Buffs look ahead to spring practice
A look at the projected 2021 scholarship list for CU
Tuesday marked the one-year Anniversar y of the day that Karl Dorrell was introduced As the head football COACH At Colorado.
It Also marked the onemonth mark Before Dorrell And the Buffaloes return to the practice field. CU is scheduled to star t spring practices on MARCH 29, with A spring game slated for April 30.
At this point, the Buf fs, Coming of f A 4-2 season, have their spring roster set. With the 2021 recruiting Class Complete And movement in And out of the transfer por tal slowing down, the fall roster is taking shape, As well. CU Currently has 91 scholarship players projected for the fall And CAN have 88 in the fall, so some post-spring Attrition is expected.
Although there Could Be some players leave or others
brought in between now and the fall, here’s a look at the projected scholarship roster for the 2021 season.
Quarterbacks
Players (4): Sam Noyer, Sr.; JT Shrout, So.; Brendon Lewis, Fr.; Drew Carter, Fr.
Analysis: Noyer, who started all six games last year, had shoulder surgery and isn’t likely to participate in spring drills. Shrout, a transfer from Tennessee, will look to compete with Lewis and Carter – an incoming freshman who enrolled in Januar y – this spring. Although Noyer is the returning starter, the job is up for grabs this offseason.
Running backs
Players (6): Alex Fontenot, Jr.; Jarek Broussard, So.; Joe Davis, So.; Deion Smith, So.; Ashaad Clayton, Fr.; Jayle Stacks, Fr.
Analysis: Broussard is coming off a great season in which he was named Pac-12 of fensive player of the year, while the Buf fs are expecting Fontenot to be ready to go. The 2019 leading rusher missed this past season with an injur y. Clayton, a 4-star recruit last year, is aiming for a bigger role, as well. Davis and Stacks played backup roles last year and will compete for more playing time. Smith missed the season with a knee injur y and it’s unknown if he’ll par ticipate in spring.
Receivers
Players (11): Daniel Arias, Jr.; Maurice Bell, Jr.; Jaylon Jackson, Jr.; Dimitri Stanley, So.; Vontae Shenault, R-FR.; Chris Carpenter, Fr.; Montana Lemonious-craig, Fr.; Keith Miller III, Fr.; Brenden Rice, Fr.; Chase Penr y, Fr.; Ty Robinson, Fr.
Analysis: Stanley and Shenault led the team in receiving last year and they headline a talented group. Rice had some explosive moments, as well, but there are several players in this group capable of producing. Competition all of fseason will be intense. Penr y and Robinson are incoming freshmen who will arrive in summer.
Tight ends
Players (7): Jared Poplawski, Jr.; Brady Russell, Jr.; Luke Stillwell, So.; Alec Pell, R-FR.; Caleb Fauria, Fr.; Louis Passarello, Fr.; Erik Olsen, Fr.
Analysis: Russell returns after missing all but four plays of the last five games. He’s one of the better tight ends in the Pac-12 when healthy. The rest of the group is talented, but unproven, so there is plenty of competition for playing time. Walk-ons, including senior Matt L ynch, are in the mix for playing time, as well. Olsen joined the team in Januar y after graduating high school early.
Offensive linemen
Players (16): Kar y Kutsch, Sr.; Chance L ytle, Jr.; Colby Pursell, Jr.; Frank Fillip, So.; Josh Jynes, So.; Kanan Ray, So.; Casey Roddick, So.; Austin Johnson, R-FR.; Nikko Pohahau, R-FR.; Valentin Senn, R-FR.; Jake Wiley, R-FR.; Gerad Christian-lichtenhan, Fr.; Carson Lee, Fr.; Jake Wray, Fr.; Edgar Amaya, Fr.; Jackson Anderson, Fr.
Analysis: Kutsch, Pursell, Roddick and Fillip return as full-time starters from last year, but there will be a lot of competition for their spots. L ytle, Ray and Jynes all got significant playing time last year, as well, while a young group, led by Johnson and Lee, will get in the mix, too. Amaya and Anderson are incoming freshmen who will arrive in summer.
Defensive linemen
Players (13): Jeremiah Doss, Jr.; Justin Jackson, Jr.; Janaz Jordan, Jr.; Terrance Lang, Jr.; Na’im Rodman, So.; Jalen Sami, So.; Austin Williams, So.; Antonio Alfano, R-FR.; Lloyd Murray Jr., R-FR.; Jayden Simon, R-FR.; Allan Baugh, Fr.; Tyas Martin, Fr.; Ryan Williams, Fr.
Analysis: This group lost its leader in Mustafa Johnson, who declared for the NFL Draft, but there’s still some good talent here. Lang is a returning starter at end, while Sami and Jordan both have star ting experience at nose tackle. Rodman, Doss and Murray all played as reser ves last year. Alfano’s status for spring and the season is uncer tain as he continues to get a handle on epilepsy, but he would be a great addition to the group. Baugh, Martin and Williams will arrive in summer.
Outside linebackers
Players (8): Rober t Barnes, Jr.; Jamar Montgomer y, Jr.; Guy Thomas, Jr.; Carson Wells, Jr.; Joshka Gustav, R-FR.; Devin Grant, Fr.; Alvin Williams, Fr.; Zion Magalei, Fr.
Analysis: Wells returns after a sensational season in which he led the countr y in tackles for loss per game. He’s the clear leader of this group, but plenty of others will battle for playing time. Barnes is a graduate transfer from Oklahoma who adds some experience. Montgomer y, Thomas and Gustav all played in reser ve roles last season. Grant and Williams are back for their second year in the program. Magalei is a freshman who will arrive in the summer.
Inside linebackers
Players (9): Nate Landman, Sr.; Chase Newman, Jr.; Quinn Perry, Jr.; Jonathan Van Diest, Jr.; Jack Lamb, So.; Ray Robinson, So.; Mar vin Ham II, R-FR.; Mister Williams, Fr.; Zephaniah Maea, Fr.
Analysis: Landman is the star of this group, but he’s recovering from a ruptured Achilles’ tendon and won’t participate in spring. The Buffs are hopeful he will return to pre-injury form in the fall. Van Diest has star ting experience and will battle for a starting spot. Perr y has some experience, too, while the Buf fs like the potential of Ham and Williams. Maea arrived in Januar y and will compete this spring. Lamb, a transfer from Notre Dame, will get to Boulder in the summer and look to compete for a starting role, as well.
Cornerbacks
Players (8): Mekhi Blackmon, Jr.; Nigel Bethel, So.; Tarik Luckett, So.; D.J. Oats, R-FR.; Christian Gonzalez, Fr.; Kaylin Moore, Fr.; Nikko Reed, Fr.; Tyrin Taylor, Fr.
Analysis: Blackmon had a really good season in the fall, and Gonzalez flashed his potential as a freshman starter. They are the projected star ters, but Bethel got some valuable experience, as well. Taylor enrolled in Januar y and will join Luckett and Oats in competing this spring. Moore and Reed are slated to arrive in the summer.
Safeties
Players (7): Isaiah Lewis, Jr.; Chris Miller, Jr.; Mark Perry, So.; Jaylen Striker, So.; Trustin Oliver, R-FR.; Toren Pittman, Fr.; Trevor Woods, Fr.
Analysis: This has the potential to be a deep group. Lewis is coming off a great season in his first year as a starter, while Perry was a full-time starter with potential to take his game up a couple levels. Miller was slated to star t before an injur y derailed his season. Oliver arrived in Januar y as a junior college transfer and he could compete for a starting role right away. Pittman and Striker will be in competition for playing time, as well. Woods is set to arrive this summer.
Kickers/punters
Players (2): Josh Watts, Jr.; Cole Becker, Fr.
Analysis: Watts returns for his second year as the Buf fs’ punter. He got better as the year went along and figures to continue in the starting role. Becker is set to arrive this summer as a freshman kicker. He will tr y to unseat walk-on Evan Price, who became the star ting kicker last year and made six of eight field goals and all 16 of his extra points.