Colorado University Athletics
Woelk: Mac Expects 'Pac-12 Level' Contribution From Some Of Newest Buffs
December 20, 2017 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — If you are looking for one overriding characteristic of the latest Colorado recruiting class, one attribute that gives the 2018 group an identity, it might be "ready to play."
The newest Buffs are no doubt an athletic bunch, boasting speed and size from top to bottom. The class is evenly distributed, with roughly half on offense and half on defense (depending upon the potential of a late addition or two). Mike MacIntyre and his staff recruited with an eye on needs, and they filled those needs.
But perhaps most notable is this: MacIntyre made it clear Wednesday afternoon that he expects a handful of the newest Buffs — perhaps four or five — to step in and play right away.
Make that play at a Pac-12 level.
There is a difference.
MacIntyre is no stranger to playing newcomers. He was forced to do it his first couple of years in Boulder, and the result wasn't pretty. Forced to thrust not-ready-for-prime-time players into the lineup, the Buffs took their lumps.
The good news was those players developed, and by their fourth year in Boulder, had turned into NFL-caliber players.
But next fall, players who put their names on national letters of intent Wednesday could be on the field on Saturdays — and MacIntyre believes they will be Buffs who will contribute at a high level rather than getting their baptism by fire.
"It's the most developed class that we've signed," MacIntyre said after announcing his sixth class at Colorado. "The group that we had that had nine guys go to the NFL a year ago (the 2013 class) — they weren't as developed, but we worked to develop them. … I think now with these guys, they'll be able to play a little quicker and be better at a younger age than those guys were at a younger age. Hopefully they'll be just as good at the end, but they'll definitely be stronger, more athletic, better be able to perform at a Pac-12 level a little quicker. That's what we believe."
Given the fact that this year's group includes five junior college players, it greatly enhances the chance that they will play sooner rather than later. JC players are more mature and usually more physically developed.
But it's not just the juco players MacIntyre believes could contribute right away. Also on that list is defensive lineman Israel Antwine, who changed his mind very late in the process and "flipped" to the Buffs.
MacIntyre expects Antwine to step in right away and compete as a defensive end in CU's 3-4 alignment.
"Big, stout and aggressive," MacIntyre said of the 6-foot-3, 290-pound Antwine. "This guy is already ready to go. I expect him to play for us as a freshman."
It is no coincidence that Antwine fills a major need for the Buffs — in the defensive trenches, where Colorado struggled in 2017. It's why defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot never relented in his pursuit of Antwine, even after he had made an early commitment to a Big 12 school.
But Antwine isn't the only D-lineman in the class who could see some significant playing time right away. The group also includes junior college transfer Mustafa Johnson, a 6-foot-2, 295-pounder who can play every position on the defensive line.
It means that Colorado's D-line could take a nice step forward next fall. With another year of strength and conditioning under his belt, nose tackle Javier Edwards should be improved. Defensive end Chris Mulumba, meanwhile, made great strides down the stretch in 2017 and CU coaches expect him to be a much-improved player next year — and Buffs coaches are also expecting big things from redshirt freshman Terrance Lang, who has added strength and size and is anxious to get on the field.
Throw in several other returners, plus the newcomers, and it is a position that should be much better in 2018.
Defensive line isn't the only need addressed by this class. The Buffs also added some secondary strength, as they will lose all-conference cornerback Isaiah Oliver to the NFL Draft, as well as starting safeties Afolabi Laguda and Ryan Moeller.
That will open the door for junior college transfers Delrick Abrams, Aaron Maddox and Davion Taylor, who CU coaches have already designated as a Buff back, Colorado's safety-linebacker hybrid spot. "He reminds me of a bigger, faster Chido," MacIntyre said, comparing Taylor to former Buffs standout Chidobe Awuzie.
And, MacIntyre also expects to see some immediate production from Juco tight end Darrion Jones. "He'll be a weapon for us in many, many ways," MacIntyre said.
As for the freshman, it's quite clear CU coaches are expecting big things early from offensive lineman Frank Fillip, a 6-foot-7, 280-pounder who had offers from other Power 5 schools right up to the end — but stuck with his original commitment to Colorado.
"He'll have a chance to play when he gets here," MacIntyre said.
That doesn't mean every other player in the class won't be given a chance to earn a spot right away.
Co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini brought in another group of fleet-footed wideouts, a group ranging from 6-foot-3, 190-pound Daniel Arias to 5-foot-11, 170-pound Dimitri Stanley (long-time Buffs fans will remember his father, Walter Stanley, a Buffs standout in the early 1980s).
The Buffs also added a couple of running backs — Jarek Broussard and Deion Smith — with Broussard a player who can line up in a variety of positions, ranging from tailback to the slot.
There are also some freshman defensive backs in the class, Ray Robinson and Lavon (L.J.) Wallace; a couple of linebackers, Joshka Gustav and Clyde Moore; and a quarterback, Blake Stenstrom, son of former Stanford and NFL quarterback Steve Stenstrom.
Just about any of those youngsters could step in and at least make a bid for some early playing time — and there is also the likelihood that one or two could choose to delay their enrollment until the spring of 2019 and become "grayshirts." Seven players from MacIntyre's last four classes have followed such a path.
But while the math is a long way from being worked out, the formula is starting to be put in place. The Buffs have signed a class that should provide immediate help — and CU coaches expect it to be Pac-12 level help.
LAST-MINUTE BIDS: Thanks to the first early signing date, MacIntyre said the last-minute push from other schools to "flip" CU commits was much more intense than normal. Colorado had a number of Pac-12, ACC, SEC and Big 12 schools calling Buffs commits as late as Tuesday night, trying to get them to change their minds.
"It was a lot more intense this year the last three days and the last weekend — a lot more intense," MacIntyre said. "I was calling kids all night last night and they were saying, 'So and so just called and offered me. They don't want me to sign, told me to wait.' Kid after kid after kid. It was major universities in our conference, out of our conference, big independent schools. It was interesting. … It also says a lot for the kids that we have."
COACHING STAFF ADDITIONS: MacIntyre still has two openings on his staff, an issue he can now turn more attention toward resolving.
One spot is quarterbacks coach, vacated by the departure of Brian Lindgren to Oregon State. MacIntyre has already interviewed several candidates for the spot.
The second open position is the 10th assistant coach approved last year by the NCAA. MacIntyre said he is still studying where an additional coach might fit best. A year ago, CU had a safeties coach and a cornerbacks coach; this year both positions were coached by ShaDon Brown.
Another possibility would be a dedicated special teams coach, a spot currently held by inside linebackers coach Ross Els.
"We've had a tremendous amount of interest in our quarterbacks coach position," MacIntyre said. "I've talked to quite a few people, but now that this is over I'll be able to settle in on it and focus on exactly what we want to do. The 10th coach, I've had a lot of thoughts on that, seeing how everything unfolds. ... We're trying to figure out what's best for our program, team and the continuity of our staff. It's a wide range. I'll really be able to focus in on that now."
NEXT YEAR'S CLASS: Even as CU coaches were wrapping up this year's class, they were already looking ahead to next year.
"My dad (the late George MacIntyre) used to say recruiting was like shaving," MacIntyre said. "If you don't do it every day, it shows."
READY FOR SPRING: Two grayshirts from last year's class, offensive lineman Casey Roddick and defensive lineman Jalen Sami, will enroll in the spring and be ready for spring ball. Also enrolling in the spring will be all of CU's junior college signees from this class, as well as freshman defensive back Ray Robinson.
CU is tentatively scheduled to begin spring practice on Feb. 14, with 15 practice sessions on tap. The spring game is set for Saturday, March 17, at 1 p.m.
CU also announced Wednesday that two players, sophomore wide receiver Johnny Huntley and senior wide receiver Lee Walker, have been granted transfer releases.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
Players Mentioned
