Buffs WRs Bring Talent, Depth, Speed To Up-Tempo Offense
August 14, 2023 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — It's no secret that the Colorado Buffaloes want to play fast on offense this year.
Coordinator Sean Lewis' scheme is geared toward an up-tempo, rapid-fire pace that — hopefully — keeps defenses on their heels.
But it's one thing to want to play fast and an entirely different matter to have the personnel to make it possible. In order to play fast, you have to have fast players.
The Buffs believe they might just have the necessary personnel to do exactly that this season.
Certainly, there is no lack of speed on the perimeter. Wide receivers coach Brett Bartolone might have one of CU's most talented and deepest group of receivers in years.
While two-way standout Travis Hunter has been grabbing much of the attention thus far in fall camp — and justifiably so — there are plenty of other weapons at the position for quarterback Shedeur Sanders. The top group thus far also includes Jimmy Horn Jr., Xavier Weaver and Javon Antonio, with youngsters Omarion Miller, Kaleb Mathis and Tar'Varish Dawson also among those who have had their moments.
"There's not a receiver on the starting unit right now that can't take that thing 80 to 85 yards and hit their heads on the goalpost," gushed Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders after a recent practice. "It's unbelievable."
Every one of the top group has provided big plays in practice thus far, and each has indeed shown the ability to go the distance. That depth, speed and versatility — plus Colorado's insistence on running at an up-tempo pace — should force defenses to make difficult decisions.
"They have to defend either the run or the pass," Bartolone said after Monday's practice. "They also have to choose, is it Jimmy Horn this week or is it Xavier Weaver? Or, maybe it's Travis Hunter outside. There's just a lot of weapons that we have and those are tough conversations for the defense."
But for Bartolone, the situation is a veritable wealth of riches.
"It's a lot of fun," he allowed. "They're a group that's ultra-competitive and they come in and they work every day. They approach it like a pro. Alot of them have just one year (of eligibility) left and so they know this is it for them. They approach the game with that mindset. They compete, they work hard and they're coachable."
Of the top four, Antonio and Weaver are graduate transfers and Horn is a junior. Sophomore Hunter is the only underclassman in the group (and it's no guarantee that he will be around another year).
That experience, plus the talent of the youngsters on the roster, means a highly competitive wide receivers room and the underlying message that no one can afford to take a day off.
"These guys come to play at the University of Colorado because of the standard that we have and they know what we're about offensively," Bartolone said. "They know what we're here to do. I tell these guys all the time, you can't take reps off because now there's a guy right behind you that's hungry and ready to do it … We're going to attract the best and we're always going to have a room full of depth. That's the way to go."
Bartolone came to Colorado with Sanders from Jackson State, where he served as JSU's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Thus, he hasn't been surprised at Hunter's abilities on both sides of the ball. The only real question about the CU sophomore is how many snaps he will take on offense, as he will also be carrying the load as Colorado's top cornerback on defense.
The number of snaps will no doubt be up to Sanders, but Bartolone did say the Buffs will have their best players on the field in critical situations. Hunter is no doubt among that group and he has made tremendous strides at receiver since spring ball.
"He's the most explosive and athletic guy I've ever coached," Bartolone said. "He spent the whole spring with us (on offense) and it was just fine tuning, you know, those small fundamentals within the wide receiver position, and really just learning the offense. (The difference) is night and day and it's not even close."
Horn, a transfer from South Florida, could turn out to be one of CU's biggest weapons. He lines up in the slot and will no doubt present a problem for defenses.
"He's a pro about the game," Bartolone said. "Football is very, very, very important to him. He studies the game. He'll take a short one and then he'll finish and he'll burst. He'll separate from defense and score a touchdown for us. I know he's gonna bring it every day. His effort is there, his football IQ is there. He's going to do a lot of good things for us this year."
T.O. ON THE SCENE: Former NFL great Terrell Owens, a friend of Sanders, attended practice Monday and spoke to the team. He is scheduled to be in Boulder the rest of the week.
