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“Pencil” Depth Chart-ing
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The Colorado Pre-Fall “Pencil” Depth Chart has been released. While Buff head coach Mike MacIntyre has taken great pains to remind fans that the depth chart remains fluid (and doesn’t include transfers or the freshman Class of 2016, which have yet to participate in their first formal practices with the team), there is still plenty to mull over as the opening of Fall Camp (August 4th) is rapidly approaching.
The full Depth Chart can be found here.
The two-deep …
Offense:
Wide receiver (x): Bryce Bobo, Jr.; Kabion Ento, Jr.
Wide receiver (z): Shay Fields, Jr.; Lee Walker, Soph.
Wide receiver (H): Devin Ross: Jr; Jay MacIntyre, Soph.
Left tackle: Jeromy Irwin, Jr.; Isaac Miller, R-Fr.
Left guard: Gerrad Kough, Jr; or Jonathan Huckins, Jr.
Center: Alex Kelley, Sr.; or Jonathan Huckins, Jr.
Right guard: Tim Lynott, Jr., R-Fr.; Shane Callahan, Sr.
Right tackle: Sam Kronshage, Jr.; or Aaron Haigler, R-Fr.
Tight end/H-Back (Y): Sean Irwin, Sr.; George Frazier, Jr.
Quarterback: Jordan Gehrke, Sr.; Steven Montez, R-Fr.
Tailback: Phillip Lindsay, Jr.; Donovan Lee, Jr.
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Defense:
Defensive end: Jordan Carrell, Sr.; Timothy Coleman, Jr.
Nose tackle: Josh Tupou, Sr.; Jase Franke, Soph.
Defensive end: Leo Jackson, III, Jr.; Michael Mathewes, Soph.
Outside linebacker: Derek McCartney, Jr; Terran Hasselbach, Soph.
Jack (inside) linebacker: Kenneth Olugbode, Sr.; Ryan Severson, Sr.
Mike (inside) linebacker: Addison Gillam, Jr.; Rick Gamboa, Soph.
Outside linebacker: Jimmie Gilbert, Sr.; Tyler Henington, Sr.
Cornerback: Chidobe Awuzie, Sr.; Nick Fisher, Soph.
Free safety: Ryan Moeller, Jr.; Afodabi Laguda, Jr. (No. 1 nickel back)
Strong safety: Tedric Thompson, Sr.; Nick Fisher, Soph.
Cornerback: Isaiah Oliver, Soph.; Ahkello Witherspoon, Sr.
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Specialists:
Punter: Alex Kinney, Soph.; Chris Graham, Jr.
Placekicker: Diego Gonzalez, Sr.; Chris Graham, Jr. (No. 1 kickoff)
Punt returner: Jay MacIntyre, Soph.; Shay Fields, Sr.
Kickoff returner: Phillip Lindsay, Jr.; Donovan Lee, Jr.
Holder: Robert Orban, Jr.; T.J. Patterson, Jr.
Snapper: J.T. Bale, R-Fr.; Chris Hill, Sr.
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Returning starters from 2015 in bold
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Starters lost … Offense: Left tackle, Stephane Nembot; Wide receiver, Nelson Spruce … Defense: Cornerback, Kenneth Crawley; Defensive tackle, Justin Solis
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Injured – not listed in depth chart … Offense: Quarterback, Sefo Liufau, Sr. … Defense: Linebacker, Trent Headley, Jr.; Jaisen Sanchez, Soph. (both Headley and Sanchez have been lost for the season)
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Suspended, status “to be announced” … Offense: Tailback, Dino Gordon, R-Fr. … Defense: Linebacker, N.J. Falo, Soph.; Defensive line, Samson Kafovalu, Sr.
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Junior college transfers … are not usually signed to provide window dressing. They are signed to help fill immediate needs. Colorado signed four this past spring. One, wide receiver Kabion Ento, enrolled in January, and is already on the depth chart. The other three – wide receiver Juwann Winfree; linebacker Drew Lewis; and defensive back Kyle Trego – should find their way onto the two-deep roster by the end of August.
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Do all of the “or” listings on the offensive line matter? … In the above depth chart, there are three positions with “either/or” starters, and they are all along the offensive line. Should Buff fans be concerned?
In a word, “no”. New offensive line coach Klayton Adams (he was the running backs coach the past three seasons) has indicated that he was not looking for a starting lineup coming out of the spring. “I don’t care how many games you’ve started, I don’t care how many games you started at what position — nobody in here is a starter,” Adams said in March. “We’re going to try to find the best five guys … I’d say there’s like 12 guys that are fighting for a starting job. Everything is a legit competition.”
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Freshmen expected to earn playing time this fall … As noted, there are no freshmen listed in the pre-fall “pencil” depth chart. While most of the Recruiting Class of 2016 is expected to red-shirt, there are a number of freshmen who could be counted on to contribute this fall.
On the offensive side of the ball, tailback Beau Bisharat is a safe bet to see action in 2016, as could one or more of the talented trio of receivers who signed in February: Johnny Huntley; Anthony Julmisse; and Derrion Rakestraw.
Even more freshmen could lose their red-shirts on the defensive side of the ball. Three defensive backs – Ronnie Blackmon, Trey Udoffia, and Ca’Ron Baham – could be counted upon to provide immediate depth to the secondary. Meanwhile, linebackers Akil Jones, Pookie Maka, and Sam Bennion could find their way onto the two-deep by the end of Fall Camp.
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Scholarship seniors not in the two-deep … This is the last go-round for a large senior Class, and some of those seniors may not be seeing significant playing time this fall. The list includes … offensive lineman Sully Wiefels … quarterback Jaleel Awini (though don’t count him out as a contributor in some fashion this fall) … linebacker Deaysean Rippy … linebacker Travis Talianko.
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Random thoughts … Colorado is well-stocked at the wide receiver positions, and that is before you even consider the 2017 recruiting Class, which already includes four-star recruits Laviska Shenault and Jaylon Jackson. If Sefo Liufau can stay healthy this year, he will Boulder with almost all of CU’s passing records (at least until Tyler Lytle gets a few seasons under his belt with this strong lineup) … It will be interesting to see how the running back race plays out, with three juniors – Phillip Lindsay, Donovan Lee, and Michael Adkins, II – look to hold off promising freshman Beau Bisharat … Here’s hoping the CU coaching staff finds a way to get Jaleel Awini involved in the offense (but not out of necessity due to injuries) … Afolabi Laguda is listed as the No. 1 nickel back, which means he will likely be on the field more often than the No. 1 outside linebacker, Jimmie Gilbert. The way offenses are schemed in the modern era, there just won’t be many occasions when the Buffs have four linebackers on the field at the same time … Here’s wishing good health to nose tackle Josh Tupou and defensive end Jordan Carrell. If either gets hurt, the Buffs lose a great deal of leverage. Carrell is listed at 295-pounds; his backup, Timothy Coleman, is listed at 245. Tupou checks in at 325-pounds, while his backup, Jase Franke, is a svelte 270 … It will be interesting to see if any of the incoming freshmen wide receivers or defensive backs find their way onto the field as punt or kickoff returners. CU could certainly use a boost in those categories.
3 Replies to “Pencil Depth Chart-ing”
Yup I read it. Brian posted it on twitter. But he also said on the paper version he received at the event listed Sefo.
And when I say you have Tupou anc Carrell reversed, I mean the weight.
Go Buffs.
Dedicated comment section?
Early morning or late night. Benefit of the doubt. Ya have Tupou and Carrell reversed.
Also Brian H said the paper handout he received had Sefo as the starting QB.
Hope you make the change/update/fix on where comments can be made. A separate comment section would be great?
Go Buffs
The list is taken from the Pencil depth chart from the CU website.
Click on the link.