SB Nation - Lynn Katoa

Wednesday Buff Bites - Former Buff LB Lynn Katoa In Trouble Again

irish1611 — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:36:34 -0000

Arrest warrant issued for former CU-Boulder linebacker Lynn Katoa - Colorado Daily
Former Buff Lynn Katoa continues to have problems with the law:

A judge issued an arrest warrant for former Buffs linebacker Lynn Katoa this morning after the once-promising University of Colorado football prospect failed to appear in court for a hearing. Katoa, 20, was scheduled for a sentence revocation hearing Wednesday morning after prosecutors alleged that he violated the terms of his three-year deferred sentence stemming from a 2008 incident in which he struck a man in the head with a rock at an off-campus party in Boulder. They claim Katoa has not undergone substance abuse monitoring and treatment since the beginning of the year -- violating the conditions of his sentence. Boulder District Judge D.D. Mallard set bond for Katoa at $10,000.

Just too bad that all of that talent is going to waste. Hopefully, Katoa can right the ship and get things figured out in his life.

Woelk: A little early for doomsday scenarios - Boulder Daily Camera
Neill Woelk wonders if maybe we should give the Buffs a second chance this season.

Offense seeks fast fix - Longmont Times

Coach Kiesau talks about some of the offensive deficiencies from week one. First he starts off by saying they had to abandon the run because they were down 17 points. Then he breaks the "no excuses" rule for 2009 by saying his team is still very young and finally, apparently Scotty McKnight's absence in the game made it difficult for coach Kiesau to get the plays to Cody Hawkins during the game. I guess since Scotty McKnight was out of the game, Kiesau needed to give special instructions to his replacement. Boy, I hope McKnight doesn't need a breather ever in a game again because the Buffs offense can't properly function without him in there. Glad we have practice!

more after the jump...

Charlie Weis, NBC contract among reasons fans hate Notre Dame - Stewart Mandel - SI.com
Stewart Mandel explores an avenue we haven't discussed very much. Could CSU actually just be really good?

Since you like to try your hand at prognosticating -- when will Al Groh be fired? Will he make it to the end of the season, or will UVA go all Clemson/Tommy Bowden on him? -- David, Washington D.C. Ah yes, the Week 1 hot seat. With the obvious exception of Oregon (and possibly Illinois), no one delivered a more discouraging opening-week performance than Colorado. Hawkins pledged this would be the year the Buffs turned the corner, but they seem plagued by the same things as last year -- shoddy quarterbacking, lack of playmakers and an offensive line that got physically dominated. As bad as it looked, however, I'm not giving up on Colorado just yet. For one thing, Colorado State may turn out to be pretty darn good. Steve Fairchild did a heck of a job in his first season, improving the Rams from 3-9 to 7-6, capped by a bowl win over Fresno State. Last season, Colorado State lost by less than a touchdown to both TCU and BYU. You could be looking at a Mountain West contender, in which case the Buffs' loss might not seem so incriminating down the road.

Scout.com: Scout Watch: Colorado at Toledo
Scout.com has confirmed that a few NFL scouts will be at this Friday's matchup. They think Toledo safety Barry Church is the main prize.

Scout.com has confirmed that representatives from the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be in Toledo, Ohio on Friday night to scout the Colorado Buffaloes and Toledo Rockets. There’s only one player in this game that’s highly regarded at his position and that’s Toledo safety Barry Church. At 6-foot-1, 219 pounds, Church has transformed his game from a playmaker to a steady defender who’s solid against the run. He’s an intelligent player that positions himself to consistently make plays and gives maximum effort down after down. He’s disciplined in his approach and keeps the action in front of him. He shows good awareness in the secondary, provides help over the top in coverage and has the physical mentality to clear the opposition out of the play cleanly. He’s an outstanding leader and a player that others look up to.

Other players of interest to the NFL scouts according to the article are Toledo QB Aaron Opelt, WR Stephen Williams and RB DaJaune Collins. The article names TE Riar Geer, OT Nate Solder and LB Jeff Smart for the Buffs. You have to think CB Jimmy Smith and OL Ryan Miller will get some looks as well.

CU’s Kiesau regrets fourth-down call : All Things Colorado Sports Colorado
"I wish I would have called a different play," Kiesau said. "I even said it right when I did it, I should have called something else."

CU tailback Scott wants more carries - The Denver Post
We've already discussed this article ad nauseum but once again, GIVE DARRELL THE BALL! "After meetings (Monday) it was like, 'We're going to try to work you in,' " Scott said. "That kind of reassured me on everything. (Getting carries) is what I was recruited for. We'll see on Friday. There's really not much I can say right now."

Markques Simas Would Not Have Played Against CSU Due to Injury - The Longmont Times-Call

Markques Simas, who’s suspended for Friday but also suffering from a leg injury that Cody Hawkins said would have kept him out Sunday, is expected to be OK for Wyoming on Sept. 15.

Newsradio 850 KOA - Toledo vs. Colorado Preview
Mark Johnson and Andy Lindahl preview the CU-Toledo Matchup

Offensive Guard, Devin Head, the Latest Player Off the Team

irish1611 — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:07:31 -0000

OG Devin Head will not be on the team in 2009.

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The University of Colorado today announced scheduling news, coaching changes and personnel moves that cleared many rumors and discussions up; sort of. The main news centered around the three scholarship players leaving the program in Sr. G Devin Head, Jr. WR Josh Smith and RFr TE Ryan Wallace. The departure of Josh Smith and Ryan Wallace was confirmed, two days after the Saturday night release that caused a shock through the Buff faithful. Supposedly Smith is only leaving to pursue his music interests and Ryan Wallace is leaving to be closer to home in Kentucky. Read Saturday's post for thoughts on all of this.

The new player departing the team is senior guard Devin Head due to being academically ineligible. Head participated in 663 plays in 11 total games last season and started 17 games over his career. Head was suspended for the Eastern Washington game in '08 for an off the field incident. He would have been in a battle with at least five players for the remaining left guard spot in 2009 judging by the results of spring ball. Head was the only returning senior on the offensive line and was one of the few remaining Gary Barnett recruits from 2005.

Devin Head and Josh Smith are both good players, both had starting roles on this team but in regards to Head, he is part of an offensive line unit that is deep. What hurts most about Head is he was a senior, had experience and may have been a solidifying guy in the locker room. With the departure of Head, their are now only three seniors who will probably play significant roles in the 2009 offense: TE Patrick DeVenny, TE Riar Geer and FB Jake Behrens.

As for Smith, different story. He is a playmaker and is part of a unit that is thin. Regardless of his wide receiver production in years past, he was one of the strongest playmakers on the team and figured to play a key role if the Buffs were going to make the jump in 2009. Not saying the Buffs won’t win without Smith but his maturation and growth would have helped immensely this upcoming year all things considered.

One thing that should not be forgotten is how Head's departure will affect the Buffs APR academic progress. Since he left ineligible, that will have a negative impact on the NCAA sanctioned score. Coupled with the release of LB Lynn Katoa (also leaving ineligible), it seems the Buffs will lose some scholarships next year. We have talked about this a lot on this site but if this is the case and sanctions are on the horizon, hopefully the Buffs are proactive and self-impose penalties this year since the team is 7 scholarship players short of 85 by my count. I count 36 scholarship players on offense, 37 on defense including incoming freshmen and 5 special teamers. I will publish my list tomorrow.

The departure of FB Matt Burgner (walkon) also means the Buffs will have not have a fullback on the roster in 2010, causing concern if the Buffs use a two back set for the foreseeable future. Alex Wood of Steamboat Springs, a 2009 walkon, might be a good option for this position but he is currently listed as a tight end, another position that the Buffs will be extremely thin at after the 2009 season. So. Ryan Deehan and true freshman DeVaughn Thornton will be the only two scholarship players on the roster in 2010 that are currently known about.

Hopefully this is the end of the line for personnel moves off the current roster.

Onto the coaching moves. Dan Hawkins announced he would be coaching the wide receivers, an extremely important task considering the current situation. Hawkins will be in charge of getting Andre Simmons, Terdema Ussery and Jarrod Darden, all newcomers, ready to play immediately when they first step on the Colorado campus. He will also have the task of motivating Markques Simas to be a All Big 12 player for the Buffs in 2009. He also announced that Ashley Ambrose will be taking over the wide receiver coaching responsibilities in 2010, something that was important to state for recruiting purposes. Ambrose will be learning on the job this year as he just recently joined the Colorado staff last year. Dan Hawkins also brought on his mentor, 68 year old Bob Foster, to coach the outside linebackers. Research will have to be done on Foster as I know little about him. Foster will only stay on staff for a year. It's always interesting in Buff land. Not every day do you hear the head coach will coach the wide receivers and he then hires a 68 year old mentor for one year.

As we wrote about earlier today, the first three games of the 2009 were scheduled. The Buffs will open up against Colorado State in Boulder ~~Saturday~~ Sunday, Sept 6th 5:00pm on FSN. Just five days later the Buffs will travel to Toledo, Ohio to play in a Friday night game at 7:00 pm on ESPN, leaving the Buffs very little time to recover from their first game and prepare for Toledo (and travel to Toledo, a MAC school. Bad scheduling all around here). Colorado will then host Wyoming Saturday, Sept 19 1:30 pm. It does not look to be televised.

WR Josh Smith and TE Ryan Wallance Leaving Colorado

irish1611 — Sun, 31 May 2009 04:35:37 -0000

Colorado WR/KR Josh Smith - picture by Phil Coale

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All I can really say is "wow." I am in disbelief. Thanks to our loyal reader mam2jd, most of you have read about the decision of WR Josh Smith and TE Ryan Wallace to leave the football program. Wallace, the 6'5" 235 pound redshirt freshman, decided to go his separate way because he was homesick and wanted to be closer to his family in Kentucky. Wallace was currently fifth on the depth chart but three seniors were in front of him so he was in line to have a good chance at seeing time in two years as a sophomore. He never played a down for the Buffs so it is hard to judge the impact he would have had. It's definitely a loss of a player with great size but we never learned what we had on the field.

As for Josh Smith, the junior all purpose player, we saw glimpses and imagined greatness. That ability to achieve new heights on the offensive side of the ball will not be realized with the Buffs. His own self comparisons to former Missouri WR Jeremy Maclin will be left incomplete. Smith has decided to leave Boulder and pursue a music degree in California or Arizona that the University of Colorado does not offer. He was honorable mention All Big 12 last year for his special teams work, something that was indeed special. No matter what you thought of Smith here are the facts: last year he was 9th in the nation in all purpose yards with 1,987. Yes, the 2008 sophomore fumbled, he dropped a few touchdowns, was injured and made some poor judgment plays but losing a guy who contributed 165 yards a game is never a good thing. Couple that with now only two scholarship receivers on the roster in Scotty McKnight and Markques Simas, the situation is now bordering ridiculous. I hope Terdema Ussery and Jarrod Darden, both true freshman who might be at prom or graduating from high school right now, are ready to play.

Smith was most definitely a polarizing figure for the Buffs. I am not going to lie, I loved watching Smith play and figured he might be the type that had a revelation one day & became a complete player. There will always be that question whether Smith really wanted or had the desire to become that complete player. Either way, he won't be competing on Folsom Field. I am shocked. Flat out, he was a playmaker, you can't deny that and the Buffs haven't shown they have a lot of those. He was not a great wide receiver yet but he had the potential to be. If the Buffs had four or five receivers above Smith on the depth chart, this may not be as big of a deal as most are making it but because of the current depth at wideout, it is.

Moving on now and assessing the situation objectively, a few things come to mind right away:

1) I find it hard to believe that pursuing a music career is the only reason for a transfer of this magnitude. If your an outsider looking in at the Colorado Buffaloes, you once again start to wonder what is considered the "normal attrition" that goes on within a program or if their is a deeper issue? Perception effects recruiting, donor gifts, season ticket buyers, etc.

2) This was my first thought when I heard of the news and what guys like Tim Griffin of ESPN will ponder is in regards to the future of RB Darrell Scott and even if he does stay at Colorado, how will this impact his football career at Colorado? A big reason Scott came to Colorado was his uncle Josh Smith and although Kyle Ringo said in his column that this shouldn't have an impact on Scott's status, he is a 19 year old young man who lost his best friend/family member in school. It might not be a big deal now but what about when school starts? Either way, this isn't good for what needs to be our best player in '09. I wouldn't worry about this one too much yet as it might be the first overreaction on this story but a year from now, what if the Buffs don't turn it around to a satisfactory level? What will be the first question most will ask?

You just have to hope their isn't more to the story on this one.

3) Special teams, obviously, takes an immediate hit. Smith had 1,276 yards on kick returns, second in the nation last season. The Buffs already have major questions in every other facet of special teams play, something that probably cost them or severely impacted the results of a game or two last year. The Buffs won't get to 10, 9, 8 or even 7 wins if this part of team doesn't improve.

4) What do the Buffs do now about wide receiver? Probably nothing can be done this summer from an outside perspective. Smith was a starting receiver on the most current depth chart. Kendrick Celestine is supposedly ineligible from his return to the program so he looks to be out of the question. Right now, the Buffs have one receiver who has ever caught a pass in a division one football game. ONE. I don't think bringing in another player right now is going to do anything other than add depth with an athlete that might not be "scholarship worthy." There is pretty much nothing that the staff can do other than hope JUCO transfer Andre Simmons (still not completely qualified for admission), Darden, Ussery, Simas, Jason Espinoza and even Ryan Maxwell are ready to be superior receivers. It was something Colorado was going to have to deal with anyway but this news magnifies it. Can anything else possibly happen to the receiver position?

5) How does all of this effect the team? This was supposed to be the no excuses campaign. The way the players and coaches were talking, this was the "all or nothing" year. The year the turn around takes place. Gone is LB Lynn Katoa, WR Chance Blackmon, Wallace and Smith. Players like S Ray Polk, LB Jon Major, QB Tyler Hansen, DL Curtis Cunningham, OL Blake Behrens, OG Max Tuioti-Mariner are a few who were out or injured this spring. You have two coaches leave the program in Jeff Grimes and Mark Helfrich. Most are happy with the replacements but still, its a change, its a rocking of the boat, something we keep seeing with this program. Last year it was all about injuries and off-the-field issues. I wonder what the moral will be like in the fall time?

I find myself asking what's next? I didn't see this one coming. I wish Josh Smith and Ryan Wallace the best of luck in their future endeavors, wherever they may be. I enjoyed watching Smith with the football in his hands.

Just shocked...I guess I shouldn't be anymore especially with this hidden statement in Ringo's column:

The athletic department has planned several announcements concerning the football program for Monday. The updates will include the status of Hawkins' efforts to fill his coaching staff in the wake of Mark Helfrich's departure to Oregon and player personnel changes, including Smith and Wallace.

That including word might not mean this is over...stay tuned.

Spring Recap - Linebackers

irish1611 — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:34:35 -0000

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Pre-Spring Thoughts:

Coming into spring ball, the Buffs only had to replace one linebacker in Brad Jones. Not an easy task considering Jones was the only Buff selected in the 2009 NFL draft but most importantly, Jones was the Buffs only consistent pass rusher from a year ago. Couple that with an inexperienced defensive line, many think getting to the opposition's quarterback will be the main reason the Buffs won't be able to take the next step and win the Big 12 North. Jones was 5^th in tackles from a year ago with 78 total (3^rd among the linebackers), lead the team in sacks (7), TFL (7) and quarterback pressures (14).

Although Jones the pass rusher will be hard to replace, the initial thought going into camp was the linebacker positions would be one of the deepest on the team with a healthy mix of experience and youth. The experienced portion begins with returning starters; MLB Jeff Smart and OLB Shaun Mohler, who finished first and second, respectively, in total tackles in 2008. Mohler started the year as a sub but quickly worked his way into the starting lineup and was selected Honorable Mention in the Big 12 by the AP. Smart was named Second Team All-Big 12 by the AP in '08, as he led the Buffs with 118 tackles, good for fourth in the Big 12. Most Buff fans would have probably slotted these two players in the starting linebacker spot for 2009 and been perfectly content.

Next comes an interesting trio of veterans in B.J. Beatty, Michael Sipili and Marcus Burton. BJ Beatty may be able to fill "the Brad Jones role" in 2009 as he was often a rush end last year. Beatty's propensity to make plays and stand out makes him a player that will be hard to keep off the field. He was slowed by injury at the beginning of 2008 but with him healthy, he was expected to be a leading candidate for a starting spot this spring. Sipili and Burton were sort of unknowns coming into spring. They are bigger, "Levon Kirkland" style linebackers. Many thought Sipili might be the next great linebacker at Colorado but with off the field problems and injuries, Sipili never hit full stride in '08. With Mohler and Smart both gone in 2010, Sipili, along with Beatty, will be in a position to play a big role in the defense for the next two years if he can show consistency. Same desire to see consistency would also describe senior MLB Marcus Burton. You look at this guy from the sideline and you see a big athlete who passes the eye test. He wasn't really a factor in 2008 and for the most part, thought we would have to wait and see after spring as to what role he will play in '09. Most figured that Beatty would emerge as the Brad Jones replacement and the starting three linebackers would be set with a few of the younger guys challenging for time.

Then comes the youth and the guys that get people excited about the future of Buff linebacking: Jon Major, Doug Rippy and Lynn Katoa. All three redshirted last year with Major and Katoa being highly touted recruits and Rippy having the "most ready college body" of the trio. Major's freshman campaign was cut short by a torn ACL in fall camp while Lynn Katoa ran into trouble off-the-field and in the classroom. We knew going into camp that Major was going to be very limited if not out this spring as he was still recovering from the ACL injury. As for Lynn, rumors were swirling before camp, whether he would ever play a down for the Buffs. He was once again held out of spring practice for academic reasons and at one time, Natalie Meisler of the Denver Post had a story that LB coach Brian Cabral confirmed Katoa wouldn't return to the team. Katoa is still on the roster and for good reason. Other than being a talent, one theory is that the Buffs need Katoa to stay with the program to avoid hurting their APR score, an NCAA metric that tracks a program's academic achievement. The Buffs are flirting with running into NCAA sanctions which could cost them as many as five scholarships in the upcoming year or two. Katoa's potential departure would almost make that sanction a certainty. Who knows what the real story is but the team has even more incentive to get him on. Most of the optimism about the 2008 linebacker class was subdued as only Doug Rippy would be able to fully showcase his talent this spring.

As for the scheme, it was reasonable to think that the Buffs might implement a 3 - 4 this season considering the depth at linebacker and the unknown of the down linemen. In principle, this is the right direction but last year when the Buffs brought in an extra linebacker or defensive back, the defensive staff would rarely bring extra pressure from the back eight. Many remember Todd Reesing running around in the pocket waiting for options to open up down field. Along with the question of who will be the other one or two starters, the aggressiveness of this unit and the scheme Ron Collins implements was another pressing issue.

Post Spring Thoughts:

Answering the second question first, Ron Collins had this statement in the Boulder Daily Camera early in spring with my commentary:

Two things that we like to hear around here regarding the defense is the combination of "3-4" and "aggressive." Kyle Ringo of the BDC notes that defensive coordinator Ron Collins is all about getting his 11 best players on the field and if that means playing the 3-4 exclusively, so be it. Fine with me as long as the word "aggressive" is attached to it.

The defense was aggressive and it was multiple from what I saw in practice. He was not kidding about playing the best 11. The sets ranged from 3 - 4, 4 - 3, 3 - 3 - 5 with varying blitz packages that saw players like S Patrick Mahnke and S Tyler Sandersfield lining up close to line or moving to a rover spot. I did like the look of the 3 - 4, considering who was where and how they were playing it this spring. If Collins sticks to this aggressive, multiple defense, the Buffs might be able to compensate for a defensive line that has yet to prove much at the college level but the learning curve will be steep since the Buffs have not committed entirely to it as of yet. It was clear this spring that Collins recognized the strength of this team is in the back eight with strong enough corner play to drastically change the defense from a base 4 - 3 a year ago to a more "attack the weakness of the offense" type set. Whether the aggressiveness is implemented in the fall or when it is 3^rd and 8 against CSU remains to be seen but right now, it looks good.

As for the personnel, it was a shocker this spring. Quite possibly the most impressive defender was senior Marcus Burton. At the first practice, I remember thinking to myself "I was right, the Buffs are going to move him to defensive line, he must have put on 10 - 15 pounds from last year and is too big/slow to play the inside." I was wrong. Burton quickly inserted himself at middle linebacker and on many occasions showed his ability to get sideline to sideline. Quietly, last year's starting middle linebacker and award winner, Jeff Smart, was battling for an outside position. Burton's size (6'0" 260) might be an early indication that the Buffs are closer and in a better personnel spot to implement the 3 - 4, although the depth chart is still showing the standard 4 - 3 look. Burton would be better suited to handle interior offensive lineman with his size.

Burton lead the team in total tackles 2 of the 3 scrimmages and ended spring ball as the Buffs most productive tackler:

Name	Tackles	TFL	Sacks
Marcus Burton	21	2	2
Michael Sipili	15	4	2
Jeff Smart	13	2	1
Shaun Mohler	11	1	1
B.J. Beatty	10	3	2
Zack Farley	7	2	1
Bryan Stengel	4	1	0
Doug Rippy	4	0	0
Guy Sergent	4	0	0
Brandon Gouin	2	0	0
Josh Hartigan	DNP	DNP	DNP
Jon Major	DNP	DNP	DNP

Spring stats hardly tell the story nor should they be considered the indicator for future success but Burton's play was very impressive this spring. Michael Sipili also had a strong spring, showing his ability to play behind the line of scrimmage, leading the team in tackles for loss with four. Sip was second in total scrimmage tackles this spring.

Ron Collins was noted saying good things about all the linebackers, including the two vets:

"The linebackers were running around pretty well today," Collins added. "The edge guys, B.J. (Beatty) and Doug (Rippy) came off the edge pretty well. I think Mike (Sipili) and Marcus (Burton) are both playing pretty well right now."

If the Buffs do go 3 - 4, the combination of Burton, Sipili and Smart will be a good trio to hold down the middle. Sipili did a great job this offseason, losing a noticeable amount of weight, helping his quickness. Burton and Sipili are also one year more mature and looks to be making a world of difference.

On the outside, four players were battling it out: Shaun Mohler, Doug Rippy, B.J. Beatty and Jeff Smart. You might throw Jon Major into that list (when healthy) and Smart out of it considering he might be switched back to middle. Both Mohler and Smart, two starters last year are going to have their hands full with Rippy and Beatty on the outside. Rippy, still very young and learning, didn't compile the stats but the amount of playing time he received was enough of an indication that the coaches like his size and athleticism. The growing pains will be there for the redshirt freshman but the talent is evident. Beatty is also still learning. He sat out a lot last year and now as a junior is getting a crash course in playing every down and being a more well rounded linebacker, not just a straight ahead player. He showed he could get in the backfield averaging just under a sack a scrimmage along with a total of three tackles for loss.

If I had to guess who would be the starters in a 4 - 3 day one, it looks like Marcus Burton in the middle, B.J. Beatty at one outside backer and to me, either Shaun Mohler or Doug Rippy. The trendy pick right now is Rippy but he is young and Mohler returns off a solid year last season. Any one of Jeff Smart, Michael Sipili and Jon Major trio would not be a surprise starter at all, especially if the 3 - 4 becomes a reality. The Buffs go seven, maybe eight deep at linebacker.

Injuries/Players Out:

Fr Lynn Katoa - academics/off the field incidents. Status unknown for 2009 and beyond.
Fr Jon Major - recovering from 2008 ACL tear. Should be full go by fall, giving Buff fans their first real look at the highly recruited 'backer.

Player(s) Who Emerged:

Hands down Marcus Burton and Michael Sipili. Most Buff fans would have been content with Shaun Mohler, Jeff Smart and B.J. Beatty starting in 2009. They would have been solid. With the emergence of Burton and Sipili (you can also throw in Rippy), competition for the starting spots is going to be heated the rest of the way with the potential of three new ones from last season. The way Burton played this spring, it will be hard to keep his big frame away from the middle of the field. The added depth will go along way in possibly making a move to a 3 - 4 and being more aggressive in the passing game. Plus the Buffs now have options.

Final Assessment:

This unit has all of the makings to be a top three linebacking corp in the Big 12 but I am not quite ready to commit to that due to the unknowns up front. A linebacker's best friend is penetration/clogs from the defensive linemen to keep blockers from getting to the second level. If no one up front can get attention, it could seriously diminish the production of the linebackers.

If they do get some help from the big guys in the trenches, they are top three in terms of talent especially if the Buffs get the same production from Burton & Sipili and Major progresses this fall. Couple that with a strong linebacker mind in coach Brian Cabral...it could be fun.

Spring Ball Position Preview: Linebackers

irish1611 — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:46:57 -0000

Welcome to the first position preview for the 2009 spring ball session. It is definitely an exciting time and I can't think of a better way to kick it off than to cover the linebackers. Words like high potential, depth, possible elite group in the Big 12 come to mind when I think of the guys in the middle of the defense. Coach Brian Cabral has got a core of players this year that he could mold into one of his better linebacker groups, something that is a serious statement when you think about the linebackers Colorado has had over the years. Below is a first look at the guys who will be in black and gold next year at the linebacker:

Roster:

Vitals					2008 Stats
No.	Name	Pos.	Wt.	Yr.	GP	Tackles	Sacks	TFL
45	Smart, Jeff	ILB	215	Sr.	12	118	1	1
47	Mohler, Shaun	LB	220	Sr.	12	97	0	4
10	Sipili, Michael	ILB	260	Jr.	7	19	0	0
59	Beatty, B.J.	OLB	220	Jr.	8	18	1	3
52	Stengel, Bryan	ILB	225	Sr.	9	13	0	0
54	Burton, Marcus	ILB	260	Sr.	10	8	0	0
55	Hartigan, Josh	OLB	220	So.	1	2	0	0
44	Gouin, Brandon	ILB	210	So.	0	0	0	0
58	Ahles, Tyler	ILB	245	So.	0	0	0	0
62	Goldberg, David	ILB	245	So.	0	0	0	0
31	Major, Jon	ILB	225	RFr.	Redshirt
49	Katoa, Lynn	ILB	220	RFr.	Redshirt
51	Rippy, Douglas	LB	235	RFr.	Redshirt
57	Sergent, Guy	LB	210	RFr.	Redshirt
	*Farley, Zackary	OLB	210	So.	Walk on
	*Toppa, Joe	LB	195	Fr.	Walk on
	Webb, Derrick	LB	210	Fr.	Incoming Freshman
	Nobriga, Liloa	LB	211	Fr.	Incoming Freshman

See the breakdown after the jump...

Overview:

Like I said above, there is a sense of excitement around this group. Are there questions? Of course, a few things need to happen before we get to realize all the fruits of this group but undoubtedly, the talent looks good on paper. Most people get excited for the three players who redshirted last year which was one of the best linebacker classes in the 2008 recruiting cycle. But don't forget about the veterans. CU returns their two leading tacklers from a year ago in Jeff Smart and Shaun Mohler. Smart was named to the second team All Big 12 by the AP last year as he led the Buffs with 118 tackles and was fourth in the Big 12. Many hope that Smart is dethroned this year from his seat in the middle due to a number of reasons (not a downhill player, missed tackles) but 118 tackles is 118 tackles. That production is hard to replace.

Last year, Shaun Mohler was a Ralphie Report favorite and quickly became a fan favorite after hearing his story and dedication to qualify academically to attend the University. My only wish is that we would have got him out of high school. Like Smart, Mohler is a senior after transferring in last year from Orange Coast Community College. Mohler, not a starter at the beginning of the year, quickly entered the lineup in the second game and never relinquished the position. There is no doubt in my mind that he would have been the leading tackler if he played extensively in the first two games of the year and didn't get hurt in the Iowa State contest. He was one of the better "downhill" linebackers the Buffs had last year, finding a way into the backfield and making tackles behind the line of scrimmage, something Colorado needs to improve on next year if they hope to be a dominant defense. Mohler was named Honorable Mention in the Big 12 last year. Don't be surprised if Smart and Mohler are mainstays in the lineup in 2009.

Next comes an interesting trio of veterans in BJ Beatty, Michael Sipili and Marcus Burton. BJ Beatty may be able to fill "the Brad Jones role" in 2009 as he was often a rush end last year. Beatty's propensity to make plays and stand out on the screen makes him a player that will be hard to keep off the field. He was slowed by injury at the beginning the year but with him healthy, he is going to be in the running for a starting spot. I kind of group Sipili and Burton together as they are bigger, "Levon Kirkland" style linebackers who will probably see time this year in a flex position, playing on the rush edge/run stopper spot. Many thought Sipili might be the next great linebacker at Colorado but with off the field problems and injuries, Sipili never hit full stride last year and hasn't produced much on the field. He has the talent so it will be interesting to see how he performs this year as a junior. With Mohler and Smart both gone next year, Sipili will be in a position to play a big role in the defense if he can show consistency both against the run and the pass. Same goes for the senior Marcus Burton. You look at this guy from the sideline and you see a big athlete who passes the eye test. He wasn't really a factor in 2008, much to my surprise. We will have to wait and see after spring as to what role he will play in '09.

Now to the guys that get you excited about the future of Buff linebacking: Jon Major, Doug Rippy and Lynn Katoa. When I mentioned "the few things that need to happen for this group to be great above," these are the players I am talking about. All three redshirted last year with Major and Katoa being highly touted recruits and Rippy having the "most ready college body" of the trio. I remember watching Rippy run around last fall, not knowing where he was going half the time, but looking damn impressive doing it. Major's freshman campaign was cut short by a torn ACL in fall camp while Lynn Katoa ran into some trouble off-the-field and in the classroom. Rumors have been swirling about Lynn and whether he will ever play a down for the Buffs. The predictions change by the week as to his status but for now, all we can go by is Hawkins comments that he is still enrolled in Colorado and they are working with him everyday to be a contributor both on and off the field. As for Rippy, he is one of the players I can't wait to see come fall. I think he has got the upside to be a special "downhill" linebacker making plays on the opponent's side of the line of scrimmage. As for Major, lets just hope he recovers fully from his injury because he, too, has all the talent in the world to be a special Buff. Tons of potential with these three redshirt freshmen.

Need to Replace:

OL/Rush End Brad Jones. Jones was the Buffs most consistent pass rusher last year, leading the team with seven sacks and an equal amount of tackles for loss. His ability to get the quarterback was a big help for a weak defensive line last year. Look for B.J. Beatty to display similar pass rushing ability in 2009.

Players to Watch:

I sort of envision "players to watch" being guys who could jump into a starting spot or a guy that didn't start last year that may see extensive playing time. The obvious choice for me as a potential starter is B.J. Beatty, who was on the cusp of being a regular until his injury last year. He played a more situational role in 2008 but with him being healthy, I believe he is on a short list to claim the open spot. My other player is Doug Rippy. He wasn't hurt last year, was able to participate in practices and physically, he just has it. I like what he brings to the table. A guy that won't get recognized much but I thought did a heck of a job filling in for Shaun Mohler last year in the Iowa State game was Josh Hartigan. Watch for him to play a key back up role.

Top 3 Question Marks:

Unfortunately, like most Buff position groups, there are still some unanswered questions around the linebacker position.

Can the Buffs LB's reach their potential and start playing in the opponents backfield? One of the biggest pet peeves of most Buff fans last year was the inability to get to the quarterback. With Brad Jones gone and an unproven defensive line, the linebackers may be facing more debris than ever. Finding a way to make the linebackers go into attack mode will be key this year. Play on the other side of the line!
Can the redshirt freshmen emerge or will their be setbacks? Rumors still swirl about Katoa and his status on this team. Will he ever be a Buff? Major will be limited in spring ball because of his ACL injury from last fall. Will he recover properly to be a factor? Is Doug Rippy ready to take the next step and be a contributor? Tons of talent, tons of questions.
Does Michael Sipili re-emerge as the player we thought he was going to be? No explanation needed here. Is Sip a guy we can count on for 2009?

First Game Starting Lineup Prediction:

Shaun Mohler, Jeff Smart, BJ Beatty

2009 - 2010 Buff Defense Class Breakdown

irish1611 — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 15:37:15 -0000

Here is the defensive class breakdown for the 2009 season as we stand today. Here is the offensive breakdown I posted last week. See analysis of the defensive squads after the jump...

2009 - 2010 Buff Defense Class Breakdown
2009 - 2010 Buff Defense Class Breakdown
Pos.	Senior	Junior	Sophomore	Freshman	Incoming
DT	Taj Kaynor	Eric Lawson	C Cunningham	Will Pericak	Nate Bonsu
DT	Tyler Sale*		Eugene Goree
DE		M Herrod	Lagrone Shields		Nosa Eguae
			Conrad Obi
			Tony Poremba*
			Kevin Cooney*
LB	Marcus Burton	BJ Beatty	Tyler Ahles	Lynn Katoa	None
	Shaun Mohler	Micheal Sipili	Josh Hartigen	Jon Major
	Jeff Smart	D Goldberg*	Brandon Gouin*	Doug Rippy
	Bryan Stengel*			G Sergent*
CB	C Brown	Jimmy Smith	Anthony Wright		Deji Olatoye
	Ben Burney	Jalil Brown	J Hawkins
			Lamont Smith
S		Bret Smith*	Patrick Mahnke	S Hicks	Parker Orms
			A Perkins	Vince Ewing
			T Sandersfield*	Paul Vigo***
			Matt Meyer*
P	Matt DiLallo
K		Aric Goodman	Jameson Davis
SP	J Drescher	A Bisnow*
* walk on / potential medical redshirt / * grey shirt 2008 class
Total	10	10	17	8	5
%	20.0%	20.0%	34.0%	16.0%	10.0%
Scholarship	8	7	12	7	5
Walk On	2	3	5	1	0

As you can see again, the sophomore class is, once again, extremely large compared to the other classes. Combining the offensive chart's 18 sophomore players, 35 of the total 100 players are in year number 2. If you add in incoming freshman, 63 of the total players are underclassmen. No excuses, right?

Just don't look at the defensive line spots. The Buffs seem to be in a good position on the offensive line, especially with the two new additions in the 2009 class. If they could add one more offensive lineman for depth, I feel good about that unit for the next 2 - 3 years. It is just the opposite for the defensive line. They all might be players but the fact that we haven't seen any substantial results from these guys scares me to death. Their are clearly depth issues as well. The fact that the front four were dead tired in the Nebraska game and the coaching staff refused to substitute any of these guys for a substantial period would conclude that this year could be a struggle upfront. Right now, the Buffs don't seem to be in on a ton of DL and DE which is extremely troubling. If the Buffs could get 2 - 3 JUCO players to fill this void, it would go a long way to solidifying the defense.

For as much as the defensive front might be a worry, the linebacker and corner positions must make all CU fans smile. LB coach Brian Cabral has a ton of talent to work with at the linebacker spot. The X factor of this whole unit will be Katoa and Major. If Katoa can right the ship and Major can fully recover from the ACL injury, this unit could be the best in the Big 12. If the defensive line situation does not improve, look for guys like B.J. Beatty, Marcus Burton and Michael Sipili to be a pseudo-defensive end/rush end all year. In the defensive backfield, the Buffs are young at safety but Anthony Perkins and Patrick Mahnke showed that they have some talent and stepped in pretty well as freshman last year. The Buffs will also get 2008 grey shirt S Paul Vigo in this year as well as S Steven Hicks and S Vince Ewing to add depth. You might also seem some slotted at corner back make the move back to safety (Jalil Brown would be a likey candidate to get more playmakers on the field). CU is also in on a few other safeties in the 2009 recruiting class that would provide much needed depth on both defense and special teams.

Now to the corners. This could rival the linebacker spot for the best unit on the team. Cha'pelle Brown and Ben Burney (2007 starter who was injured last year) return as well as juniors Jalil Brown and Jimmy Smith. Smith really stepped up last year and played a ton down the stretch. He looks to be piecing together the consistency that goes with playing corner as he has all of the physical attributes that you crave in a corner. The Buffs will play some good receivers next year and I expect Smith to be on all of them. If we could only generate a pass rush!

I am not going to talk about punters and kickers because we all know we need new one(s).

In summation, we can see the depth starting the build in certain spots but their are still some major concerns at a few positions: defensive line, wide receiver (could be fixed if Josh Smith progresses, Andre Simmons qualifies and Diante Jackson becomes a Buff) and can the Buffs win with their current situation at quarterback?

The Ralphie Report Mailbag - Recruiting Question

irish1611 — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:29:49 -0000

We received a great question about recruiting via email so I thought I would address it on the front page so that a) we can talk a little recruiting and b) let you know that we welcome your questions or ideas you have for a post. If you want to see something but don't want to do the research, let us know. You have a question about Colorado Buff sports, fire us an email and we will get back to you and if it is something we feel that others would benefit from hearing, we will answer it on the blog. We like questions about recruiting and we know that you like that subject as well so feel free to ask us! Our email address is theralphiereport - at - gmail.com. Today's question comes from Ray:

1) Well, how did the interview with Diante turn out?

2) Also, since Colorado is in on a few others such as Clay, McKay, Ussery and Jackson what are your thoughts on these recruits... Do you think we will get their signature or do you think we will lose out to Oregon again. Are there any other recruits we are on that I did not mention.

1) I wish we had news to report about our Diante Jackson interview but we haven't got a hold of him after a few emails and phone calls. I will keep texting, calling and emailing until we get in touch with him. We hope to bring you audio of it as well.

***UPDATE - we just interviewed Diante and should have audio up tomorrow. We got about 15 minutes of audio. He is sharp and well spoken. Tons of good stuff. He still sounds a little torn as to his decision.*****

2) The Buffs are in on a couple more prominent players than in your list, but we will start with your four:

3*/4* LB Michael Clay - just recently named Oregon and Colorado as his top two, and more importantly, the only two schools he is considering. I am little shocked at this one because he didn't seem to be in love after his visit to CU the week of the Iowa State game. That being said, Oregon has been a favorite for a while and I don't expect to get him. Fine with me, we are deep at linebacker with Smart, Mohler, Katoa, Rippy, Beatty, Sipili, Hartigen and Major.

see after the jump for more recruiting talk and who will be visiting this weekend...

DB Stan McKay - I really want this guy. The Buffs are, once again, in his top two with UCLA, who has not offered yet. If UCLA offers, he will go. I am curious as to why they haven't offered yet. He is a California prep at a top ranked high school so if they haven't offered, it is a good thing for the Buffs. He has all the measurables and speed to boot. With relative inexperience at safety next year, it is a fair game position, so the more competition we have back their, the better. I do like Patrick Mahnke and Anthony Perkins but beyond them, the Buffs are a little light.
3* WR Terdema Ussery - Ussery is 6'4" 200 lbs so he has good size. Sort of a late arriver on the scene as the Buffs were out of the top 3 as recently as last month. But one of our better recruiters in wide receiver coach Kiesau really went to work on this guy and he has now stated that Colorado is his #1. He is a smart kid (his dad is the chairman of the Dallas Mavericks) and wants to go to school for BOTH football and academics. Watch out for Stanford as well because of that reason. We will try to get an interview with him. He will be in Boulder Jan. 16th for his official (the week of the Kansas v CU basketball game)
4* WR Diante Jackson - I believe he will be a Buff...I am dying to talk to him.

Other recruits we are in on that I know about and have a good chance at getting:

WR Alante Wright - 6'3" 190 lbs. In a scout.com article title I saw this morning, he looks to be favoring the Buffs. I believe he will be a Buff.
4* DT Edward Nuckols - If Diante Jackson is priority recruit #1a this year, Nuckols is #1b. He might be one of those silent commits we have been hearing about. He has said CU has been the favorite for a long time now. He hasn't verbally pulled the trigger yet but if he sees our depth at defensive tackle, I would be shocked if he didn't commit. He has been visiting elsewhere since his CU stop. Let's just say if Diante and Ed both don't come to CU, this class with be a rough one.
3* OL/DE Nik Abele - I like this kid's motor. I think the Buffs will try and convert him to a full time defensive end due to our lack of depth there. He has good power and size. I think we land this kid but he has been getting a ton of interest elsewhere.
3* DE Colton Nash - I am surprised he has not pulled the trigger yet as Colorado looks to be his best option. He is choosing between Baylor, CSU and Colorado. He liked his visit, I think he will be a Buff. Nash will have to add weight but he has a huge wingspan and has a decent get off.
3* QB Josh Moten - it is technically still early in his recruiting process as he has just recently emerged on a lot of teams radar. The Buffs are by far and away his best offer. I think this kid is a playmaker and we all know the Buffs need about 18 of those. They will find a place for him.
K Zach Grossnickle - the Buffs need a kicker who can both punt &placekick and Grossnickle is the guy. It will be between CU and Kansas. I like the Buffs chances of getting him. He will be in Boulder Jan. 16th for his official (the week of the Kansas v CU basketball game)

Other recruits that we are in the top 5 but doubt we will get:

4* DL Latu Heimuli - the big run stopper will probably end up in Florida. Thanks for taking Kasa and Heimuli.
4* WR Bryce McNeal - he says the Buffs are still in it but now it looks like Oregon has entered the sweepstakes...who would have guessed that? Minnesota and Oklahoma are also favorites. He won't be a Buff.
Athletes Bryce Lamb, Markus Wheaton, Kyle Van Noy and James Johnson - I think we pull one of these guys but the other three probably end up going elsewhere.
3* DE Kevin Greene - he is enthralled with USC (who wouldn't be) and they have offered him. I think he will be a Trojan. Colorado would probably be his #2 choice.
4* S/CB Bradley McDougald - once an Ohio State verbal, he is now free and visited the Buffs with his teammate Deji Olatoye the week of the Iowa State game. There isn't a ton of press on him right now, even though he is a prized recruit. Most of the Big 10 schools are after this kid as well.

Visitors this weekend:

3* TE Tracy Moore, 3* S Terrell Williams and WR Alante Wright.

If you want to hear anything more on any of these players, let me know.

Poll

Once potential CU commit would you like more information about from The Ralphie Report?

DT Edward Nuckols

20 votes

WR Tederma Ussery

7 votes

WR Diante Jackson

10 votes

LB Michael Clay

0 votes

QB Josh Moten

4 votes

K Zach Grossnickle

8 votes

WR Alante Wright

3 votes

52 votes | Poll has closed

Worst of 2008 #10: Off The Field Issues

irish1611 — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:45:06 -0000

Just as much as injuries were against the norm this year, off the field issues were also on a surprising uptick. Every program has these problems but in 2008, it seemed to be at an all time high for Colorado and once again, another excuse for the program not being able to progress this year. The rap list is long, but here it is...remember all of this is only in the calendar year of 2008!

In January, LB Nate Vaiomounga was charged with criminal mischief under $500 for allegedly breaking a window in a residence hall. Vaiomounga was kicked off the team last month after being involved with the theft of a purse on campus.

Former FB/OL Kai Maiava was cited for underage possession and consumption of alcohol. Maiava has since transferred to UCLA to play for Slick Rick. We sure could have used Maiava this season on the offensive line, where he played as a true freshman before the coaches decided to convert him to a fullback. Maiava said that the position change, coupled with family issues were the reason he transferred. I wonder if the coaches have any regrets about that decision? I believe their is more to the story than what we know.

In March of this year, Riar Greer, probable starting tight end for the season, was accused of attacking two students at an off-campus party. His football season was in jeopardy while we awaited his arraignment on July 18th. Geer held out of offseason workouts but was able to resume playing. He missed the first two games because of injury before returning for West Virginia.

Also in early March, star recruit freshman LB Lynn Katoa was arrested on suspicion of second degree assault. He has since been suspended for the 2008 season and will red shirt due to being ineligible. Katoa was expected to see action in his freshman year especially after the loss of Jordan Dizon to the NFL. Katoa is still a question mark for 2009 as no one around the program seems extremely confident that he will see the field next year.

read more after the jump....

In April, potential starting LB Jake Duren was booted off the team for suspicion of first-degree criminal trespassing after being found bloody and smelling of alcohol in a hallway of the housing complex after smashing a car window.

In May, former DB Clyde Surrell, who was at the heart of the University of Colorado recruiting scandal in 2000, is once again reliving that past as a women is asking a judge to press charges against Surrell for an alleged rape in high school. During the 2000 season, Surrell was at the infamous party that began the CU scandal. Surrell was charged with providing alcohol to minors in 2001.

Michael Sipili, a LB who was suspended last year for the entire season as he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault after badly beating another student, was sued for injuries stemming from the same incident that led to the victim having long-term disfigurement and traumatic brain injuries. Christopher Perri, a former DL for the Buffs, was also sued for the same incident due to his role in instigating the ordeal.

Former Buffs QB Bernard Jackson and DB Lionel Harris were arrested in connection with armed robbery of a Boulder complex. Basically, they broke into an apartment, pulled a couple guns and demanded cash. Both should be going away for a long time after being booked with first degree burglary, aggravated robbery and felony menacing. According to police reports, Jackson and Harris may also be linked to several other incidents that have happened in the same area. Jackson was the often embattled quarterback in Hawkins first year as coach of the Buffs.

Also, sophomore WR Kendrick Celestine, who was expected to be a dynamic big play receiver, was fighting for his eligibility early in the spring as he needed to get a B in a summer course or else he would have been ineligible for the upcoming year. He made the grade but Celestine left the team in the middle of the year to go back home to Louisiana and attend to his newborn child. Celestine playedin his first two years as a Buff and was expected to be a 3rd or 4th option this year, especially with his explosive speed.

Devin Head, a starting offensive guard for Colorado this year, was also suspended for the game against Eastern Washington for being with freshman OL Ethan Adkins during a DWI. Ethan Adkins, also suspended, was expected to be a reserve tackle and not a significant impact player this year.

Three other expected impact players were also ineligible for this year due to academic issues: WR Markques Simas, OG Eric Faatagi and OT Sione Tau. Perhaps the biggest player missing was the big and explosive WR Markques Simas. Simas, known for this famous quote, will be expected to bring big things next year to an offense that was lacking playmakers in 2008:

"I did it in high school, but I realize I can’t do it in high school. The teachers are real strict and they really don’t know you all too well like a high school teacher would. I thought I could give them a smile or whatever and get the grade, but then I realized it doesn’t work. You can’t charm your way through college."

As recent as a couple of weeks ago, Simas has said that he is taking classes much more serious this year. Dan Hawkins even mentioned during one of his press calls that Simas has been terrorizing the starting defense this year in practice. Sione Tau and Erick Faatagi probably would have seen time this year with all of the offensive line issues.

Part of being a successful program is being respected on and off the field and building a reputation for potential recruits, the University of Colorado administration or potential donors. More importantly for Hawkins, these issues cannot happen next year for his ability to show progress and keep the faithful happy. Another offseason like this past one and a losing 2009 campaign, the amount of supporters will be thin. Losing and making bad headlines won't be something that the administration will tolerate. Until Colorado players start acting professional, the program may not be first class either.

Status	Depth	Name	Pos	Description
Ineligible	Backup	Simas, Markques	WR	Would have played this year
Ineligible	Backup	Tau, Sione	OT	Backup but would have seen time
Ineligible/Kick Off Team	Backup	Vaiomounga, Nate	OLB	Special Teamer/Backup
Ineligible	Backup	Erick Faatagi	OG	Backup/Starter
Ineligible	Red Shirt	Katoa, Lynn	ILB	Legal & Academic Issues
Suspended	Starter	Geer, Riar	TE	On Campus Fight
Suspended	Starter	Head, Devin	OG	Suspended for WVU game/Starter
Suspended	Backup	Adkins, Ethan	OT	Suspended Indefinitely
Left Team	Backup	Celestine, Kendrick	WR	Family Issues/Playing Time Issues
Kicked Off Team	Starter	Duren, Jake	LB	First-degree criminal trespassing
Left Team	Backup	Maiava, Kai	OG/FB	Angry with Switching Positions

Poll

What off-the-field issue hurt the Buffs the most this year on-the-field?

WR Markques Simas

28 votes

FB Kai Maiava

8 votes

OL Erick Faatagi

2 votes

LB Lynn Katoa

14 votes

OL Sione Tau

3 votes

LB Jake Duren

1 votes

WR Kendrick Celestine

2 votes

58 votes | Poll has closed

The College Version of the PUP List

irish1611 — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:00:06 -0000

Okay, not exactly like the PUP list. More like the Physically/Academically/Suspended/Left Team (PASLTUP List) Unable to Perform List. Whatever you want to call it, the list is about 26 players long filled with members of the team that have missed game time due to various reason. Of course all of these players weren't going to make huge impacts for the Buffs this year but injuries to starters like OT Ryan Miller, OG Max Tuioti-Mariner and CB Ben Burney along with many potential starter/important backups make this Buffs team even younger and less experienced. I am amazed how many reserves we expected something from this year are on the list especially offensive linemen. Going into Big 12 play, a major concern is the depth of the line and the ability to find dependable play makers. Another major injury like the one to Ryan Miller against Florida State could put this season in jeopardy. I already feel the loss of Miller and Tuioti-Mariner may cost this team a game this year. Also, the list does not include the teams red shirt players that weren't caused by injury or suspension.

Who is the current player that we cannot afford to lose? Is it Rodney "Speedy" Stewart? Cody Hawkins? Nate Solder? Let The Ralphie Report know so we can start buying rabbit foots, saying prayers, performing rituals in that player's name

Status	Depth	Name	Pos	Description
Ineligible	Backup	Simas, Markques	WR	Would have played this year
Ineligible	Backup	Tau, Sione	OT	Backup but would have seen time
Ineligible	Backup	Vaiomounga, Nate	OLB	Special Teamer/Backup
Ineligible	Backup	Erick Faatagi	OG	Backup/Starter
Ineligible	Red Shirt	Katoa, Lynn	ILB	Legal & Academic Issues
Ineligible Total				5 PLAYERS
Injury	Starter	Burney, Benjamin	CB	Out for Year Shoulder
Injury	Starter	Dykes, D.J.	S	Sickness, missed WVU game
Injury	Starter	Geer, Riar	TE	Knee Surgery, out first two games
Injury	Starter	Miller, Ryan	OT	Broken Ankle out 6 - 8 weeks
Injury	Starter	Tuioti-Mariner, Max	OL	ACL Injury
Injury	Starter	Brace, Jason	DE	Missed FSU/Concussion
Injury	Backup	Beatty, B.J.	OLB	Fractured Leg
Injury	Backup	Espinoza, Jason	WR	Starting PR/Broken Collarbone/Out
Injury	Backup	Hudgins, Drew	DE	ACL Injury/Poss Starter/Out for Year
Injury	Backup	Iltis, Mike	OG	ACL Injury/Poss Starter/Out for Year
Injury	Backup	Scott, Darrell	TB	Knee Injury/Limited Play this Year
Injury	Backup	Smith, Jimmy	CB	Back Spasms/Missed First 3 games
Injury	3rd String	Smith, Bret	S	Limited Impact/Special Teamer
Injury	4th String	Walters, Luke	TE	Limited Impact/Special Teamer
Injury	4th String	Adams, Joel	S	Limited Impact/Special Teamer
Injury	Red Shirt	Lockridge, Brian	TB	Sports Hernia/Special Team Player
Injury	Red Shirt	Major, Jon	ILB	ACL Injury
Injury Total				17 INJURED
Suspended	Starter	Head, Devin	OG	Suspended for WVU game/Starter
Suspended	Backup	Adkins, Ethan	OT	Suspended Indefinitely
Suspended Total				2 SUSPENDED
Left Team	Backup	Celestine, Kendrick	WR	Family Issues/Playing Time Issues
Left Team	Backup	Maiava, Kai	OG/FB	Angry with Switching Positions
Left Team Total				2 LEFT TEAM