Woelk: Buffs QB Montez Appears Ready To Take Game To Next Level

BOULDER — After two days of fall camp, Colorado quarterback Steven Montez is showing every sign that he's ready to take his game to the next level.

Granted, it's early. Lots can happen between now and the Sept. 1 opener against Colorado State in Denver.

But Montez, the Buffs' redshirt sophomore, is making throws that show why expectations surrounding CU's offense this year are sky high.

Sunday morning, Montez connected on a number of nice passes to a variety of receivers in team drills, including a long touchdown to senior wideout Shay Fields. Fields made a nice move to pick up a couple of steps on his defender, broke into the open at the hashes and Montez hit him in stride, with Fields' speed doing the rest.

But it was a pass to Fields that picked up "only" about 10 yards that may have been the best indication of the special talents Montez possesses. On the play, Montez took the snap, backpedaled briefly and threw a sidearm bullet to Fields near the sidelines, all in one motion. The pass showed an amazingly quick release that still had plenty of velocity, allowing Fields to take the pass and move upfield for a nice gain.

It was, Buffs co-offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini said, a release reminiscent of former Texas Tech and Kansas City Chiefs first-round draft pick Patrick Mahomes, who Chiaverini saw develop in his time at TTU.

It was also no coincidence. Montez said he has studied Mahomes' technique, particularly his ability to get rid of the ball in a hurry.

"He's a guy I've watched a lot," Montez said. "I like the way he can throw the ball from different angles if he has to and get it out quick. He's a big, gunslinger-type guy."

Which, of course, is exactly how Montez — 6-foot-5, 220 pounds — is being described. That he hails from El Paso only enhances that reputation.

But while Montez's physical tools are plentiful, the CU coaching staff's goal in camp is to also help him become completely attuned with his role as a leader.

"Just keep improving and be able to be a leader and understand," head coach Mike MacIntyre said Sunday of his top priorities for Montez in camp. "I keep talking to him about the grind of every day. Every day is important. When you're the backup, you kind of come out and go and sometimes might not notice that you aren't as intense as you should be. You have to be intense every day. I thought last fall camp he really improved on that. He's playing well out there now."

Montez is well-aware that his role in that regard will be important. But he also knows that he will be playing on a senior-laden offense that includes a pair of team captains: senior running back Phillip Lindsay and senior left tackle Jeromy Irwin.

That, said former Buffs quarterback and current Fox Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt, should be a comfort to Montez.

"The most important part for him is he has to be himself," Klatt said. "He doesn't have to go out there and try to be Sefo as a leader, because Sefo was very unique as a leader. If he's just himself, he can have a lot of success."

Klatt, who said he believes Liufau "belongs on the Mount Rushmore of Colorado football players," said Montez has the tools to become a special player.

"Montez is a more talented athlete and quarterback," Klatt said. "If he plays as well as I think he can, I think he can have a really big year, particularly with the wide receiver corps they have and a running game that should be pretty good and an offensive line that for the first time in a long time is experienced and somewhere in the top half of the league and not in the bottom half of the league. All of those factors lead me to believe Steven Montez is going to have a really good year."

Montez knows what the expectations are — and knows he has to continue to put in the work to get there. He had an excellent offseason in the spring, shaving some unnecessary pounds and adding some strength.

Now, he has to carry that work ethic through camp and also improve his consistency, something co-offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren has said will also be a priority in August.

"I look at every day the same way," Montez said after Sunday's practice. "Just come in and compete and hopefully we can get better as a unit."

UMU ON THE RISE: MacIntyre said sophomore defensive end Frank Umu has made excellent strides since last fall, and has the chance to be a significant contributor this season.

"Frank has come in in really good shape," MacIntyre said of the 6-foot-4, 305-pounder from Littleton. "Watching them this summer do their running, he ran better than he's ever run. He was up at the front of the group all the time because he's so athletic. He's just in great shape and that's showing out here."

Umu played sparingly as a redshirt freshman, appearing in just two games and finishing with one tackle. But, as MacIntyre said, he made some big strides in the spring and again in the offseason strength and conditioning program under Drew Wilson. Now, he's getting his share of snaps early with the top defensive units.

"I'm excited where Frank is going," MacIntyre said. "He has length, he has power, he has strength. We've been able to 'soak' him for a couple of years so it's his time to start showing and playing."

PRACTICE NOTES: Along with Montez, all of the other quarterbacks in camp are throwing the ball well. Redshirt freshman Sam Noyer made some nice on-the-money throws Sunday, and also showed the ability to make plays with his legs. … Cornerback Isaiah Oliver had a terrific reach-around pass breakup in team drills, and continues to show why he'll likely be on the NFL's radar this year, even though he is just a junior. … Ryan Moeller and Evan Worthington are both making plays at the "Buff" back on defense, the hybrid safety-linebacker spot Colorado created last year. … Redshirt freshman Trey Udoffia continues to impress at cornerback. … The Buffs are putting in plenty of work on special teams, this year coordinated by assistant coach Ross Els. … Safeties Afolabi Laguda and Nick Fisher are starting to team up as a solid tandem at the back of CU's defense. … All of the wide receivers continue to make plays, with last year's starters and those challenging for spots coming up with catches. One freshman that continues to turn heads is K.D. Nixon, who has an outstanding quick burst, good hands and a compact body that could make him a versatile player.

SCHEDULE: The Buffs will put on shoulder pads Monday and Tuesday, then take Wednesday off. They are scheduled to put on full pads for the first time Thursday, then scrimmage Saturday in Folsom Field. The scrimmage will be open to the public, with practice scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu