Buffs growing depth at OLB
BOULDER » Staying in shape throughout the coronavirus pandemic has been tough on a lot of college athletes.
Carson Wells, however, had a solid workout routine, led by his father at the family farm in Bushnell, Fla.
“I was able to go home and worked with my dad on the farm a lot and got country strong,” said Wells, a junior outside linebacker for the Colorado football team. “The main one was putting in fence posts. I had to dig up the old fence posts, dig the hole and put in a new fence post. Then we’d be cutting down trees and have to move tree limbs and then pushing cows and flipping cows. All sorts of stuff. Just moving big things.”
That work is paying off as Wells is off to a good start through the first 11 practices of the preseason.
“We’re really fortunate to have a guy like Carson Wells,” CU head coach Karl Dorrell said. “He’s kind of a leader of that group. He has the most experience and starts. We’re really excited about where he’s at. He’s a veteran player, but has improved his skill set. He’s a little bigger, he’s stronger, he runs a little bit better, all those things. We’re real excited about him.”
Wells started 10 games in 2019 and compiled 57 tackles, one sack and three tackles for loss.
With Nu’umotu Falo and Alex Tchangam having graduated, Wells is now the leader of the group.
“It’s a whole different room,” he said. “I was one of the younger guys last year. This year, just trying to convey what I know to some other guys and help try to bring them up to the level of the standard that we’re trying to set in that room.”
Several are battling for playing time, including Guy Thomas, a junior who came to CU after spending last season at Coahoma ( Miss.) Community College and the previous two at Nebraska.
“I believe everything happens for a reason,” Thomas said. “I’m happy to be here at Colorado. I feel like it’s a great place. I love the people here, I love the coaches, I love the players and everything like that. I didn’t expect to be at three schools but I’m happy to be here.”
The Buffs are happy to have him. Dorrell said Thomas has had a good camp to this point, and Wells has been impressed with Thomas’ progression since his arrival in January.
“He’s getting better every single day,” Wells said. “It helped him coming in early in the spring and learning our terminology.”
Jamar Montgomery, a junior college transfer in 2019 who played 25 snaps late in the season, has had a good camp, as well, and Dorrell praised redshirt freshman Joshka Gustav.