Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Notes: Big Day For Freshman WR Miller
September 30, 2023 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — After the dust had settled Saturday afternoon at Folsom Field, after the Colorado Buffaloes' rally had come up just short against eighth-ranked USC, Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders had a message for everyone who follows college football.
"We understand what's coming," Sanders said after the Trojans snuck out of Boulder with a 48-41 win. "If you can't see what's coming with CU football, you've lost your mind. You just flat out hate it if you can't see what's going on and what's going to transpire over the next several months. Something's wrong with you … You got to be crazy if you can't see the direction that we're heading."
Part of Sanders' message came in response to a question about his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who continues to be an electrifying presence. Sanders threw for 371 yards, four touchdowns and an interception Saturday. It was his 14-for-21, 262-yard, three-touchdown performance after halftime that spearheaded a near-miraculous comeback, as Colorado scored three straight touchdowns to cut a 48-21 deficit to 48-41 in the final minutes.
"We truly believe in what he's capable of doing with this offense," Coach Prime said. "We just have to make sure we keep them in the right situations and protect him. Because he's a baller. He's a 'now' player, a 'today' player. We have receivers calling from all around the country that want to play with him."
But Sanders' message about the direction in which the Buffs are headed isn't solely focused on CU's quarterback.
Saturday saw other young players emerge to make a name for themselves, beginning with true freshman wide receiver Omarion Miller.
Prior to Saturday, Miller had played just 11 snaps for the Buffs. But after getting more work with the top offense during the week, he got his opportunity Saturday — and he delivered in a big, big way.
Miller's first catch as a Buff was a short pass that he turned into a 65-yard gain, setting up CU's third touchdown of the day.
By the time he had finished, he had raked in seven catches for 196 yards and a touchdown — the best day by a true freshman receiver in CU history. Miller also had 91 yards after catch, putting his speed on display.
Miller's touchdown was a thing of beauty. With the Buffs facing a fourth-and-5 from the USC 9-yard line, Sanders scrambled from the pocket, looked over the middle and threw into an incredibly tight window. Miller somehow found the ball, cradled it and slid to the turf with the touchdown, which pulled the Buffs to within 48-34 with 11:55 still to play in the game.
"I took it back side and I just wanted to tuck the ball," Miller said. "Honestly, last night I had a dream about playing like this."
Miller had more big plays in his pocket. He had catches for 14 and 21 yards on CU's last possession, with the 21-yarder a toe-tapping grab on the sidelines that set up Colorado's final touchdown of the day.
"He showed up and showed out," Coach Prime said. "Now I'm pretty certain that his confidence is going to soar through the roof. Now we can really call set plays for him and really depend on him."
Also getting some significant snaps for the first time this year was freshman cornerback Cormani McClain, also thrust into action because of injury, as CU ended up playing without three of its starters in the secondary.
McClain had a pass breakup in the end zone that prevented a USC touchdown and also had an interception that was negated by a penalty on Colorado.
Also having an impact was freshman running back Dylan Edwards (12 carries, 44 yards).
ON SLOW STARTS: The Buffaloes once again had trouble getting into a rhythm early, falling behind 34-7 before finally finding a steady offensive tempo.
Defensively, it was the same story as USC scored touchdowns on five of its first seven possessions.
Sanders said the Buffaloes have to correct that trend.
"That's game planning, that's scripting what's going on out there, understanding what's at hand," he said. "We don't need to get warmed up to do this. We got to come out smoking and ready to go."
DEFENSIVE STIFFENS IN SECOND HALF: While CU's offense was putting up big numbers in the second half, Colorado's defense was giving them the opportunity. CU limited USC to just 165 yards total offense in the second half — less than half of what the Trojans rolled up in the first two quarters. The Buffs also held the Trojans to 14 points after intermission, including a scoreless fourth quarter.
BUFFS BITS: CU's Sanders threw his second interception of the season, but the Buffs defense also recorded the first interception of USC's Caleb Williams this year when safety Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig picked him off in the third quarter … Tight end Michael Harrison continues to be a money player in the red zone. Harrison caught his fourth touchdown pass of the year, a 21-yarder from Sanders in the third quarter. He's tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns with Jimmy Horn Jr., who had a pair of TD catches Saturday. …
CU safety Rodrick Ward stepped in for injured Shilo Sanders for his first start as a Buff. Ward finished with nine tackles … Cornerback Omarion Cooper had one of CU's two sacks in the game, with Derrick McLendon and Amari McNeill combining for the other … The Buffs are now 6-for-9 on field goal tries this year after Jace Feely missed a 41-yarder Saturday. USC also missed a 38-yard try.
