Ento bulking up, getting better while redshirting

BOULDER» From the moment he arrived at Colorado as a junior college transfer in January 2016, wide receiver Kabion Ento has shown flashes of being a star for the Buffaloes.

Lately, CU coach Mike MacIntyre has noticed something new about Ento.

“If you see him, he’s stronger,” MacIntyre said. “I always tease him, ‘You have muscles now.’ ”

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Ento is listed as a senior, but with a crowded stable of receivers, he’s spending this season redshirting, with plans of returning in 2018.

The Buffs will be losing senior starters Bryce Bobo, Shay Fields and Devin Ross, creating an opportunity for Ento in 2018.

“No, it wasn’t tough,” Ento said of agreeing to redshirt. “I had been to junior college for two years. Those two years counted against my eligibility; this year doesn’t. It’s just a year for me to hit the weight room, get bigger, get stronger, get faster and do everything. For me to have another year, that’s all I’m happy about.”

During the spring and summer, Ento arguably was CU’s best wide receiver. But considering the experienced talent ahead of him, he may not have done much more than he did in 2016, when he caught eight passes for 174 yards.

With an eye on next year, Ento has spent this season working on his game and helping prepare the defense as a scout-team receiver.

“I feel like I’ve improved a lot, just coming and working hard, staying focused,” Ento said. “That’s the main thing, just staying focused and trying to do my best to give the (defensive backs) and the defense a look. I’m on the scout team, so that’s what I try to do best.”

Ento is one of two senior playmakers taking the unique path of redshirting this season, along with running back Donovan Lee. With star tailback Phillip Lindsay graduating after this season, Lee will have an opportunity to make a bigger impact in 2018 than he could have this year.

The opportunity to get Ento and Lee back next year is exciting for MacIntyre.

“They’re both good players that would get more playing time next year than they would this year,” the coach said. “They would help us and they’re great kids.”