Buffs Add Transfer Bethel To Roster
August 29, 2019 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — For Colorado coach Mel Tucker, recruiting never stops.
That approach paid off again this week for the Buffaloes when Tucker added another player to the roster just in time for the fall semester. Joining the Buffs this week was defensive back/wide receiver Nigel Bethel Jr., who completed his transfer from Miami to Colorado. Bethel, who appeared in one game for the Hurricanes last year as a true freshman, will sit out this season and have three years of eligibility beginning in 2020.
Tucker originally recruited Bethel when he was a prep standout at Miami Northwestern. Along with Georgia and Miami, he was also recruited by Florida, Louisville, Purdue and UCF. Bethel ultimately chose to sign with the Hurricanes, but when he decided to put his name in the transfer portal in August, he and Tucker began communicating again.
"Recruiting never stops," said Tucker after Thursday's practice, CU's last before opening the season Friday night in Denver against in-state rival Colorado State. "It's all about relationships and trust. You build those relationships during the recruiting process and those relationships are lifelong. They don't stop."
Bethel was a highly recruited athlete out of the same high school that produced 2018 Thorpe Award winner Deandre Baker, who Tucker coached at Georgia.Â
"He's a really good athlete who can do a lot of things," Tucker said of the 6-foot, 175-pound Bethel. "He has really good speed, ball skills and is very athletic. We had a good relationship in recruiting, and his family felt good about him coming here."
Bethel worked out with the Buffs the first time Thursday morning. Tucker said Bethel will play defensive back, although he is also a very capable wide receiver.
"Sometimes things don't work out," Bethel said of his time at Miami. "I put my name in the portal and I got in contact with Coach Tucker. We started talking and I felt like this would be the best opportunity for me, so we made it happen."Â
Bethel said he had been impressed with Tucker during the original recruiting process, and knew he had moved west to take the job at Colorado after last season.
"It was a good surprise to hear from him again," he said. "He still expressed the same interest in me and I decided I should listen this time. He's the head coach here and I know he takes care of his players."
Bethel said he likes playing the defensive side of the ball, particularly cornerback.
"It's a challenge," he said. "I like it because it's hard. If you are doing good at it, you're doing something right. I like man-to-man because it's me and the other guy."
Bethel also said a redshirt year will have its benefits.
"It will give me a chance to learn the playbook and get comfortable," he said. "I can get in the weight room and put on a few pounds."
GAME CAPTAINS: Instead of team captains for the season, the Buffs will have captains for each game, then elect captains for the year at the end of the season. Named by Tucker as the captains for Friday night's season opener against Colorado State are senior offensive lineman Tim Lynott, junior wide receiver K.D. Nixon and junior linebacker Nate Landman.
COOPER ON SCHOLARSHIP: Senior safety Lucas Cooper was awarded a scholarship on Wednesday. Cooper, a special teams standout and an honorable mention All-Pac-12 All-Academic selection last year, is expected to be a key member of CU's special teams again this season. Cooper, from Palos Verdes, Calif., is also CU's official nominee and finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, otherwise known as the academic Heisman.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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