Scouting report
Buffaloes scouting report
Head coach: Karl Dorrell, 2nd season (5-2; 40-29 career)
2021 Record: 1-0
Last week: Beat Northern Colorado, 35-7, at home
5 Players to Watch LB Robert Barnes, Sr.: Transfer from Oklahoma had a very good offseason, but missed the opener with an injury. He’s slated to make his debut against the Aggies.
RB Jarek Broussard, So.: CU’S best offensive weapon, he got off to a good start last week (94 rushing yards, 1
TD). It will be important that he has a good day against the Aggies.
S Isaiah Lewis, Jr.: Lewis’ experience and leadership in the back of the defense will be important, as will his ability to help the Buffs create turnovers.
DL Jalen Sami, So.: The Buffs have to stop the run and Sami is one of the best run stoppers on the team. He had a great opener and needs to be great again.
WR La’vontae Shenault, Fr.: If the Buffs are to have success throwing the ball, it’s a good bet that Shenault will play a key role. He’s had more catches (19) than any other CU player over the last six regular season games.
CU offense: At least until quarterback Brendon Lewis gets settled in, the Buffs will lean on their talented group of running backs. Last week, Jarek Broussard ran for 94 yards, Ashaad Clayton had 51, Alex Fontenot 40 and Deion Smith 32 – and all four got in the end zone. Lewis added 44 yards on the ground. While the run game might be the backbone of the offense, Lewis will likely be asked to do more in the passing game. He threw just 15 passes last week, but he’s got plenty of weapons in the tight end/receiver group to turn to – if the offensive line gives him enough time.
CU defense: The Buffs did well in the opener, shutting down the run and limiting the damage in the air. This week is a big step up for the defense, especially against the A&M run game. The Buffs do have a good front seven, however, and that group was bolstered by the return of linebacker Robert Barnes from injury this week. Holding its own at the line of scrimmage will be essential for CU. Linebackers Nate
Landman and Carson Wells, along with linemen Terrance Lang, Na’im Rodman and Jalen Sami will be counted on to step up.
CU special teams: Freshman kicker Cole Becker made his debut last week and was perfect on extra points (5-for-5) and kicked off well. He missed his only field goal attempt, but that was from 53 yards out. He was nearly perfect in camp so the Buffs are likely to trust him with kicks inside 50 yards. Punter Josh Watts finished strong in 2020 and had a solid opener last week. In the return game, Brenden Rice (kickoff) and Dimitri Stanley (punt) both had big returns last week. Colorado keys to victory Win the line of scrimmage: If not win the line of scrimmage, the Buffs need to at least hold their own and not get pushed around up front. CU ran for 281 yards last week. A&M gave up 226 rushing yards to Kent State, but ranked second nationally against the run in 2020 and returns most of the defense. On the other side of the ball, the Buffs have to figure out how to slow down one of the best running back duos in the country.
Get Lewis going: While the run game is important, the Buffs need to see some growth out of freshman quarterback Brendon Lewis. He’s got exceptional talent and played well last week, but wasn’t asked to do much. His ability to make plays in the passing game could be essential to beating the Aggies.
Clean it up: Head coach Karl Dorrell wasn’t pleased with 12 penalties last week. UNC took advantage of a
Buffs notables
• CU has 23 players on the roster from Texas, including quarterback Brendon Lewis; running backs Jarek Broussard, Alex Fontenot and Deion Smith; receiver La’vontae Shenault; defensive backs Christian Gonzalez and Chris Miller; and linebacker Robert Barnes.
• Ralphie VI, the 15-month old buffalo who made her debut as CU’S mascot last week, will not be at the game Saturday in Denver.
According to CU’S game day information, Ralphie program manager Taylor Stratton was pleased with Ralphie VI’S first runs of her career but does not want to change up her normal running pattern this early in training. CU plans to have Ralphie VI run on Sept. 18 when the Buffs play Minnesota.
• Fontenot and Broussard are both approaching the 1,000-yard mark in rushing yards for their careers. Fontenot has rushed for 957 yards, while Broussard is at 907.
• The Buffs’ last win against a top-5 team came on Sept. 29, 2007, against
No. 3 Oklahoma, 27-24, at Folsom Field in Boulder. That was also the last win against a top-10 team. CU has lost its last seven games against top-5 opponents and its last 14 against top-10 foes.
• Since 2013, CU is 20-4 in regular season nonconference games. This is just the fourth nonconference game against a
Power 5 school in that time, however. In the other Power 5 games, CU beat Nebraska twice and lost at Michigan.
• Cornerback Mekhi Blackmon, receiver Jaylon Jackson, linebacker Nate Landman and tight end Brady Russell were named captains for this game.
Aggies scouting report
Head coach: Jimbo Fisher, 4th season (27-10; 110-33 career)
2021 Record: 1-0
Last week: Beat Kent State, 41-10, at home
5 Players to Watch DL Demarvin Leal, Jr.: A preseason All-american, he will move around on the line. Last year, he had 37 tackles, 2.5 sacks, eight hurries and an interception. He had five tackles and a sack last week.
S Leon O’neal Jr., Sr.: Picked off two passes last week, returning one for a touchdown. Last year, he had 48 tackles, two interceptions and a pair of tackles for loss.
WR Ainias Smith, Jr.: He’s played running back and receiver for the Aggies. While he’s the leading receiver, he’s also had 52 carries for 309 yards since the start of last year. He also returns punts.
RB Isaiah Spiller, Jr.: One of the top running backs in the country, he’s already over 2,000 career rushing yards (2,095 yards) and recorded his 11th career 100-yard game last week.
TE Jalen Wydermyer, Jr.: Arguably the best tight end in the country, he’s a favorite target in the passing game. Since the start of 2020, he has 50 catches for 542 yards and six touchdowns.
Texas A&M offense: Despite losing veteran star quarterback Kellen Mond to the NFL, the Aggies are loaded with weapons. Isaiah Spiller and Devon Achane might be the best running back duo in the country and Jalen Wydermyer is considered by many as the best tight end in the nation. Ainias Smith is among the top all-purpose players. The key is the play of freshman quarterback Haynes King. He threw three interceptions in his starting debut last week, keeping Kent State in the game for a while. He’s a talented, dual-threat, however, who was a four-star recruit in 2020 and he can be a difference maker this week.
Texas A&M defense: Nine starters are back from a defense that ranked No. 9 in the country in yards allowed (317.3) and 28th in points allowed (21.7) in 2020. The Aggies’ strength is against the run, as they ranked second in the country last year in yards allowed (92.0). That didn’t show up against Kent State, which gained 226 yards on the ground, but the Aggies are stout up front. The secondary has five returning starters, led by senior corner Myles Jones and senior safety Leon O’neal, Jr.
Texas A&M special teams: Senior Seth Small is in his fourth season as the Aggies’ kicker and he’s a good one, hitting 77.3 percent of his career field goals (51-for-66), including 13-for-15 since the start of last year. He’s also 132-of133 on extra points. Sophomore Nik Constantinou didn’t need to punt last week, but in 2020, he averaged 38.9 yards and lasted 13 of 36 punts inside the 20. Ainias Smith is a dangerous returner.