Colorado University Athletics
Despite Losses, Buffs Aim To Reload, Not Rebuild, In Secondary
March 01, 2017 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — With eight starters graduated, including several who are expected to be playing on Sundays next fall, conventional wisdom suggests the Colorado defense might take a step back in 2017.
Colorado senior safety Afolabi Laguda is not one to buy into conventional wisdom. Laguda, who made a name for himself last year as a big hitter in CU's secondary, simply shrugs when he hears the suggestion that the Buffs will be in a rebuilding year on his side of the ball.
Laguda, it seems, doesn't believe in rebuilding.
Laguda believes in reloading.
"People are underestimating us back there," Laguda said quietly after a spring practice earlier this week. "That's OK if that's what they want to think. We'll just wait until the first game. Until then, talk is just talk … we'll wait and see."
What people will definitely see is a Buffs secondary with a different look next fall. Along with the task of replacing starters Chidobe Awuzie, Ahkello Witherspoon and Tedric Thompson, the CU secondary is also working under the guidance of a new coach, ShaDon Brown.
"When you lose three guys that go to the NFL Combine, most definitely you're going to have a dropoff until you build the depth back up," Brown said after Wednesday's practice. "Most of the guys we're playing with at corner right now are freshmen or transfer guys and you're trying to develop those guys and keep their confidence up. But the raw talent is most definitely there. The more reps they get, the better and faster they'll play."
It's not as if Brown inherited a secondary completely devoid of experience. Along with Laguda, who started all 14 games last season, Colorado also returns cornerback Isaiah Oliver (five career starts, 440 defensive snaps last season), safety/Buff back Ryan Moeller (nine starts last year) and safety Nick Fisher (107 defensive snaps last season and one Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week award).
"We've got some good leadership from guys like Fo and Moeller and Isaiah," Brown said. "Those guys are doing a great of leading and trying to help get those young guys in the right place, and that's important when you've got a lot of young guys."
Laguda, who has quietly evolved into the role as one of the clear team leaders, is a player who does it by example daily and vocally when necessary.
"What I've tried to do is work harder," Laguda said. "I started doing a little extra. After a run, I would do more ball drills because that's what I need to work on in the offseason. The young guys would see that and they wanted to know, 'Why is this guy doing that?' Then it becomes contagious and we all work as a group. A lot of it is behind-the-scenes stuff, but I know it will pay off on Saturdays."
Brown has spent as much time as possible watching film from last year to get an idea of "who could do what" in the secondary.
But of all the players Brown has seen thus far, the most pleasant surprise has been junior Evan White.
Because White spent last year away from the program, Brown hadn't seen much of him on film. But he has seen plenty of him on the field in spring practice and he loves what's he's seen.
"He's big, fast, athletic, can play all the secondary positions," Brown said. "He can play Buff, he can play nickel, he can play safety — he probably could play corner. He has that ability. We just have to keep him going and he's doing a great job of being moved around and doing different things. I've been very pleased with him."
As far as the newcomers who could be impact players next fall, redshirt freshman Trey Udoffia has had a good spring so far at corner, as have sophomore Anthony Julmisse and junior college transfer Dante Wigley. Another sophomore, Ronnie Blackmon, is getting some time at the nickel.
Udoffia, who spent last fall playing on the scout team against CU's fleet-footed starters, has been making the most of some reps with the No. 1 defense.
"He's made a jump from last year," head coach Mike MacIntyre said. "To me, we were talking about it as a staff, he's made a big jump. He's gotten a little bit stronger and he's in better shape than he was in when he first showed up."
One major benefit for all the defensive backs is that they line up every day against a receiving corps that stacks up against any group in the Pac-12. That means quality reps in team drills and one-on-one work.
"We've got good receivers they go against and our quarterbacks throw it well so it really makes them have to be precise," MacIntyre said. "Last year it helped us on Saturdays and it will help our guys this year. They've had good moments and bad moments, which is what you expect, the way we play aggressive. They'll keep getting better."
SECONDARY EARLY LOOK: This could be a group that doesn't take as big of a step back as some people might think.
Laguda (free safety) and Oliver (cornerback) give the Buffs some quality experience right away, and Moeller's presence at the Buff back brings the same.
The big key will be who steps in at the other corner, and the good news is there's no shortage of candidates. Julmisse, Udoffia and Wigley are the early leaders — and it's quite possible all could see time at different spots when the Buffs go into their nickel and dime packages.
White, meanwhile, could be a force at strong safety, picking up where Tedric Thompson left off, and Fisher will also no doubt fit into the equation somewhere.
There is clearly not the same experience the Buffs had in the secondary a year ago, and no doubt a few more question marks. But the talent is there — and with some work, Colorado's defensive backs could again be a strong suit next fall.
PRACTICE REPORT: CU's fifth practice of the spring included some full-contact work on Wednesday.
"We did a compete period for about 20 minutes," MacIntyre said. "Full go, put down the ball and had sticks and chains and had guys competing out there. Rotated a bunch of guys in so I thought it went well."
One player who definitely made the most of the day was wide receiver Kabion Ento, who caught one long touchdown from Steven Montez and another long score from Sam Noyer, then added a leaping grab on the sidelines. … Isaiah Oliver had a nice diving knockdown of a pass on the sidelines. … Sophomore guard Brett Tonz, who made the switch from defensive line this spring, got some quality snaps in alongside veteran Jeromy Irwin — who moved back to tackle for a couple of series after playing much of the spring so far at guard. … The Buffs are experimenting with several other position switches this spring, including running back Donovan Lee giving cornerback a try. "He's done some good things there and playing on all the special teams," MacIntyre said. "He does look comfortable out there."
SCHEDULE: The Buffs will practice again Friday and Saturday, with a scrimmage scheduled for Saturday.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
