Leadership Emerging As Buffs Continue Fall Training Camp pac-12.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from pac-12.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Linebackers shine in CU Buffs Spring Showcase
May 1, 2021
Junior inside linebacker Jonathan Van Diest waits for the play to be called at Folsom Field on April 30, 2021. (Kara Wagenknecht/CU Independent)
With 2020 team-leading tackler senior inside linebacker Nate Landman recovering from an injury, a slew of less-experienced linebackers have stepped up this spring for the University of Colorado football team.
Following Friday’s Spring Showcase at Folsom Field, head coach Karl Dorrell commended his linebackers for their presence this spring. “Our linebacker position is really, really athletic and talented,” Dorrell said.
Junior inside linebacker Jonathan Van Diest led the team on Friday with five unassisted tackles. In four games last season, Van Diest recorded 11 tackles. He said the abundance of reps during the spring helped him improve not only physically, but mentally.
Spring Showcase highlighted by fans, special moment for two walk-ons
April 30, 2021
Coaches and players embrace junior safety Curtis Appleton II after Appleton was awarded a scholarship at the beginning of the spring football showcase at Folsom Field on April 30, 2021. (Kara Wagenknecht/CU Independent)
For the final day of spring practice on Friday, the University of Colorado football team completed a Spring Showcase scrimmage. About 1,000 fans at Folsom Field witnessed a high tempo controlled scrimmage and a glimpse of the 2021 Buffs.
Head Coach Karl Dorrell noted how having an audience had the ability to change the environment.
“It was good to see some people in the stands,” Dorrell said. “I was telling them before the scrimmage that it was great to have some people watching us for change. Just imagine this place in the fall, this will be packed with 50,000 people cheering us on. We’re looking forward to that opportunity when the fall comes and it’s ready to kick off
Dorrell leads CU through first spring scrimmage
April 11, 2021
Junior linebacker Jonathan Van Diest prepares for a snap during a spring scrimmage on April 9. (Photo Courtesy of CU Athletics)
As the University of Colorado Buffaloes football team fell short to the Texas Longhorns in the 2020 Alamo Bowl, Colorado looks to prepare itself for a redemption year. On Friday, the Buffaloes held an intrasquad scrimmage for the first time during the spring practice season.
Prior to the scrimmage, head coach Karl Dorrell described mixed results during the practices leading up to Friday.
“I wish it was better coming off the weekend, we had a great first week,” Dorrell said. “I thought (practice) got a little sloppy at the end. I don’t know if guys are tired or lost a little bit of focus, but these are things that we can fix, for sure. There are no days off, there are no lowered expectations given how much work they’ve put in.”
Apr 8, 2021
BOULDER Karl Dorrell s Colorado Buffaloes will conduct their first scrimmage of the spring Friday, a workout that should provide at least a glimpse of some of the changes on both sides of the ball.
The Buffs are installing a new defensive scheme under new coordinator Chris Wilson, and they re making some offensive changes as well to incorporate some new looks on coordinator Darrin Chiaverini s side of the ball.
Dorrell has said he hopes to get the basic installation of the new playbook completed on both sides by the end of the spring. He also indicated he will stress his players just a little and challenge them to absorb as much as possible in the 15 allotted practices (Friday s scrimmage will be No. 6).