Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Wide Receiver Bobo Ready To Step Up
August 20, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
CU depth will be tested in wake of Winfree's injury
BOULDER — It is nothing more than coincidence, but nevertheless a case of some good news in the face of bad news.
In the same week the Colorado Buffaloes lost wide receiver Juwann Winfree to a season-ending knee injury, junior wideout Bryce Bobo had his best week of camp — and it's been a camp his coaches are calling his best as a Buff.
Winfree, a junior college transfer, had a terrific start to fall camp and had likely played his way into the starting lineup, only to suffer a torn ACL in practice earlier this week. Friday, the team announced he would be out for the season.
But if there's any one position group the Buffs could afford an injury, it might be wide receiver. With Bobo and fellow juniors Shay Fields and Devin Ross all having solid camps, along with sophomore Jay MacIntyre and junior college transfer Kabion Ento, the Buffs are at least deep at the position.
"We'd definitely love to have him (Winfree) out there," MacIntyre said. "There's no doubt about that. He's a phenomenal young man. He was having a really good fall camp and he was going to help us a lot."
But softening the blow of losing Winfree has been the performance of Bobo. Both play the "X" receiver.
"Bryce Bobo has been having the best camp he's ever had since I've been here," MacIntyre said. "He is in better shape coming into camp. We've always worked hard in the summers, but he's stronger, he's more powerful. He always pulled something in camp in the previous years and he's always missed half of camp. He didn't do that once this year, and he's been able to keep aggressive."
Bobo has indeed been aggressive. In two consecutive practices earlier this week, he hauled in a pair of touchdown passes, and all were tough catches, including a one-handed grab worthy of a highlight reel.
Those plays definitely caught the attention of wide receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini.
"He's making big plays, plays that are critical in football games to win," Chiaverini said.
Saturday, Chiaverini hadn't changed his tune.
"Bryce has had an excellent camp and he's really come on since he's been healthy and making big plays," Chiaverini said. "We're going to need him in the season."
Chiaverini, an animated, vocal presence on the field, said he's learned to try a slightly different tactic with Bobo.
"I've had to coach him a little bit different as far as just talking to him a little bit more," Chiaverini said. "Sometimes I have to step back and talk to him and say, 'Hey look this is what I need from you.' He's responded to that type of teaching."
And now, that message is clear: "I said, 'Look, Bryce, I need you to step up and I need you to continue to work and make plays,'" Chiaverini said. "He's done that. He's made some excellent catches this camp that top-notch receivers make."
Bobo certainly appears to have taken the coaching to heart. While he's been hampered by a variety of nagging injuries in past camps — hamstrings and a shoulder problem that required surgery a year ago — he hasn't missed a drill in fall camp.
He's also been making play after play.
"I think I've made big strides this season," Bobo said. "I'm a lot more confident this year and I'm trying to take a leadership role with the wide receiver group. We're all sad one of our receivers got hurt, but when one player goes down, the next person has to step up."
In his first two season on the field, Bobo showed flashes of excellent play. As a redshirt freshman in 2014, he played in 12 games (one start) and finished with 23 catches for 215 yards and a touchdown. Last year, he played in all 13 games (two starts) and collected 23 catches for 207 yards and 11 first downs.
This fall, however, he's shown a penchant for big plays in the end zone.
"In high school that's what I was big on," the 6-foot-2, 190-pound junior said. "Red zone, give me the fade route and I'll come down with it because I can jump over it. Me being healthy this time around has helped me go up for the jump ball again like I used to."
Winfree's injury will no doubt test the Buffs' depth at the position. Along with Bobo, it will also mean more reps for Ento, and possibly true freshmen Tony Julmisse and Johnny Huntley III. Ento also had a solid last week, coming up with several catches in both scrimmages, and improving his consistency.
The 6-1, 190-pound Julmisse, meanwhile, is outstanding athlete who is still playing wide receiver and defensive back. MacIntyre said his staff would discuss their options with Julmisse this weekend.
"We just have to see where it all fits the best for him this year," MacIntyre said.
What's clear is coaches on both sides of the ball would like to utilize his abilities.
"I've said just give me 15 plays with that kid a game and we'll build some packages for him," Chiaverini said. "He's a talented kid, obviously. He's playing offense, he's playing defense. Not many true freshmen can do that in college football. Whatever helps our football team win, we're going to do."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
