5 Colorado Players to Watch vs. Oregon

The Oregon Geese will proceed their highway journey with a matchup towards the Colorado Buffaloes in week 10. Dan Lanning’s Geese enter the competition at 7-1, whereas the Buffaloes are on the opposite aspect of the size at 1-7.

It is no secret that this yr is a rebuilding yr in Boulder. The Buffs fired head coach Karl Dorrell after 5 blowout losses to begin the season, and new offensive coordinator Mike Sanford has taken his place because the interim.

In his first recreation on the helm, Sanford secured a 20-13 time beyond regulation victory over Cal in entrance of greater than 50,000 Buffalo followers. Sanford’s squad dropped the next two video games, nevertheless it’s clear that there is extra to Colorado than meets the attention.

Listed here are 5 Colorado gamers that might give Oregon complications Saturday afternoon at Folsom Discipline.

1. J.T. Shrout-Quarterback

In that time beyond regulation frenzy that resulted in Colorado’s first win, Buffalos’ beginning quarterback and true freshman Owen McCown bought hit too laborious to return. That offered one other alternative for Tennessee switch J.T. Shrout to step up, and he took full benefit.

Shrout got here in with a minute left within the third quarter towards Cal trailing 7-3. He went 8-for-12 with 69 yards and threw the game-winning landing, and led Colorado to scores on three of his 4 possessions.

Coach Sanford has made it clear that McGown is QB1 when wholesome, however McCown continues to be out with a throwing harm.

“I feel JT got here in and, as a result of he had ready so stinking effectively, actually over the course of the final 4 weeks,” mentioned Sanford. “He was able to go in there and win a soccer recreation for us.”

The clock could also be ticking for Shrout, however his audition has gone effectively thus far. He is totaled at the very least 200 passing yards in every of his earlier begins.

READ MORE: Oregon WR Seven McGee intends to enter switch portal

2. Josh Chandler-Semedo-Inside Linebacker

One other addition from the switch portal final offseason, inside linebacker Josh Chandler-Semedo has been an all-around playmaker for Gerald Chatman’s protection.

Coming from West Virginia, Chandler-Semedo has expertise towards a few of the most explosive offenses faculty soccer has to supply within the Large 12. That have has been leaned on by the Colorado protection, as he leads the group with 410 defensive snaps.

Chandler-Semedo is tied for the group lead in tackles with 68 and has a team-high three sacks. Add in a pressured fumble and a cross defended, and it is clear he’s liable to make a play anyplace on the sector. 

Look out for Chandler-Semedo to steer the Buffalo protection towards the Geese.

3.  Deion Smith-Working Again

Because of loads of accidents and a brand new coach, Colorado has needed to depend on younger gamers and backups to fill in and produce instantly. Just a few Buffaloes have taken the chance to slip up the depth chart, together with operating again Deion Smith.

Colorado has a crammed backfield. Working backs Alex Fontenot and Anthony Hankerson, who’re each forward of Smith within the operating again pecking order, had been suited up towards Arizona State final weekend however did not play.

Smith, nonetheless, did play. And he had a profession day, placing up 111 speeding yards and a landing on 24 carries. It was the primary time Smith had greater than 12 makes an attempt in his 5 years with the Buffs.

His time as starter may very well be up earlier than he faces the Geese, but when Smith is the man, he’ll need to show he can begin towards one of the best within the Pac-12.

4. Montana Lemonious-Craig-Broad Receiver

When Sanford took over in Boulder, he will need to have woke up Montana Lemonious-Craig someway. 

Earlier than Sanford was in cost, Lemonious-Craig had solely performed in 11 video games and caught 16 passes in his greater than two years at Colorado. However Sanford’s first recreation as interim head coach was Lemonious-Craig’s coming-out celebration.

The Inglewood, California native put up eight receptions, 119 yards and an unreal game-winning landing in time beyond regulation to offer Colorado and Sanford the primary win of the marketing campaign.

Final week towards Arizona State, Lemonious-Craig made one other spectacular catch in the long run zone. Look out for the six-foot-two receiver when Colorado is within the pink zone.

5. Tyrin Taylor-Security

The Geese are used to doing harm to the Buffaloes’ secondary. This previous offseason, the Geese stole the Buffaloes’ prime cornerback in Christian Gonzalez and the Buffaloes’ Cornerbacks’ Coach in Demetrice Martin. 

Gonzalez has been wonderful for the Geese this season. However the Buffaloes personal the higher cross protection on the yr, ceding 246.5 passing yards per recreation in comparison with the Geese’ 280.3 per recreation.

And an enormous cause for that’s second-year security Tyrin Taylor — one other participant who stepped as much as fill a gap on Sanford’s group.

Taylor performed in all 12 video games as a freshman, however he performed the cornerback place. In Sanford’s first recreation in cost, he moved Taylor to security, and it paid off instantly as Taylor grabbed his first interception towards Cal.

On the season Taylor has 383 defensive snaps, 17 complete tackles, two third-down stops, and two cross break-ups. He is a brand new staple within the Colorado protection.

READ MORE: Oregon vs. Colorado betting odds

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