speed on the new defense. While it will still be a 3-4 alignment, the terminology, technique and position-specific priorities will all be new. CU's coaches have been using all the allotted time possible during spring conditioning to begin the install, including some walkthroughs, but it will be the learning time on the field that will be crucial this spring.

In terms of personnel, finding someone to play alongside Landman will be a high priority for Els. Van Diest, who has battled injuries over the last couple of years, did get a taste of action last year and has made the most of his time in the weight room. A talented, hard-nosed player, Van Diest should be healthy for the spring and will be expected to make a strong push for an inside spot, as will Akil Jones. Also expected to get some time inside will be Chase Newman.

On the outside, Michalowski will be searching for some pass rush consistency as well as someone who can play the run. Wells and Callier give the Buffs a solid starting point, while Tchangam and Falo should also work themselves into the mix. Pell and Gustav could also get looks in both spots.

FALL CAMP LOOK AHEAD: The Buffs will add four more linebackers to the mix in fall camp when junior college transfers Jash Allen, Jamar Montgomery and Quinn Perry and high school signee Marvin Ham arrive. Allen, Montgomery and Perry have the size and speed to compete for some playing time right away, and Ham could also work himself into the mix.

SPRING SCHEDULE: Tucker's first CU spring session is set to start the week before spring break on Monday, March 18, with the spring game set for Saturday, April 27 (Noon, to be televised live by the Pac-12 Networks). The dates are as follows: March 18-20-22—(spring break)—April 1-3-5-8-10-12-15-17-19-22-24-27. The team is allowed 15 practices; how the practice sessions will break down, per NCAA rules: three in shorts (no contact), four in pads (no tackling), four in pads (tackling allowed 50 percent or less of the time), four in pads (tackling allowed throughout). Spring break (March 25-29) does not count against the 29 days should the schedule be dramatically revised for some reason. CU's annual Pro-Timing Day has been set for Wednesday, March 6 (1-4 p.m.).

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu