Bigger, Stronger DL Lang Ready To Make Every-Down Impact For Buffs
April 15, 2019 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — In his first year on the field last season with the Colorado Buffaloes, defensive lineman Terrance Lang played mostly as a pass-rush specialist.
In that role, he delivered. While he played just 263 snaps over the course of 11 games, he finished with one quarterback sack, another tackle for loss, six quarterback pressures and three pass breakups (attempts he knocked down behind the line of scrimmage).
But now, the 6-foot-7, 284-pounder is expanding his game and as a result, is becoming a solid run defender as well as a pass rusher. He has added about 10 pounds of muscle to his frame, is getting regular snaps with the No. 1 defense in all situations (not just obvious passing downs) and shows all the signs of becoming a force for the Buffs next fall.
"I've actually been trying to take pride in playing the run this year," Lang said after Monday' practice. "That was my weakness last year, so I've been focusing more on playing the run than anything."
That focus — along with CU's fourth-quarter nine-week offseason strength and conditioning program — is paying dividends.
"He's got good size and length," Colorado head coach Mel Tucker said. "He's stout against the run, he's showed the ability to rush the passer. I like that about him. He worked really hard in the offseason program to get himself in good shape to he could sustain and play hard. He just needs to continue to work on the little things and the details. I think he's going to be a really good player for us."
Lang's dedication in the weight room this spring came as a result of his playing time last fall, when he found himself matched up against bigger, stronger players. Those matchups, while providing valuable experience, also resulted in battles he did not always win.
"I started to realize how much the weight room was important on the field, how much it translated," said Lang, who still has room on his frame for even more muscle. "I knew I had the potential to be bigger, I just had to my foot down and put my head down and work."
That convinced him to make the most of CU's nine-week offseason program, something he believes is an improvement over the five-week sessions from past years.
"It was crucial," Lang said. "I think the nine weeks was a plus for everybody. More time for everybody to work, get stronger, faster is always good. … It was real intense, a lot more intense than before. I think all of us, our bodies, conditioning, mindsets went to another level."
Lang is part of a defensive line that lost two regulars from last season, but still has returning starter Mustafa Johnson, along with promising freshmen Jalen Sami and Melekiola Finau, along with junior college transfer Jeremiah Doss and sophomore Nico Magri. Help is also on the way this summer, with five more members of the most recent recruiting class scheduled to be on campus.
"We're getting better and better every day," Lang said. "We have  lot to learn as a unit but I feel like we're all working hard and we're just going to keep getting better."
Now, Lang is trying to build off last year and learn from new defensive line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh.
"Last year was huge," he said. "It's actually got me feeling a lot more comfortable. I know to keep reading my keys and play. It slowed the game down a lot just having that experience playing the few games I did. I'm trying to take it and run with it and listen to what Coach Brumbaugh has to say. He's a good coach so I'm just trying to listen what he has to say and take my game to the next level every day."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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