JOHNSON PROVIDING MOTIVATION,
Defensive end sees great potential for Buffs
Mustafa Johnson has made a lot of big plays during his two seasons on the Colorado Buffaloes’ defensive line.
He’s quickly realized, however, under first-year defensive line coach Chris Wilson, Johnson’s past success doesn’t matter.
“He has a certain way that he wants it done and he’s going to get it that way,”
Johnson said this week. “Whether you do it or not, it’s either you do it right or the next man is up and he’s gonna do it right. It creates a lot of competition, a lot of intensity between the group.”
If Johnson needed any extra motivation, he’s getting it from Wilson. Yet, Johnson, a 6-foot-2, 290-pound senior, has had plenty of motivation all offseason.
Even when players were sent home and the CU football facilities were shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic, Johnson kept working.
“I’m a ball player,” he said. “I don’t really have nothing much else to do except play ball. When we first went home, I ended up going to Arizona and trained with my older brother … just to leave the state of Colorado,
kind of get a new view and kind of just get away from being in Boulder so often. When I came back, I linked up with some of my teammates, like (Terrance Lang) and the rest of the D-linemen and we just went ran sprints and did D-line work. So, I never really got away from football.”
Johnson admitted he also improved his video game skills this offseason, but his main priority was football.
While outside expectations for the Buffs are low, Johnson sees great potential, especially on defense.
“We have a lot of experience,” he said. “We don’t have as many young guys in the secondary, so I think that builds a lot of confidence. We’re getting after the quarterback a lot more, so we don’t have to put so much pressure on our DBS to guard for so long and cover for so long, so we’re definitely more confident in that aspect as well.”
CU is slated to open its season on Nov. 7 against UCLA at Folsom Field (5 p.m., TV: ESPN), and Johnson hopes the entire team can take Wilson’s philosophy of simply getting the job done.
“We have to go out there and set a tone, be physical and let them know what Colorado football is about,” he said. “We’ve got to set an example and let them know that we are no joke. We need to get rid of that stigma of Colorado’s weak. We’ve got to go set the tone and play ball.”
Running backs coach Darian Hagan is in his 16th season on the Colorado football staff.
Hagan adapts
Running backs coach Darian Hagan, who starred as an option quarterback with the Buffs from 19881991, is entering his 16th season on the CU staff. During that time, he’s worked in various roles for head coaches Gary Barnett, Dan Hawkins, John Embree, Mike Macintyre, Mel Tucker and, now, Karl Dorrell.
As a running backs coach, Hagan has worked for Hawkins, Macintyre, Tucker and Dorrell, and believes he’s come a long way as a coach.
“I think I’ve developed a pretty good sense of coaching the running backs,” Hagan said. “I’ve heard different things, different terminologies, different formations, different calls. I’ve been around for a while and I think that I can coach these guys up, I can talk the game. I can teach you the game and that’s what it’s all about.
“If you can teach the game, you can coach the game, but more importantly you’ve got to make sure that these guys understand what you’re trying to teach them. Once they retain (the lessons) and you watch them go out there and perform, I’ve done my job.”
Stacks showing power
One lesson Hagan has taught this month is to true freshman Jayle Stacks, a 5-foot-11, 230-pound running back from Cherry Creek High School.
“One day at practice, he kind of didn’t run like I want him to run and lower his pads and the guy got under him,” Hagan said. “I showed him a clip where the Houston Oilers, with Earl Campbell, they’re playing against the Rams and he lowered his head and … he knocked the safety back about 12 yards. I showed Jayle that and he’s been doing that ever since. He’s gonna be a good player, too.”
Hagan said Stacks is the type of big running back CU hasn’t had in a while.
“He’s a guy that he brings power and he makes guys want to get out of the way,” Hagan said. “Guys don’t want to tackle him.”
Notable
CU had meetings and a walkthrough on Thursday, but not a full practice. Beginning Friday, the Buffs have seven more full practices before the opener. … Tuesday is an NCAAmandated day off for all Division I student-athletes so they can participate in Election Day.