Buffs Will Need Contributions Across The Board Against Rams

BOULDER — Guaranteed, the Colorado Buffaloes will be seeing plenty of film this week on Colorado State.

If the Buffs weren't already impressed with the CSU offense, the Rams' 58-point, 525-yard performance against Oregon State in Saturday's 58-27 win no doubt did the trick. Every Colorado player who watched Saturday's game — and it's a safe bet that most Buffs were watching — now knows what they'll be facing when CU opens its season Friday against CSU in a 6 p.m. matchup at Sports Authority Field.

The opener will no doubt be a test for both sides of the ball for the Buffs — but it is a defense that will be putting a host of new starters on the field that presents the biggest unknown for Colorado.

There are clearlyt a handful of veterans on whom the Buffs know they can rely. Players such as linebacker Rick Gamboa, safeties Afolabi Laguda and Ryan Moeller, defensive back Evan Worthington, outside linebacker Derek McCartney, defensive end Leo Jackson III and cornerback Isaiah Oliver are all proven players.

But the Buffs will also need some untested players to step up. That list includes redshirt freshman cornerback Trey Udoffia, who will be seeing his first collegiate action; and junior defensive lineman Jase Franke, a player who has seen some spot playing time in the last couple of years but will likely see that playing time increase in a big way this season.

Both had excellent fall camps. Udoffia won the battle at cornerback opposite Oliver to earn a starting spot; Franke saw plenty of time at both nose tackle and defensive end, and will likely see action at both spots.

Udoffia will almost certainly be tested early and often by CSU quarterback Nick Stevens. With Oliver, one of the country's better cornerbacks on one side, the Rams will no doubt want to see what Udoffia can do.

It's something Udoffia is expecting.

"I know have to be focused 100 percent, I can't take any plays off," Udoffia said earlier in camp. "I know I'm going to be the guy they're targeting. Easily. I'm going to be ready."

But Udoffia earned the starting spot because of his consistent work against CU's top-flight receiving corps. Day in, day out, he matched up against the likes of Shay Fields, Bryce Bobo and Devin Ross and held his own on a consistent basis.

"Trey's made some plays," defensive backs coach Shadon Brown said earlier in camp. "The one area he's really improved is communication. Early on in the spring, Trey wouldn't say anything. Now he sees things and communicates calls to the safety. That tells me he understands what he's going and he's played a little bit more. He's not just running around playing off reaction, he knows exactly what he's doing and who's supposed to fit where."

Franke, meanwhile, will be needed to hold the line against CSU's running game as well as put a little pressure on Stevens when possible. It's something both head coach Mike MacIntyre and D-line coach Jim Jeffcoat believe he's capable of producing.

"Jase has had a really good camp," MacIntyre said. "He's stronger and more powerful. He's made some good plays for us through the years and I look for Jase to have a really big year. He's soaked himself for a while and I've been impressed with Jase throughout camp. Jase will be a name I think they will hear over the intercom quite often this year."

Franke does have some experience on which to draw. He played in 12 games last year and finished with 11 tackles and a forced fumble on 76 snaps on defense.

But perhaps most importantly, he's added some weight to his frame and is now a solid 285 pounds.

"I think that's a good weight for me to be able to play the nose and end and be able to play a lot of plays throughout the game," he said. "It's a good weight for me to carry."

Over the last couple of years, Franke has had "flashes" of solid play. But he's been far more consistent in camp this year than any previous season.

"I love Jase," Jeffcoat said recently. "He can play any position there for us and he's had a really good, consistent camp. He's a guy that I think is going to make plays for us."

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu