Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Notes: Battles Brewing At ILB, WR
August 04, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
Plenty of competition evident at both positions
BOULDER — Want an indication of just how competitive the battle at inside linebacker will be in the Colorado Buffaloes' camp this fall?
Figure this: three different players have led the Buffs in tackles the last three seasons, and all three are vying for playing time at inside linebacker for CU this fall — the first time in Colorado history that the same team has featured three different season leaders in tackles.
The trio consists of junior Addison Gillam (team-leading 119 tackles in 2013), senior Kenneth Olugbode (83 in 2014) and sophomore Rick Gamboa (96 in 2015). Now throw highly touted junior college transfer Drew Lewis into the mix, and you have a wealth of depth on the inside this season.
"We all push each other, and that's the best part," Olugbode said. "It's great competition. It's always good to push yourself to the limits."
The situation has come about because of injuries. After a spectacular freshman season in 2013, Gillam had a solid sophomore season (79 tackles), but still missed time because of injury, including one full game. Then, last year, he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week Two.
Olugbode, meanwhile, took the lead role in 2014, but last year missed two games with a leg injury and finished with 80 tackles. Thus, Gamboa — who replaced Gillam in the lineup — took the tackle lead in 2015.
Now, it means what will likely be one of the more competitive battles in camp.
For Olugbode, it also means a little more at stake as he prepares for his final year in a CU uniform.
"Honestly, I think I'm a little more excited," Olugbode said after Thursday's first workout of fall game. "It's my last first day. This is the last year I get to be out here with my brothers and I want to make the best of it. We all want to make the best of it. A lot of us older guys have been playing together since we were freshmen, and we think this defense can be great."
Olugbode didn't take long to come up with a big play, collecting an interception in the opening practice.
"It was fun because it was Sefo (Liufau)," Olugbode said. "He and I are always going at it. I had to give him a stiff arm."
RECEIVERS BATTLE: Another position that will be very interesting to watch unfold in camp will be wide receiver. The Buffs have some solid returnees, including Shay Fields, Devin Ross, Bryce Bobo and Jay MacIntyre, as well as junior college transfers Juwann Winfree and Kabion Ento. All will get their chance to make plays and show their stuff.
"I love what we have at receiver," said co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini. "I think Juwann Winfree is going to be a star. He's working hard, he's got really good footwork and got good ball skills. I like what I'm seeing from Shay as far as leadership. You can tell he's into it. He wants to lead. Devin Ross had a great spring and he's going to do a lot of great things in camp. Jay is making some plays. I like the group."
Chiaverini also said he's already seeing some play-making ability from some of the true freshmen.
"The young guys are coming along," Chiaverini said. "They're going to get opportunities. Tony Julmisse is very athletic. Johnny Huntley's a big target, Derrion Rakestraw is an athletic kid. It's going to be exciting."
BENEFITS OF EXPERIENCE: With more than half of the roster consisting of upperclassmen, it means the CU coaching staff doesn't have to spend quite as much time slowing practice down to teach the very basics. Instead, as head coach Mike MacIntyre said, "You just crank it up another notch."
"With the older guys, you've got everything in," MacIntyre said. "You have phases that you're putting in, but they know it, it goes quicker, you can put more in and therefore you can get better at individual fundamentals and that type of thing."
Chiaverini said it means the Buffs are able to run their newly tweaked offense at a faster rate during practice.
"We've got guys that have played a lot of football with Shay Fields and Sefo (Liufau) and Sean Irwin and Jeromy Irwin and George Frazier," Chiaverini said. "That makes it fun when there's some retention and you don't have to sit there and teach everything and slow everything down."
PLAYER UPDATES: Sophomore linebacker N.J. Falo was on the field Thursday after an off-the-field incident in the offseason put his status in question. Head coach Mike MacIntyre said Falo will be suspended for the first three games of the season. … Also on the field was defensive lineman Samson Kafovalu, who was suspended in the offseason for an incident but is now cleared to play. … The status of running back Dino Gordon is still up in the air. … True freshman Ca'Ron Baham will not be part of the team this year. Coaches wanted Baham to remain with the squad, but the defensive back from Marrerro, La., has chosen to return home to deal with some family issues.
FIELDS WEARING NO. 1: Fields, who has worn No. 5 his first two years at CU, has switched to No. 1, the number he wore in high school. Last year, the number was taken by running back Patrick Carr, who is no longer with the program. Fields, by the way, is well-aware of the significance of wearing the number once worn by former Buffs great Eric Bieniemy.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
