Signing Day Primer – Defense

Program Note … Signing Day is Wednesday, February 3rd. As usual, CU at the Game is taking the day off, so you don’t have to. “The Ticker” will be up and running around 7:30 a.m., MT, with complete bios of CU’s new recruits posted as the Recruiting Class of 2016 becomes official. There will also be coverage of the Mike MacIntyre press conference that afternoon, with updates posted throughout the day.

Signing Day drama … There are at least two players who will make their announcements on Signing Day who have Colorado in the mix. Three-star athlete Lorenzo Burns (Rivals bio), will be choosing between Colorado and Arizona, while three-star defensive lineman Keanu Saleapaga (Rivals bio) will be choosing between Colorado and BYU.

To help get you prepared, below is a look at the potential recruits on defense. A review of CU’s commits on offense can be found here.

 

Defensive Line

Roster (notes: class status is for 2016 season … returning starters in bold):

Nose tacklesJosh Tupou, Sr.; Clay Norgard, Jr.; Jase Franke, So.; Lyle Tuiloma, R-Fr.

Defensive tackles: Jordan Carrell, Sr.; Samson Kafovalu, Sr.; Tyler Henington, Sr.; Blake Robbins, Sr.; Garrett Gregory, Jr., (walk-on); Eddy Lopez, So.; Frank Umu, R-Fr.; Brett Tonz, R-Fr.; Sam Bennion, Fr.

Defensive ends: Aaron Howard, Sr. (walk-on); Leo Jackson, Jr.; Michael Mathewes, So.

Class of 2016

– Terriek Roberts – OL/DL

Just the facts … Committed June 21st … Terriek Roberts is a 6’6″, 255-pound offensive lineman (who could also play defense) from South high school in Denver. Rivals bio  Scout bio

What others say about Roberts … Roberts is considered to be a two-star prospect by Rivals, but a three-star prospect by Scout. According to Scout, Roberts is the best offensive tackle out of the state of Colorado this year, the 14th-best tackle in the west, and 83rd-best offensive tackle in the nation.

Recruiting Notes … Roberts can be listed both on the offense and defense in terms of potential. Roberts on potentially playing defense for the Buffs … “I asked Coach Mac that same question and he was like, ‘Whatever you want to. Whatever your body decides, that is what you’re going to play. Whatever you feel you are best at, that is what you’re going to play,'” Roberts told BuffStampede.com. “I am leaning more towards the defensive side but I am a ball-player, I am ready to play anything.”

 

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Linebackers

Roster:

Inside Linebackers: Kenneth Olugbode, Sr.; Ryan Severson, Sr.; Travis Talianko, Sr.; Deaysean Rippy, Sr.; Addison Gillam, Jr.; Christian Shaver, Jr.; Rick Gamboa, So.; N.J. Falo, So.

Outside Linebackers: Jimmie Gilbert, Sr.; De’Jon Wilson, Sr.; Jaleel Awini, Sr.; Derek McCartney, Jr.; Timothy Coleman, Jr.; Terran Hasselbach, So.

– Akil Jones – LB

Just the facts … Committed June 27th … Akil Jones is a 6’1″, 213-pound linebacker from San Jose, California  Rivals bio  Scout bio

What others say about Jones … Jones is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and Scout. According to Scout, Jones is the 11th-best linebacker out of California, and the No. 103 linebacker prospect nationally. 247Sports lists Jones as a three-star prospect, the 97th-best outside linebacker in the nation, and the 157th-best player overall from the state of California this recruiting cycle. Jones has been timed at a 4.86 in the 40, with a 4.29 in the 20-yard shuttle and a vertical jump of 26.8 inches.

– Drew Lewis – LB (Junior College)

Just the facts … Committed January 27th … Lewis is a 6’2″, 224-pound linebacker originally from Redmond, Washington, but is coming to Colorado from Coffeyville Community College in Kansas (Rivals bio) (Scout bio)

What others say about Lewis … Lewis is considered a two-star prospect by Rivals, but was a three-star prospect out of high school. A member of the Recruiting Class of 2014, Lewis signed with Washington, going with the Huskies over schools like Arizona State, Washington State and Pittsburgh. After sitting out his red-shirt season in 2014, Lewis was dismissed from Washington last July for “violation of team rules“, transferring to Coffeyville Community College for the fall.

Lewis will have three years to play three.

 

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Defensive Backs

Roster:

Cornerbacks: Chidobe Awuzie, Sr.; Ahkello Witherspoon, Sr.; Yuri Wright, Sr.; Isaiah Oliver, So.; Nick Fisher, So.

Safeties: Tedric Thompson, Sr.; Ryan Moeller, Jr.;  Afolabi Laguda, Jr.; Evan White, Jr.; Jaisen Sanchez, So.

Class of 2016:

Ca’Ron Baham – CB

Just the facts … Committed January 21st … Baham is a 5’11”, 180-pound athlete from Marrero, Louisiana (John Ehret). Baham runs a reported 4.5 in the 40. Rivals bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Baham … Baham is rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and Scout. Rivals lists Baham as the No. 55 “athlete” nationally, and the No. 38 player overall out of the state of Louisiana. Scout lists Baham as the No. 8 wide receiver out of Louisiana, and the No. 182 wide receiver nationally.

Trey Udoffia – Athlete

Just the facts … Committed August 1st … Trey Udoffia is a 6’0″, 175-pound athlete from Loomis, California, who runs a reported 4.73 in the 40 Rivals bio Scout bio

What others say about Udoffia … Udoffia is considered to be a three athlete by Rivals, and a three-star wide receiver prospect by Scout. According to Scout, Udoffia is the No. 126 wide receiver in the nation, the 24th-best wide receiver in the west, and the No. 19 wide receiver out of the state of California.

– Ronnie Blackmon – CB

Just the facts … Committed July 8th … Ronnie Blackmon is 5’10”, 174-pound cornerback from Atlanta, Georgia  Rivals bio

What others say about Blackmon … Blackmon is considered to be a three-star prospect by Rivals and Scout. He is ranked by Rivals as the No. 49 cornerback in the nation, and the No. 72 player overall from the state of Georgia. Scout has Blackmon as the No. 81 cornerback in the country, the No. 27 cornerback in the South, and the No. 5 cornerback out of the state of Georgia.

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