SB Nation User Blog: WoodrowWilson

Current Colorado Buffalo Roster Chart

WoodrowWilson — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:42:28 -0000

For the most part, it looks like many of the major announcements have come and gone for the spring/summer. Many of the incoming freshmen are enrolled in summer classes at Colorado so now is a good time to assess the team by the numbers, see areas to address in the 2010 recruiting period and look how the team stacks up on paper. First up is the offensive chart. By position, we list the names of the players in alphabetical order, counting the number of scholarship players and no scholarship players by position. If the player has an astericks next to his name, they are a non scholarship player. WR's Toney Clemons and Andre Simmons are italicized, signifying a transfer. Clemons will not participate this season but will be a junior in 2010. Below is the positional chart, let me know if you see an error:

Position	Total	SENIORS	JUNIORS	SOPHOMORES	FRESHMEN	INCOMING Fr
QB			Cody Hawkins	Tyler Hansen		Clark Evans
						Josh Moten
						Seth Lobato*
						Jerry Slota*
Sch	4		1	1	0	2
NSch	2					2

WR			Toney Clemons	Kyle Cefalo*	Peter Bobseine*	Jarrod Darden
			Cameron Ham*	Jason Espinoza*	Dustin Ebner*	Terdema Ussery
			S. McKnight	Ryan Maxwell*	Cameron Wright*	Marion Conte*
			Andre Simmons	Markques Simas
Sch	6		3	1		2
NSch	8		1	3	3	1

RB			Corey Nabors	Brian Lockridge		Quentin Hildreth*
			D. Sumler	Darrell Scott		Trevor LaBarge*
			Kevin Moyd	Rod Stewart
Sch	6	1	2	3
NSch	2					2

FB		Trace Adams*
FB		Jake Behrens
Sch	1	1
NSch	1	1

TE		Riar Geer		Ryan Deehan		DaV. Thornton
		P Devenny				Alex Wood*
		D Shanahan*
		Luke Walters*
Sch	4	2		1		1
NSch	3	2		0		1

OL			Nate Solder	Ethan Adkins	Ryan Dannewitz	David Bakhtiari
			K Stevens*	Matt Bahr	Bryce Givens	Gus Handler
				Blake Behrens	M. Tuioti-Mariner	Jack Harris
				David Clark*		Shaun Simon
				Shawn Daniels
				Mike Iltis
				Ryan Miller
				Sione Tau
Sch	15	0	1	7	3	4
NSch	2	0	1	1	0	0
OFFENSIVE TOTAL
Sch	36	4	7	13	3	9
NSch	18	3	2	4	3	6
Total	54	7	9	17	6	15
TEAM TOTAL
Sch	78	12	14	24	10	18
NSch	37	5	5	13	5	9
Total	115	17	19	37	15	27
*italics - transfer (Toney Clemons is not Eligible for 2009) / - non-scholarship player**
Sch = Scholarship Player / nSch = Non-Scholarship Player

I will provide some commentary in a post tomorrow. You will quickly notice that the Buffs have a total of 78 players on scholarship right now, 7 below the 85 limit due to coming up short in the 2009 recruiting class and current roster attrition. There are currently 12 scholarshiped seniors plus the 7 players short equals a potential 2010 class of 19. You saw how attrition worked this year so add 2 more to the total and 21 players is probably a good target next year. That all might change depending on what the Buffs do with a few players. If the Buffs give a scholarship back to Kendrick Celestine, that would eat up a spot. Then you have to think about WR's Jason Espinoza and Ryan Maxwell. One of these players, probably Espinoza, will play a significant role next year. Dan Hawkins might decide to shell out a scholarship on one of those players.

After the defensive chart is posted we can comment on where we think the Buffs need to allocate their 20 or so scholarships.

Need Some Help - Home Line Changes

WoodrowWilson — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:45:52 -0000

Will someone please explain to me how having home ice allows the home team to create the matchups that they want? I hear everyone keep mentioning that you can get the "last change" but I didn't realize that there was any kind of rule or regulation on when you could change lines so I don't see why being at home would be any different from being on the road. I feel like I'm missing something fairly obvious here...

Thank in advance...

Give Us Some More Receivers Buff Bites

WoodrowWilson — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:01:05 -0000

More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP

about 1 month ago: FILE - In this Sept. 9, 2006 file photo, Kansas State coach Ron Prince watches his team during the first quarter of a college football game against Florida Atlantic in Manhattan, Kan. Kansas State filed a lawsuit Wednesday, May 20, 2009, challenging a secret deal between former athletic director Bob Krause and ex-football coach Prince that would pay Prince $3.2 million in deferred compensation between 2015 and 2020. Prince's agent responded that the lawsuit is without merit and the deal between his client and the university is legally binding. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

Browse more photos »

The big news for the Buffs yesterday was the commitment of former 4-star Wide Receiver Toney Clemons. Clemons is transferring in from Michigan and will hit the field for game action in 2010. Check out our full write up here.

Speaking of Wide Receivers, who does Tim Griffin think had a break out performance this spring?

Colorado WR Jason Espinoza: After arriving at school as a walk-on cornerback, Espinoza hoped to contribute as a punt returner last year before a broken collarbone ended his season. After switching to wide receiver, he emerged as Colorado's top receiver in the spring, punctuating his work with game-high totals for receptions and yardage in the spring game.

... and what Buffalo does he think needs have a break out fall?

Colorado QB Tyler Hansen: Looked to be competing at a near equal basis with Cody Hawkins before he broke his right thumb in the spring game. He'll have to recover quickly from post-spring surgery if he wants to renew the competition when the Buffaloes report in August.

The Big 12 Meetings are over and the two biggest discussions were around the Big 12's bowl game partnerships and the tightening budgets around the conference. The cost savings look like they will come from the eliminating of Regional NCAA Track & Field Championships and the production of media and recruiting guides.

Buffalo recruit Austin Hinder had a strong performance at the recent Palo Alto Elite 11 Camp.

Austin Hinder, Steamboat Springs, CO
Biggins says: Hinder has the Most Upside. "Right now, he lacks consistency, but the talent is obviously there."
Scout’s schools: Alabama, Cal, Colorado, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Stanford, UCLA

What on earth is going on at Kansas State with Ron Prince and his "secret deal?" Check out Bring on the Cats for the scoop...

Notre Dame playing at Yankee Stadium? Irish is going to kill me for saying this but does Notre Dame realize they aren't relevant like they once were? Join a freaking conference already...

Need a laugh? Listen to this interview between ESPN 1070 Radio Host Bob Kravitz and SBNation site Stampede Blue's author Big Blue Shoe. Kravitz just cannot get over the fact the Big Blue Shoe writes under a "anonymous" name and is unable to carry on a reasonable conversation. Hey Bob, my real name is available on my profile and in case you are too lazy to click a link it's Jon Woods.

When you're done listening to that gem, check out this song from the new Phoenix cd, a fantastic album to start the summer with.

Phoenix - 1901

The beginning of the Jimmy Smith love. It's about time - Woodrow "Colorado CB Jimmy Smith:...

WoodrowWilson — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:38:30 -0000

The beginning of the Jimmy Smith love. It's about time - Woodrow

"Colorado CB Jimmy Smith: Emerged as the Buffaloes' most talented one-on-one pass defender and the Buffaloes' key player in the secondary."

Big 12 - ESPN

It Shouldn't Be This Hot In Boulder Buff Bites

WoodrowWilson — Mon, 18 May 2009 20:03:47 -0000

Apparently there's a chance that we could have record high's over the next two days here in Colorado. Makes you wish we had some recruits in town, it would be a dream day for a kid from Ohio, Illinois, or Minnesota...

Our resident Big 12 blogger over at ESPN has continued to be busy during this slow time of the year and he has touched on our Buffaloes quite a few times over the past couple of days.

During his chat last week Griffin restated his confidence behind our running game, even rebuffing a Husker in the process:

Dave (Atlanta, GA): Tim, does Colorado have the best backfield?

Tim Griffin: Dave: Sure liked their running in the spring game. It will be different when they face opposing defenses.

Their backs aren't quite to the level of Murray, Brown, Madu and Calhoun at OU. But I will call Colorado with the best running backs in the North.

Matt (Sacramento): Tim - Not sure how Colorado has the best backfield in the North. Helu and Castille at Nebraska should combine for 2000 yards this year in rushing alone.

Tim Griffin: Matt: I like Colorado because they go four deep and all with different styles. Sumler, Scott, Speedy and Lockridge are a nice quartet.

Today, Griffin listed Colorado both as a team with work to do over the summer...

Colorado: The Buffaloes will have to settle on a quarterback before the start of the season. Several variables are involved, including the close race between Tyler Hansen and Cody Hawkins for the starting job in spring practice, Hansen's broken thumb in the spring game and new offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau working into his new job. If the Buffaloes are to fulfill the spoiler role that some are predicting in the North Division, they need to make a real push before training camp starts in August.

...and a squad with a player that we are all hoping will break out in a big way this coming season:

Colorado TB Darrell Scott: After struggling with injuries last season, Scott might be ready to return to the form he flashed when he was the nation's No. 1 running back recruit in the 2008 class.

What was the main topic at the recent Big 12 league meetings? Why cost containment of course. It's no surprise as college athletic departments are by no means immune from our nations current economic state and it would be ignorant to not take steps to protect the conference and it's AD's budgets. Arkansas Athletic Director Frank Boyles even goes far enough as to say that, "There's going to be a major crisis if ticket sales go down."

Boyles isn't the only legendary coach turned Athletic Director making some interesting statements lately as Tom Osborne has decided that he would like some say over who is officiating his University's games:

Osborne said Thursday that at next week's league meetings he'll try to gain support for coaches to be able to ask the conference to "rest" an official because of repeated substandard work.

"If you feel somebody has really not measured up," he said, "you could request that he not work any of your games the next year."

Two Buffaloes captured Big 12 Track & Field Championships over the weekend. Senior Jenny Barringer captured her third Big 12 Championship, winning the 3,000 meter steeplechase with a Big 12 record 9 minutes, 58.14 seconds. Meanwhile Junior Brandin Williams won his first Big 12 Championship and the Buffaloes first javelin title in 47 years throwing a personal record of 222 feet, 1 inch. Congrats!!

Some Monday morning musings … Colorado quarterback signee Clark Evans might feel a bit of added p...

WoodrowWilson — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:20:30 -0000

Some Monday morning musings …

Colorado quarterback signee Clark Evans might feel a bit of added pressure even before he arrives for August camp.

That’s because word out of Salt Lake City is that former CU commitment Jordan Wynn looked terrific during spring drills for the University of Utah after enrolling early.

Evans (6-feet-5 and 230 pounds) and Wynn (6-2, 180) are both highly regarded QBs from Southern California that CU had targeted early in the recruiting process. Wynn gave an oral commitment to Colorado in June. Evans followed in July.

Wynn, however, switched to Utah on Nov. 18. According to rivals.com, some within the Utah program where whispering during the spring that Wynn reminded them of Alex Smith, the former Utes quarterback who became the No. 1 pick in the 2005 NFL Draft.

Former Colorado offensive coordinator and QB coach Mark Helfrich told me after signing day that the CU staff believes Evans is the better prospect. If that holds true it would be exciting news for Buffs fans.

This and that to begin the week : All Things Colorado Sports Colorado

The Perfect Friday Buff Bites

WoodrowWilson — Fri, 08 May 2009 20:40:01 -0000

Could today have been a more perfect day in Colorado? If someone told me that the weather would be like this every single day for the rest of my life I would be a very, very happy man. Onto the Buffs...

The opening paragraph in Ringo's story about the new relationship between new Offensive Coordinator Eric Kiesau and CU Quarterback Cody Hawkings and Tyler Hansen sums up the collective expectations of Buff Nation perfectly:

Colorado quarterbacks Cody Hawkins and Tyler Hansen both expect to be much more involved with developing offensive game plans next season after their initial discussions with new offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau.

I'm not going so far as to say that I am happy that Coach Helfrich has moved on (I'll leave that to you guys) but I know I'm not lying when I say that we are all excited about what the future holds.

Neil Woelk talks about Kiesau some more, hoping that the Coordinator change will be just what this offense needs to take the next step forward to respectability.

The Colorado Women's Golf team finished up the first round of their first ever NCAA Regional Tournament in 19th place. The tournament is being held at Arizona State's Karsten Golf Course in tempatures up to 107 degrees.

Tim Griffin hands out Spring Football helmet stickers and our favorite Buffalo unit made the list:

Colorado's running backs: Hard to single out one player as Darrell Scott (90 yards), Demetrius Sumler (73 yards), Brian Lockridge (55 yards) and Rodney Stewart (52 yards) all had big days in the Buffs' Black-Gold game.

I'm sure by now you have all heard about our favorite spiky haired quarterback Sam Keller and his asinine lawsuit against the NCAA and EA Sports. There's nothing more to be said so I'll let you read some commentary from his former teams here and here

Big 12’s Greatest NFL Players: Colorado - Crimson And Cream Machine

WoodrowWilson — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:05:08 -0000

Big 12’s Greatest NFL Players: Colorado - Crimson And Cream Machine

The SBNation Oklahoma Sooners site is looking at the best NFL player from each of the BIg 12's member institutions. What do you guys think?

10 minutes with Colorado RB Darrell Scott

WoodrowWilson — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:16:29 -0000

10 minutes with Colorado RB Darrell Scott

Great interview with Darrell Scott. I honestly don't think there is one thing that I am anticipating more about next season than Scott's return. He is going to be a bad, bad man next year...

"Every time he drives the lane, we have to put him on his back," Dampier said, according to The...

WoodrowWilson — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:41:02 -0000

"Every time he drives the lane, we have to put him on his back," Dampier said, according to The Dallas Morning News. "The first foul has to tell him he's in for a long night."

Well there you go, gotta love Damp for just coming out and saying it. Doubt a comment like that is really going to get in Parker's head, but now the NBA will be watching extra closely for flagrant's. Great...

Erick Dampier of Dallas Mavericks to Tony Parker of San Antonio Spurs: Watch out in Game 3 - ESPN