Colorado University Athletics
Get To Know CU Freshmen: Akil Jones, Beau Bisharat, Ronnie Blackmon
August 25, 2016 | Football
BEAU BISHARAT, Tailback, Sacramento, Calif.
Halfway through his first collegiate football camp, Colorado freshman Beau Bisharat was definitely noticeable: at 6-foot-2, 215-pound pounds, the Sacramento, Calif., native is by far the tallest tailback on CU's depth chart and was one of CU's more highly publicized recruits when he signed last February.
Despite a senior season at Jesuit High School that was cut short due to an ankle injury, Bisharat was still awarded numerous accolades, including being one of six running backs named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 list. He also earned first-team All-Metro (Sacramento Bee) and All-Delta League honors.
Even though his ankle injury hampered his performance his senior season, Bisharat still rushed for 1,036 yards and seven touchdowns on 113 carries in his final season. Additionally, he caught 15 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns.
Bisharat's high school career was prolific, as he finished totaling 4,130 yards rushing on 408 attempts, with 43 touchdowns. On the receiving end, Bisharat made 57 receptions for 843 yards and six scores.
Q: What was the hardest thing about camp?
A: How long the days are, because I leave my dorm at 7 a.m. and get back at 9 p.m.. So, I'm just trying to stay awake in meetings and getting the right amount of rest and letting my body recover. It's a long day every day.
Q: Which Pac-12 team are you most excited to play?
A: I'm most excited to play Stanford because that's where I was initially going to go. Palo Alto is my home town and everyone will be there, so it'll be fun.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Boulder?
A: The people and weather are really nice. It's hot in California but here is not as bad. So probably just the weather and the people are super nice here.
Q: What do you miss most about home?
A: I miss home-cooked meals and my friends and family. I love when my mom makes broccoli, chicken and cheese.
Q: What is your favorite training table meal?
A: Whenever they have steak up there, it's really good. It's a nice little upgrade from normal meals.
Q: What do you think it's going to be like running behind Ralphie the first time?
A: I think it'll be cool. It's one of the biggest and coolest college football traditions and I think it will be awesome to be out there with my teammates at the start of the game. I'm sure I'm going to be nervous, my first college game.
Q: Did you see ESPN's 30 for 30 on the Colorado football program?
A: I recently watched it a few days ago and I thought it was really cool. With my generation growing up, Colorado hasn't been as much of a powerhouse and to see what it was like back then and what a winning program it really is was cool.
RONNIE BLACKMON, Defensive back, Atlanta, Ga.
Five years after entering the Pac-12 Conference, Colorado's recruiting arm has begun extending south. Although the Buffs' roster already included a few members from south of the Mason-Dixon Line, the 2016 freshman class included six members from southern high schools including Atlanta, Ga.'s Ronnie Blackmon.
Heading into his senior year at Westlake High School, the defensive back was ranked one of the top 50 cornerback prospects in the country, thanks in part to his participation in the 2015 Offense Defense All-American Bowl in Daytona Beach. In that game, Blackmon racked up two interceptions.
During his senior season, Blackmon earned first-team all-state honors from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Georgia Sports Writers Association. Blackmon made seven interceptions with 102 return yards and also returned two fumbles for 120 yards. He also tallied 45 tackles and 21 pass deflections and two tackles for loss.
Offensively, Blackmon's senior season was also successful. He caught 17 passes for 240 yards and five touchdowns. Additionally, Blackmon racked up 23 punt returns for 430 yards and a touchdown. He is also skilled on the other side of those punts — he punted 40 times as a senior, averaging 33.4 yards,  with 11 inside-the-20 and a long of 52.
The communications major also lettered in track at Westlake, participating in sprints, relays and jumps.
Q: What was the hardest thing about camp?
A: The speed is the hardest thing so far.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Boulder?
A: My favorite thing about Boulder so far is definitely not the altitude. My favorite thing would probably be the view.
Q: What do you miss most about home?
A: I miss the home-cooked food. My favorite meal my mom makes is baked chicken, corn bread, collard greens and mac and cheese.
Q: What is your favorite training table meal?
A: They had steak and lobster the first day, which was really good.
Q: What do you think it's going to be like running behind Ralphie the first time?
A: I hope she doesn't break loose. I don't think I'll get nervous, even though it's my first college game.
Q: Did you see ESPN's 30 for 30 on the Colorado football program?
A: I saw it. It was really good. Coach McCartney reminded me of Coach MacIntyre now. How they recruit is similar.
AKIL JONES, Linebacker, San Jose, Calif.
During his senior year at Valley Christian High School, after a single-game performance that produced nine solo tackles  (seven for a loss) and 3.5 sacks, linebacker Akil Jones was named the San Francisco 49ers high school player of the week
This, and other strong performances during his senior year, led Jones to be the recipient of All-West Catholic Athletic League honors and the recipient of the league's defensive player of the year. Additionally, Jones was named second-team all-state by Cal-Hi Sports and first-team all-area honors from the San Jose Mercury News.
During his senior campaign, Jones rolled up 86 tackles (61 solo), including 30 tackles for a loss and a league-high 13 quarterback sacks. Additionally, the linebacker scooped up two fumbles, one of which he returned for a touchdown. In high school, Jones also lettered three times in track, recording personal bests of 10.9 in the 100-meter run and 21.3 in the 200.
Q: What was the hardest thing about camp?
A: The hardest part has been the whole thing, it's pretty hard. Getting in the rhythm of it helps, having a schedule day after day. It becomes normal but it's always hard no matter what because they expect 100 percent out of you every day. Towards the end, I felt a lot more comfortable. I didn't relax but it became a lot smoother.
Q: Which Pac-12 team are you most excited to play?
A: I would say probably USC because I have a lot family down in the LA area. That's a game that most of my family will go to.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Boulder?
A: The background is beautiful here. This place is a place that I'd love to live.
Q: What do you miss most about home?
A: I miss seeing my family and friends but everyone has to go to college and it's definitely a time of separation. But I know I'll see them soon. A home-cooked meal really does sound good, though.
Q: What is your favorite training table meal?
A: The best training table food was the chicken and waffles. It was pretty good.
Q: What do you think it's going to be like running behind Ralphie the first time?
A: Just being in the tunnel before the scrimmage was electrifying. I'm looking forward to games, I can't even fathom what it's going to be like. It's going to be insane. I do get nervous but I feel like if you're nervous, you're ready.
Q: Did you see ESPN's 30 for 30 on the Colorado Football program? Did you enjoy it?
A: It really inspired me!
