Fall Camp

In Karl We Trust: “I like how honest he is, I like how serious he is” … Neill Woelk Previews Inside Linebackers: Nothing to Suggest Nate Landman won’t be a Full Speed … Safety Isaiah Lewis has gone from backup to leader: “I’m helping in getting the young guys going” … ESPN: CU will go bowling in 2021 …

Scott Frost on Nebraska’s 30-22 loss to Illinois: “It looked like the same movie” … Texas A&M senior defensive end arrested; suspended … Kliavkoff: Pac-12 could move to eight-game conference schedule as early as next year … Former CU President Gordon Gee: Playoff Expansion DOA …

Jonathan Van Diest ready for his opportunity: “Each day we’re getting better” … Video: Karl Dorrell Friday post-practice comments: “It’s going to seem like an unscouted game” … Neill Woelk DB Preview: Every position has an experienced starter … **Video: Mark Johnson interviews Christian Gonzalez and Isaiah Lewis** …

Big 12 Commissioner: “The Big 12 has every expectation that we will continue to compete at the highest levels” … What does the Alliance mean? Stability and delaying playoff expansion … **Pac-12 Press Release: Pac-12/Big Ten/ACC announce historic Alliance** …

CU is in a virtual tie with ASU for the third-best record in the Pac-12 South over the past five years, and has the reigning Pac-12 Coach-of-the-Year and Offensive Player-of-the-Year, but gets no respect nationally … Dorrell: “I want to change the perception” – The question is: Can he? …

Can Chris Wilson, as DC and defensive line coach, develop the line into a strength instead of a liability? … Will Nate Landman be Nate Landman in 2021? (and do the Buffs need him to be?) … Will the transfers live up to expectations? … Is CU really three-deep at both cornerback positions? …

Josh Watts is established as punter (with no competition), but the kicking job is up for grabs, with incumbent Evan Price facing incoming scholarship freshman Cole Becker … Last season’s leading kick returner, Maurice Bell, is out for the season … Is it up to Dimitri Stanley and/or Brenden Rice to make names for themselves? …

Mekhi Blackmon and Isaiah Lewis have All-Pac-12 honors on their resumes, but Christian Gonzalez may be the best player in the defensive backfield … Can Chris Miller stay healthy long enough to be effective? Will the newcomers who will be thrust into the fray be ready to contribute? …

It begins and ends with Nate Landman: “I’m doing everything that the team is doing – I trust by rehab and everything so well” … but for CU to be successful, Landman will need help: “Hopefully with continuity and in making this (defense) a little more player-friendly, they’ll excel” …

Who will start at QB v. Northern Colorado? (and will it be the same QB v. Texas A&M?) … Broussard the workhorse, or RB by committee? … Who will be the breakout WR? … Is THIS the year of the tight end at CU? … Is this CU’s best offensive line in 20 years? …

Carson Wells led the nation last year in tackles for loss, but was only Pac-12 honorable mention … What to make of CU’s linebackers? Phil Steele’s has the Buffs as the No. 7 linebacker unit in the nation, while Athlon rates the Buff linebacker unit 7th … in the Pac-12 …

CU was No. 5 in the Pac-12 in rush defense until the Alamo Bowl, but then allowed 303 yards to Texas (28% of the rush yards allowed on the year), with both DE Terrance Lang and NT Jalen Sami missing the contest … Without Mustafa Johnson, can the defensive line be a strength instead of a liability …

Offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini: “The tight end room is getting there. It’s not there yet, but we’re working hard to try to keep upgrading that room” … Brady Russell led the team in catches and receiving yards – until he was hurt in Game Two … The numbers are there, just not the production …

CU returns four starters from 2021, and that doesn’t count heralded Ohio State transfer Max Wray … CU was 23rd in the nation in rushing last season, and have two All-Pac-12 honorable mentions returning … And now? Athlon has CU’s line 10th in the conference, and no preseason mentions … Will the line exceed expectations again this fall? …

If you need to boil down the WR room to one word in 2021, it’s “potential” … Dimitri Stanley, only a sophomore, is considered by Darrin Chiaverini to be his “veteran guy” … Will Stanley live up to his All-Pac-12 preseason honor? Will La’Vontae Shenault or Brenden Rice have break out seasons? … TBD …

A longtime friend of the website, CU Associate AD Lance Carl prepares you for Fall Camp with insights you won’t get from any preseason magazines … In addition to reviewing each unit on the roster (surprise answer to starting QB question), Lance discusses realignment, and his thoughts on choices for a “Pac-14” …

The best running backs room in 20 years? With Alex Fontenot (CU’s leading rusher in 2019), Jarek Broussard (2020 Pac-12 Offensive Player-of-the-Year) and Ashaad Clayton (2020 four-star recruit), the argument can certainly be made … How will the carries be divided to maximize the talent? …

CU’s quarterback room consists of a transfer sophomore, a COVID freshman, a true freshman, and a walk-on freshman … Despite the lack of experience, can CU get enough out of its starter – be it J.T. Shrout or Brendon Lewis – to remain competitive in the Pac-12 South? …