CU FOOTBALL: Buffs rotate in new wide receivers, but teammates demonstrate their confidence in them.
BOULDER» Last week, when the Colorado football team announced its captains for the upcoming season, the list of seven players included three receivers.
“I would think that’s probably the first time in school history,” co-offensive coordinator/receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini said. “I don’t remember three receivers being team captains in one year. It says a lot.”
Chiaverini was a captain during his senior season at CU in 1998, but in the 19 seasons from 19992017, only five total receivers were named captains, and there had never been as many as two in a season until now.
The receivers as a group didn’t have a great season in 2017 but, led by senior captains Kabion Ento, Jay MacIntyre and Juwann Winfree, they are determined to be better this year.
“We didn’t live up to expectations last year, and that’s all of us,” Chiaverini said. “I told the players that. We’re all in this together. I didn’t do a good enough job and we didn’t do a good enough job as a group. We have a lot to prove. I’m excited to see those guys work.”
It’s a group that must replace three of the most productive receivers in school history. Bryce Bobo, Shay Fields and Devin Ross were the top three receivers last year, combining for 151 catches for 1,824 yards and 11 touchdowns. All three rank among the top eight in CU history for career catches.
There will be new faces leading the way this year, and that starts with Winfree. The former Maryland freshman and junior college transfer played well in a backup role last year, has NFL-caliber skills and has emerged as a leader this offseason.
“I haven’t always been a vocal guy,” Winfree said. “I kind of stayed back and handled my business, but it’s team effort. There’s a lot of people who look up to me and I have to use my position the best I can, and that’s being a leader.
“I observed a lot of things and last year was the only time I played on a losing college team my whole career so far. This is my final chance for the team to put everything together, get back on to the winning scale and back to where we need to be.”
Winfree and sophomore Laviska Shenault are exceptional athletes who may not take long this season to make their mark in the Pac-12. Shenault showed big-play explosiveness in his limited playing time last year and is already one of the strongest players on the entire team.
Ento, who redshirted last year to play a more prominent role this year, has speed, size and leaping ability to be a force, as well.
MacIntyre, meanwhile, comes into the year as the most experienced of the group, with 66 catches for 870 yards and four touchdowns in his career.
Throw in explosive sophomore slot KD Nixon, Texas Tech transfer Tony Brown, and a quartet of talented freshmen and it’s a group that certainly has no shortage of weapons.
“It’s a talented group, but they have a lot to prove,” Chiaverini said. “It’s a collective unit and as a unit offensively, we weren’t good enough (last year) and we’ve got to do a better job. As wideouts, having three captains that are talented and underclassmen that are talented, now they have to go out there and prove it every day.”
The veterans may wind up leading this team, but during fall camp the youngsters will get a chance to prove themselves.
Redshirt freshman Maurice Bell had a great spring and classmate Jaylon Jackson looks good after recovering from a broken ankle that wiped out his 2017 season and spring ball.
True freshmen Daniel Arias, Dimitri Stanley and Dylan Thomas bring exceptional talent to the table, as well, but Chiaverini said, “We have to see how fast they pick up the offense and, when they retain the information, can they take it to the practice field and execute?”
Walk-ons Erik Lawson and Curtis Chiaverini provide some added depth, as they, too, continue to get better.
The receiving corps is blessed with talent and leadership, and coach Chiaverini can’t wait to see who steps up in fall camp.
“Even though some of them have a little inexperience overall in college football, they work hard and I want to see them compete in camp,” he said. “They have to go out there and earn it.”