Weaver aims to make most of lone season with CU
From afar this spring, Xavier Weaver kept hearing about Jimmy Horn Jr. shining with the Colorado football team in practices.
As he finished up his time at South Florida, Weaver would smile when he’d hear about his friend’s success and he couldn’t wait to join him in Boulder.
“I knew my time was coming,” said Weaver, who played with Horn at South Florida. “I was happy to see him, seeing what I saw at USF transfer over to here and just killing it. It was a blessing to see that.”
Now, Weaver is doing the same thing with the Buffaloes.
Colorado opens its season on Sept. 2 at TCU (10 a.m. MT, Fox) and Weaver is entrenched as one of the Buffs’ top receivers, alongside Horn and others.
First-year CU head coach Deion Sanders overhauled the entire roster, but particularly at receiver, where all 12 scholarship players in that room — as well as three of the six walk-ons — are new to the team.
Weaver is the most experienced and proven of the bunch after catching 116 passes for 1,735 yards and eight touchdowns during his four seasons at USF. He led the Bulls in receiving last year with 53 catches for 718 yards and six touchdowns (Horn was second in all three categories), while earning second-team all-conference honors.
With all players from the 2020 season being granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Weaver jumped at the chance to join Horn in Boulder to play for Sanders.
“Opportunity,” he said when asked why he chose CU. “I can’t see why somebody wouldn’t want to come here. Coach Prime is a prime example. She
deur (Sanders) throwing the ball, you know he’s gonna throw the ball, so it’s set up perfectly.”
An Orlando native who has spent his life in the Sunshine State, Weaver has been all smiles since getting to Boulder.
“It’s been definitely exciting,” he said. “It’s an opportunity I can’t even imagine and I probably didn’t think was gonna happen, but it’s definitely a blessing and I’m ready to work.”
At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, Weaver has a solid frame and he has exceptional speed. That combination has made him one of Shedeur Sanders’ favorite targets this month in preseason practices.
“He’s gonna have a big year,” Shedeur said earlier this month.
Weaver’s experience and work ethic has been evident and it’s made a difference in the entire room, according to offensive coordinator Sean Lewis and receivers coach Brett Bartolone.
“He’s got every tool to be an NFL receiver and do it at a high level,” Bartolone said. “He’s a guy who obviously I look at to lead the group. He leads by example, more so than his voice, but I think younger guys see a guy like him and the way he approaches the game, the way he competes, learns and works. He’s just a pleasure to have and coach.”
While Weaver is setting an example for others, he’s also improving his craft and believes he’s better after just a couple of months at CU.
“My mental has been getting better. Route running,” he said. “I’ve been running my routes better, my tempo, stuff like that. My mentality is there. I know I’ve got one more year left. I’m trying to train and play like a pro.”
Weaver has also been grateful to compete with a talented group of receivers that push him every day. He might have led USF in receiving last year, but knows there are several players who could lead the Buffs in receiving this season.
In addition to Weaver and Horn, the Buffs brought in senior Javon Antonio, several other transfers and a talented crop of freshmen. The dynamic Travis Hunter, who will start at cornerback and receiver, could be the best of the group.