BOULDER—After a week-and-a-half of fall camp, redshirt freshman Cody Hawkins has emerged as the slight leader for the starting quarterback job this season.

Following Wednesday morning’s practice, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Mark Helfrich said Hawkins has distinguished himself with his play during practice.

“Cody has been very consistent,” Helfrich said. “Cody has been practicing really well. He’s just made a few more plays in there and is taking care of the ball. [Junior quarterback] Nick [Nelson] is doing fine. He’s made a couple of the pressing mistakes of just getting in the battle and trying to do a little too much when it wasn’t there. So we just have to work those out a little, take care of the ball a little bit more and get this thing competitive.”

Helfrich said the coaches hope to name a starter possibly as soon as after Saturday's srimmage.

Wednesday Practice Recap

Hawkins and the Buffs came out to the practice fields fired up for Wednesday morning’s session after a day off spent paintballing.

“It was awesome,” head coach Dan Hawkins said of his team’s unity function. “It was so much fun. It rained buckets, we got hit hard. We were all just muddy from head to toe. But it was a blast.

“A little rest, a little recuperation does a lot for them. I think they got their legs back and their “owies” have kind of calmed down and their minds kind of calmed down.”

Coach Hawkins said he was pleased with the way his team responded to their day off. The spirit and intensity was high during most of the session where players were in full pads.

“I said guys let’s make sure we get it going,” Dan Hawkins said. “Sometime when you do take a day off, the good news is you get rested, the bad news is takes a while to get your motor going. Now that being said, I think they did a pretty decent job getting back and going.”

The team will hold a late practice Wednesday from 8:00-10:00 p.m. The late practice time is intended to get the Buffs acquainted to their early schedule in which they play back-to-back games at night--Arizona State, 8:15 p.m. and Florida State, 8:00 p.m. The Buffs will practice twice on Wednesday, in the morning from 9:30-10:30 and in the evening from 4:00-6:30. The Buffs’ second fall scrimmage, in conjunction with Fan Training Camp Day, will be held on Saturday and is open to season ticket holders.