Kelly impressed with Buffs’ Shenault

BOULDER» Statistics suggest Colorado sophomore Laviska Shenault is one of the best receivers in the country in the early stages of the college football season.

It’s how Shenault is achieving his success that impresses UCLA coach Chip Kelly, however.

After both teams’ bye this week, CU (30) will host UCLA (03) on Sept. 28, and Kelly said Shenault certainly has his attention.

“They may have the best receiver in the league right now,” Kelly said during Tuesday’s Pac12 coaches teleconference.

Shenault leads the country with 151.7 receiving yards per game, while ranking fourth with 8.7 catches per game. Of the 21 players nationally with 20plus catches this season, Shenault’s 17.5yards per catch average ranks third. Overall, he has 26 catches for 455 yards and three touchdowns and scored a rushing touchdown out of the wildcat formation against Nebraska.

“It is dangerous when you have a player that can line up in so many different spots,” Kelly said. “You see it a lot in the National Football League. You’re going to have one guy shadow a guy, but then they line him up all over the place. It tells you the type of player he is, because not everybody can do that. That’s a lot easier said than done, to be able to learn different positions and be effective at that many different positions.”

CU coach Mike MacIntyre and cooffensive coordinators Darrin Chiaverini and Klayton Adams recognized Shenault’s unique talent this offseason and knew they had to maximize his potential.

“Give Mike and his staff credit for putting the young man in places where he can be productive, and then give him credit for being able to handle all of that stuff,” Kelly said. “Not every player can play multiple positions and excel at it, and he obviously is.”

Shenault has scored at least one touchdown in each game.

As a team, CU has surprised some around the country with its 30 start, considering many pundits put the Buffs at the bottom of the Pac12 South going into the season. Kelly said he’s not surprised.

“I think Colorado is a really good football, so whoever said they thought they were at the bottom probably doesn’t know anything about football,” he said.

McMillian settling in.

Topping the 100yard mark twice in the first three games, CU senior running back Travon McMillian has already made his mark.

A graduate transfer from Virginia Tech, McMillian came to CU this summer and Montez said he could tell right away that the Buffs would be in good shape at running back.

“When he got here, I kind of knew,” Montez said. “I was like, all right this dude’s got a little something about him. He’s something serious. “He’s playing great.” McMillian has 290 yards in the first three games, but Montez said he’s also been pleased with the play of Kyle Evans, Beau Bisharat and Alex Fontenot.

“We’ve got depth, not just as the receiving position, but we’ve got depth at the running back position, as well,” Montez said.