Preseason Rundown: Offense, Defense and Season Forecast

Updated Sept. 2 at 3:56 p.m.

As August camp comes to a close and the Sept. 3 kick-off against Northern Colorado approaches, head coach Karl Dorrell and the Buffs continue to work towards a successful season. 

Coming off the COVID-19 season, the Buffs lost players such as quarterback Sam Noyer, wide receiver K.D. Nixon and safety Derrion Rakestraw. A total of nine offensive, eight defensive and three special teams players left the Buffs. However, CU football continues to take its course with both new and returning talent, an updated coaching staff and a 95% vaccinated program.

“Our depth is better this year than last year,” Coach Dorrell said. “We’re going to do things that are more conducive, that is going to allow us to be successful on both sides of the ball and how we operate … we got to do whatever it takes to win.”

Offense 

Quarterbacks were the prominent question heading into the season. Sophomore Brendon Lewis will be the likely starting quarterback due to JT Shrout’s “significant” knee injury during the team’s first scrimmage on Aug. 14. Shrout is scheduled for surgery this week and he will be out for the season. In the meantime, true freshman Drew Carter from Oregon is preparing alongside Lewis to hold the backup position with additional depth of walk-ons Jordan Woolverton and James Mott. 

“Since I came here in 2019, I’ve grown tremendously, relationships, the skill of the game, all the knowledge of the game, the speed of the game,” Lewis said. “Every time I step on the field, I feel like I grow every time.”

“Brendon’s growing so much,” Dorrell said. “To come in the game [the Alamo Bowl] which was his first step of a football game at the college level, really in the heat of a competitive match, he came in and in my opinion, he exceeded my expectations. He stepped in and played like he belonged out there. He had confidence, he moved the football, made plays with his legs and he made plays with his arm. And I think for himself, it validated for him that yes, ‘I belong here.’” 

During the Alamo Bowl, Lewis completed six out of his ten passes for 95 yards, had nine rushes for 73 yards, a touchdown and a 44 yard run past the 20 yard line. 

Also assisting in rushing, Jarek Broussard, 2020 Pac-12 offensive player of the year, has been maintaining that title during preseason camp. At the Aug. 14 scrimmage he unofficially averaged 28.5 yards per carry. 

Other running backs will also see action this season with the return of Deion Smith and Alex Fontenot. Both are back after missing the 2020/21 season due to injury and ready to contribute. 

“Really the main thing right now is just technique overall,” Fontenot said. “As a running back group, we all pretty much know what we’re doing. It’s just the little things at this point. Really just more of catching the ball in the backfield. In 2019, I really didn’t get to utilize that as much as I wanted to.”

Younger rushers such as Joe Davis, Ashaad Clayton and Jayle Stacks are all getting their reps in during camp, working with the other backs and evolving their game.

“The whole running back group, Jarek Broussard, Alex Fontenot, Deion Smith, Joe Davis, Ashaad, I’m just taking all their tips and using it to my advantage,” Stacks said. “They all have been good help, even coach Hagan. They’ve been mentoring me and making sure I’m a better running back at the end of the day.”

Starting wide receivers that will be returning are Brenden Rice, La’Vontae Shenault, Daniel Arias, Jaylon Jackson and Dimitri Stanley.

Freshman kicker Cole Becker looks promising because he has only missed one field goal during camp.

Defense

Last season, the Buffs defense experienced a significant loss in the Utah game when linebacker Nate Landman ruptured his Achilles’ tendon. After many months of rehabilitation, Landman is active in camp and he will be back at Folsom.

“In the springtime, because we had a couple other outside backers that were hurt, they (Wells and Joshka Gustav) took primarily 90% of the snaps, but now Jamar (Montgomery) is back, Guy Thomas is back,” Dorrell said. “We have Zion Magalei, that’s a young freshman that’s competing. We have so much more depth so we’re actually getting Carson to be more of a coach to help bring those younger players along.”

Carson Wells was one of the notable linebackers last season leading the nation in tackles for loss, averaging 2.7 per game including Alamo. No other player in the nation averaged more than 2.0 tackles for loss per game.

“I’m a competitor,” Wells said “I want to play as much as I can, but as a leader too. I want to bring guys along with me and I want to see them excel just as much as I want to excel. Those are my brothers. They put in the same amount of work I have and I want to see them do it just as well.”

Continued competition is happening in the safety position as well. Chris Miller is back and healthy, after his first four seasons with the Buffs consisting of numerous injuries, working and competing with safeties Mark Perry and Isaiah Lewis.

“I want to improve my ball in the air skills, finishing interceptions and finishing every play strong and fast,” Lewis said. “I think everybody’s (the safeties) kind of equal. It’s all about the effort and it’s all about what you put on film. We take it rep by rep, look at the details and we play fast.”

The first competition starts on Sept. 3 against Northern Colorado at 7:00 p.m. (MST) on Folsom Field. The Buffs then play against Texas A&M at Empower Field in Denver at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 11. 

“Whoever competes, plays the best that week starts,” Coach Wilson said. “Competition breeds everything. I’ll give you an analogy. You don’t know how nice your wife is until you see your neighbor looking at her. Competition definitely breeds competition.”