Colorado University Athletics
Practice Report: RB Lee Shows Power, Big Plays For Awuzie
August 09, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
First session of two-a-days set for Wednesday
BOULDER — Tuesday marked the first day in full pads in Colorado's fall camp, and the Buffs wasted no time in getting some heavy hitting under their belts.
Head coach Mike MacIntyre put his team through some full-speed goal-line situations, including the No. 1 offense vs. the No. 1 defense. The offense did get into the end zone on a powerful drive from running back Donovan Lee, but overall, the defense had the edge, coming up with several big stops.
The Buffs had two previous days in shells (shoulder pads and helmets), meaning they had been getting some contact in, but the presence of full pads added what MacIntyre called a measure of "physicality."
"We'll get in and watch the film and see how strong some of the guys are," MacItyre said. "You get to see a little more physicality of finishing things. When you are in shorts, you're not finishing to the ground as much. We don't finish to the ground all the time, but it's just a little extra effort, a little extra intensity."
Tuesday also marked the warmest day of camp yet, with temperatures knocking on the 90-degree door by the end of practice. Wednesday, the Buffs will see their first two-a-day session of camp, and MacIntyre said won't mind if the heat continues.
"I hope it stays hot like this. We need it to," MacIntyre said. "When you get hot and tired, it kind of makes you miserable and you have to fight through it mentally. That's what I want them to do, I want them to be able to fight through that mental part of it and not give in. I thought they fought through it today. We'll find out tomorrow."
LEE SHOWS POWER: Junior running back Donovan Lee has earned a reputation as a player with big-play potential, a back who can turn a short run into a long gain, and for good reason.
Lee, who made the switch from wide receiver to running back midway through last season, had four of CU's 15 longest runs of the season a year ago. That included a 59-yard touchdown run against Nicholls State, CU's longest run of the season. Lee, who has great quickness and breakaway speed, also finished the season with the best average per carry of any Buffs back, averaging 5.83 yards per attempt.
But the 5-foot-9, 180-pound Lee is also a deceptively powerful inside runner. He's had a strong camp thus far running between the tackles, and Tuesday powered into the end zone in a full-contact goal-line drill against the No. 1 defense.
"I love having that mentality that no one's going to stop me whenever I get that close to the end zone," Lee said. "I love when the coaches believe in me and give me the opportunity. Just being in there with the guys and looking everyone in the eye and knowing that nothing's going to stop all of us from doing our job of getting it in the end zone, just putting it in for six."
Lee has also had some nice runs in space, and his former position of wideout makes him a natural receiver out of the backfield. Overall, he's had a solid camp and is providing plenty of competition for fellow junior Phillip Lindsay, who entered camp atop the depth chart.
"I think I'm doing OK so far," Lee said. "I think I've found a home playing running back. I have a lot to improve on, but I'm doing better in getting into the flow of the offense and improving my weaknesses and strengths."
YOUNGSTERS UP FRONT: A pair of redshirt freshmen, Tim Lynott Jr. and Aaron Haigler, are getting plenty of snaps with the No. 1 offense. Offensive line coach Klayton Adams said he's been extremely pleased with both of their efforts, with Lynott is having a solid camp at right guard and Haigler an impressive effort at right tackle.
"I think it's going great so far," Haigler said. "We're making a lot of progress."
The 6-foot-7 Haigler, who came to camp a year ago weighing about 230 pounds, checked in at 270 pounds Tuesday morning. He's actually added about five pounds to his frame since the beginning of camp, and said he'd like to be in the neighborhood of 280 by the time the season starts. Eventually, he said, the goal is to have about 300 pounds on his lanky frame.
Haigler spent last fall working at left tackle. The switch to the right side, he said, seems to be a good one.
"It just seems more natural," Haigler said. "I'm not sure why, but it just feels better."
Lynott entered camp listed atop the depth chart at right guard while Haigler was listed as co-No. 1 with Sam Kronshage at right tackle.
BIG-PLAY AWUZIE: Senior defensive back Chidobe Awuzie had an outstanding Tuesday practice session, coming off the edge to get the quarterback and also coming up with two interceptions. He returned the first pick for a touchdown, then followed that with a spectacular leaping grab in the end zone.
"That's Chido," MacIntyre said with a smile. "I'm so used to it now, if he doesn't make one, I get on him. He's an excellent player We moved him around everywhere. He was sacking, he was covering — typical Chido. If we had about 30 of him, they wouldn't know what to do. There would be No. 4s everywhere. It's kind of like that movie, the Matrix. That's what Chido is, he's the Matrix."
PRACTICE TIDBITS: Two players who have seemingly made plays every day in camp were at it again on Tuesday, as safety Tedric Thompson and wide receiver Juwann Winfree both had big plays in individual and 11-on-11 drills. … Quarterback Sefo Liufau and Shay Fields have picked up where they left off last season. Liufau connected with Fields on a perfect out route in an 11-on-11 drill, with Fields making the catch just short of the sidelines, prompting Fields to deliver a "Great pass, Sefo" as he returned to the middle of the field. … Some great battles continue to unfold every day when the No. 1 offense and defense square off. Tuesday's battles up front between the big guys on both sides of the line were particularly intense, especially in the goal-line situations. To no one's surprise, nose tackle Josh Tupou is proving to be a beast in the interior. … Wide receiver Jay MacIntyre had a beautiful diving grab of a Liufau pass in the corner of the end zone. … Tight end Sean Irwin continues to be a solid presence in the running game. … Afolabi Laguda, who is getting lots of playing time at nickelback and safety, showed some nice awareness in traffic and picked off a pass. … Ahkello Witherspoon continues to have a good camp at cornerback. … Redshirt freshman running back Dino Gordon, involved in an off-the-field incident in the spring, has begun practicing with the team again, but still has some items to complete for full reinstatement. MacIntyre said he would decide Gordon's length of games suspension once he has completed the process necessary for reinstatement. ... Ronnie Blackmon is the latest of the freshman class to turn heads, producing some solid moments in Tuesday's individual pass cover drills.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
