Due to lightning, Florida State’s practice on Thursday was held inside the indoor practice facility. FSU’s game prep for Alabama continued in front of scouts from the Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Note: Today’s Florida State football practice was a little different from the perspective of the media. We weren’t allowed to film highlights and were only allowed to take photographs.

Offense:

Taking snaps on the offensive line on Thursday from left to right were; Derrick Kelly, Landon Dickerson, Alec Eberle, Brock Ruble and Rick Leonard

Also taking snaps on the offensive line, left to right, were; Josh Ball, Ethan Frith, Corey Martinez, Mike Arnold and Josh Ball

The Florida State running backs were practicing balls security once again.

The quarterbacks were also working with the wide receivers as they do every practice.

Defense:

Imagine Derwin James running some pursuit drills.

Special Teams:

Ricky Aguayo made all four of his field goals from 45 yards or closer. The only one he missed was a field goal of 49 yards, a distance we had not seen him kick from in fall camp. The kick had the distance, but was wide left.

Injuries/Absent:

Once again, we are not allowed to report on injuries or who was absent from practice until head coach Jimbo Fisher addresses it following practice. This section will be updated when he does so.

Already announced were the season-ending injuries to offensive linemen Baveon Johnson (knee) and Jauan Williams (shoulder). Both had surgery.

We’re are now only nine days away from your Georgia Bulldogs kicking it off between the hedges against the Appalachian State Mountaineers. Every year new players emerge to take on a prominent role, and we’re taking a stab at guessing who those players will be in 2017 in this series: ‘Dawgs Poised to Pounce. #7 is sophomore defensive back Tyrique McGhee.

I had the chance to watch Tyrique McGhee play before he made it to Athens. McGhee was part of a series of standout Peach County Trojan teams coached by Chad Campbell. If you’ve watched much Middle Georgia high school football over the years you know that the Trojans a) usually appear to be fielding a team of 23 year olds, and b) will not be out-physicaled by any opponent. The boys from Fort Valley and Byron get to the ball fast and arrive in a bad mood year after year.

And so it is with that context that Tyrique McGhee’s contributions at Georgia in 2017 should make a lot of sense. There’s a very real chance that Tyrique McGhee may not start more than a couple of games this season. The competition in the UGA secondary, a unit for some time viewed as a bit of a liability, is fierce this fall. The ‘Dawgs return three seniors and one junior starter for packages in which four defensive backs are on the field. Aaron Davis has played as much football as anyone in Athens. Dominick Sanders is an All-SEC candidate. Malkom Parrish and Deandre Baker improved significantly through 2016 and have secured the corner spots.

But sophomore McGhee has the chance to be the surprise in the secondary, for a couple of reasons. For one, he’s possibly the best tackler in the UGA defensive backfield. It’s something that jumped off the screen when you watched his high school tape, and it continued as he became a solid contributor on special teams as a freshman. McGhee played in all thirteen games last season, and tallied nine tackles (eight of them on special teams). Six of McGhee’s stops came on kickoff returns, and a full half of those were stops inside the opponent’s 20 yard line. You want a gunner on kick coverage? Have I got the guy for you.

He’s currently working at both outside corner and the star position vacated by Maurice Smith. While Baker may have one spot nailed down, Parrish remains questionable for the opener with a broken foot. Yes, Kirby Smart says he hasn’t been ruled out. No, I’ve never known the head Bulldog to be reluctant to give the full story on injuries. Why do you ask?

The truth is McGhee may well be your game one starter at the corner spot. He may also see significant time alongside redshirt sophomore J.R. Reed at the star spot, a fifth defensive back which is on the field often in Smart and Mel Tucker’s defense (as much as 80% of snaps depending on the opponent).

I expect that McGhee’s tenaciousness, experience, and versatility will bring him off the bench ahead of more heralded freshmen even when Parrish returns. But regardless of where he’s ultimately situated Tyrique McGhee is a player you should get used to seeing on the field, the kind of player who could make a huge difference in a big game situation. Until later . . .

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

Prior installments

#10 Jeb Blazevich

#9 D’Andre Walker

#8 Ben Cleveland

USA Today released their preseason All-America Team choices yesterday, and TCU’s Kavonte Turpin was named as a 2nd Team Specialist for kickoff returns. He joins Alabama Punter JK Scott and Minnesota Kicker Emmit Carpenter on the list. The First Team return specialist was Quadree Henderson of Pittsburgh.

Frog fans have enjoyed watching Turpin take off down the field in a variety of roles for the team since his Freshman year in 2015. His speed and agility make him a fun player to watch and equally frustrating for defensive players to catch. In 2015, Turpin had 45 receptions for a total of 649 yards, with an additional 729 yards in kickoff returns. In 2016, he suffered an injury to his knee early in the season. He only played in 8 games, but he still managed to rack up 295 receiving yards on 30 receptions and 482 yards in kickoff returns. He’s had over 300 yards in punt returns the past two years combined. In 2015, he had 181 yards over 13 games, and in 2016 he totaled 125 yards in just 8 games, extending his average from 10.6 yards/return to 12.5 yards/return.

Turpin was unable to practice this past Spring due to academic issues. In a press conference back in April, Gary Patterson said he was happy to have Turpin rejoin the team. He also noted how difficult it can be for a player to be great as a freshman. “He just needs to keep doing what he’s supposed to do. We have standards here on and off the field,” he told reporters..

We’re looking forward to watching Turpin take off down the field this season, evading defenders and racking up yards as the Frogs take on a challenging season. His speed and agility can be especially useful this season when the Frogs travel to Norman, Stillwater, and Manhattan. Congrats, KaVontae, and good luck this season!

“He’s ridiculous right now. That name is very good right now. Need some more Bosas.”

–Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer on defensive end Nick Bosa via Mitch Stacy, Associated Press

If it was possible, Urban Meyer would love to make a whole defensive line consisting of Bosas. Not only did Joey Bosa make a huge impact at Ohio State, and has impressed in his short time in the NFL, but his younger brother Nick is poised to create chaos in the backfield of opponents for the Buckeyes. While Joey made an almost immediate impact for the Buckeyes as a freshman, it took Nick a little longer because of a torn ACL he suffered during his senior year in high school. Even while dealing with recovery from the knee injury, Bosa still was able to register five sacks for the Buckeyes as a true freshman.

Nick Bosa will also have to deal with a little more competition on the defensive line than his older brother did. With guys like Tyquan Lewis, Jalyn Holmes, and Sam Hubbard at defensive end, snaps will be a little harder to come by for Bosa. While the younger Bosa might not be able to pile up the stats that his older brother did, it doesn’t mean he won’t be able to make as big of an impact for Ohio State. If anything, the rotation Ohio State will employ at defensive end will likely help Bosa since it’ll keep him fresher against offensive linemen who will be worn down from trying to deal with the Buckeyes’ depth on the defensive line.

What has Bosa really excited for this year is the change in scheme the Buckeye defensive line will employ under Greg Schiano. Last year under Luke Fickell, the Buckeye defensive line had to tie up the offensive line to allow for the linebackers to make plays. Under Schiano, the defensive line can now focus more on creating pressure in the backfield. After outstanding production from the defensive line last year, it’s scary they could be even better this year.

“We have some decisions to make. I don’t know the answer to that. We’re going to sit down and talk after tomorrow and formulate a plan.”

–Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano via Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch

With the kickoff to Ohio State’s 2017 season just a week away, there are still a few decisions to make about who will take the field for the Buckeyes. On the defensive side of the football, there are still questions about who will be lining up at safety opposite Damon Webb. The safety battle has been narrowed to Jordan Fuller and Erick Smith, with defensive coordinator Greg Schiano seeing upside with both. Fuller brings size to the table, while Smith has speed that has impressed so far. It is possible that both safeties rotate until one is able to grab a firm hold on the position.

On offense, there is a three-way battle between Matthew Burrell, Branden Bowen, and Malcolm Pridgeon to take the right guard slot which was vacated when Billy Price moved to center. Unlike at safety, a rotation at guard is less than preferred, but offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson didn’t rule out the possibility. Each of the three guards have had moments where they have looked like they would take hold of the job, only to have their competition close the gap. Wilson is hoping the practices leading up to next week’s game will see one of the guards stand out and make the decision for Wilson easier, and if not they’ll entertain the option of a committee at guard.

“Coach (Urban) Meyer always says it’s a rotating program, when guys leave, guys have to step up. If we don’t have anybody that’s of the same talent, if not better, we lose. The guy that’s in that room has to step up, has to make plays, has to be that guy.”

–Ohio State H-back Parris Campbell via Colin Hass-Hill, The Lantern

It is no small task in replacing a player like Curtis Samuel, but Ohio State is hoping Parris Campbell can be that guy. Campbell is a gifted athlete who has impressed since he was a freshman in high school with not only his speed but also with his agility. While many speedsters have mainly straight-line speed, Campbell is able to change directions, which makes him dangerous on the football field when he gets going.

For the most part, Campbell’s career at Ohio State has gotten off to a slow start, hauling in just 13 catches for 121 yards and no touchdowns. One area where Campbell was able to impress was as a kick returner, averaging 27.8 yards per return, which was 11th-best in the country. With Campbell stepping into Samuel’s spot he should be able to get the football in his hands more and showcase the speed which helped to bring him to Ohio State.

STICK TO SPORTS

EUGENE, Oregon — Junior college defensive lineman transfer Malik Young made his Oregon debut and the team began preparations for Southern Utah at practice on Thursday morning. Day 18 of fall training camp was extremely productive from the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex.

Following the late transfer of Young from Eastern Arizona College, the 6-foot-2 man-child debuted at practice on Thursday in just an Oregon helmet with a green No. 94 jersey. He will have to wait five days to practice in full pads, which is protocol.

After being unable to attend Missouri due to SEC guidelines for graduation, Young chose Oregon following his JuCo career. The 301-pounder was the No. 7 ranked defensive tackle in JUCO according to 247sports.com.

Needless to say, this was a huge day for the Ducks. They desperately needed defensive line depth, so this couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. Alongside Young, the Ducks will boast the talents of Scott Pagano, Jordon Scott, Justin Hollins, Henry Mondeaux and Jalen Jelks on their d-line this season. And the depth is building.

Pagano had his walking boot removed earlier this week. He is getting closer to a return to the field.

Additionally, head coach Willie Taggart and his staff began preparing the team for Southern Utah. It’s the first time that Taggart has created a specific game plan for a team in his short Duck coaching career.

“We’ll walk through on Thursday,” said Taggart in reference to his in-season schedule. “We’ll go hard on Tuesday and Wednesday. Then Friday we get out and let loose a little bit. We’ll get a better understanding when we slow it down.”

The head coach addressed the scrimmage on Tuesday from Autzen Stadium.

It was less penalties than the first one (scrimmage), but still way too many. Wasn’t really impressed with our energy when we started off, but I was more impressed with how we finished the scrimmage. Both sides of the ball made plays. I was probably more impressed with some of the plays our No. 2’s (second team) made. That was good to see.

A big topic of conversation the last week has been the battle between the No. 1 team and the No. 2 team. Beyond that, the depth is lacking currently. Nevertheless, the first two teams are showcasing some serious talent. The coach knows what he’s looking for.

“It’s tight,” said Taggart. “Our guys understand that a lot of guys are going to play. When it’s game time, you got to cut back. In the game, there is a real sense of urgency. To the real competitors, the guys that like to compete and love playing under the lights, you see those guys practice a little harder, getting themselves trained for game time.”

He knows the competition between the players is solid, but Taggart is not struggling to manage his depth chart. Oregon’s lead man lets their actions speak to him.

“I don’t think it’s tough,” Taggart stated calmly. “Our players are evaluated every day. You’re looking for consistent improvement each and every day. When it comes to that, it will all separate itself.”

It’s almost hard to believe that Taggart has never coached a game at Oregon. For all he has accomplished already, it feels like he has been on the sideline for years. The most impressive feat was his unprecedented signing of the No. 1 recruiting class for 2018 without coaching a game. Plain and simple, Willie has the juice.

The day wasn’t over just yet, as Nike and Oregon unveiled another season of their wonderful partnership with uniforms, of course! And they are super clean for Oregon’s rematch with Nebraska from Autzen Stadium in Week 2.

Here is the amazing story behind it all. If you haven’t heard about it yet, you might want to take a few moments…

This is what college athletics should always be about. There are far too many negative stories in NCAA athletics nowadays and not enough like this one.

We’ll continue to post interviews with Coach T and his coaches/players on a daily basis.

ATQ will have updates, breaking news, and photo/video live feeds on Twitter for the entirety of fall camp. The Quack Addict will give fans an inside look at Oregon football throughout the season.

Stay tuned on Instagram @eugene_levys_eyebrows and Twitter @TheQuackFiend

There’s no denying Auburn has some serious momentum on the recruiting trail right now. Things were moving a bit slow heading into late June when Auburn hadn’t landed a commit since A-Day. Then things got rolling:

That’s quite the way to finish the summer. Throw in Auburn trending for 4* Buck Richard Jibunor, 4* WR Seth Williams and 4* OT Dylan Wonnum and you have plenty of reasons to be excited about what the Tigers are doing on the recruiting trail. However, a big year on the field in 2017 could really take this class from what should be really good to elite. Guys like 5* QB Justin Fields, 4* OG Trey Hill, 4* WR Justyn Ross and 4* CB Kyler McMichael are going to be watching Auburn close this fall. If the Tigers can accomplish what we think they are capable of accomplishing on the field, this could end up being one of Gus Malzahn’s best classes since arriving at Auburn. But you got to win for that to happen.

Recapping Corky Kell Classic

Quite a few Auburn commits and targets took part in the Corky Kell Classic this past weekend, kicking off the 2017 Georgia high school football season. It was a mixed bag for Auburn commits. 4* LB Michael Harris had a big day despite battling some early injuries. He was flying around the field and made two really clutch plays late in the game to help his Tucker squad escape a very feisty Kell team.

4* WR Matthew Hill on the other hand, had a much rougher day. He flashed some explosiveness in the return game but also dropped a TD and had a fumble. Duke commit, 3* CB Taiyon Palmer, did a great job smothering Hill and not letting him get loose. I expect the Tiger commit to bounce back in a big way this weekend.

AU linebacker target, 4* JJ Peterson, had his snaps limited due to a nagging sports hernia injury. When he was on the field though he looked explosive off the edge rushing the passer. Hopefully he gets healed up soon and can see more time on the field. He continues to say Alabama is his leader with Auburn second.

There were a lot of players that stood out this weekend. Most of these schools will be competing for state titles in their respective classifications and are loaded with FBS talent. Here are some other players that stood out to me Saturday who may or may not become or are Auburn targets.

• 2020 DL Myles Murphy – The Hillgrove DL was a one man wrecking force against a loaded Buford team. He’s an AU legacy and already holds an Auburn and Georgia offer. Will probably be one of Auburn’s top targets in two seasons.
• 4* WR Josh Vann (South Carolina Commit) – Vann was the best player I saw Saturday. He committed to the Gamecocks after Tucker’s wild win over Kell. He flashed everything from outstanding hands to elite speed to tough blocking. Will Muschamp is getting a stud in this kid.
• Archer’s Secondary – I mentioned last week that this was going to be a great test for Hill facing an elite secondary. And oh man was that group tough to handle. Palmer was the star with his two interceptions but I also though 2019 4* S Jalyn Phillips stood out. He had some big time hits on Hill. Also, I continue to be impressed by 4* DB Andrew Booth who I think could be a 5* by the end of next year’s recruiting cycle.
• 3* K Jake Camarda (Georgia Commit) – Norcross lost a controversial heartbreaker but my goodness do they have a kicker. This dude was booming punts, kickoffs and even drilled what should have been a game winner under some wild circumstances. It seems like Auburn and Georgia always have a solid kicker and that won’t be changing for either team with Anders Carlson and Camarda.
• 2019 QB Austin Kirksey – I thought the best QB of the day was Walton. He’s listed as a pro style player but he’s got some wheels when needed. He flashed a strong and accurate arm and seemed to stay in control of that offense. His stats weren’t eye popping but I saw a Power 5 QB on the field. Looks like he’s on Auburn, Alabama and Clemson’s radar. Won’t be shocked if ends up in the SEC in two years.
• 2019 RB Tyler Goodson – The 2019 class is absolutely loaded with RB talent, especially in the state of Georgia. There’s a very good chance Goodson is the best of the bunch. He had a big day on the ground for North Gwinnett and showed a little of everything from tough running to catching passes out of the backfield. Not sure he ever went down on first contact.

High School Football Underway

This week, Alabama and Florida join in on the action, kicking off their high school football seasons and there are some big time matchups on the docket. None bigger than the primetime Saturday night matchup that will be on ESPN2 at 7:30 PM EST featuring Auburn commit 4* QB Joey Gatewood’s Bartram Trail team traveling to face off against Clemson commit and #2 player in the country, 5* QB Trevor Lawrence’s Carterville squad. This will be a great chance to see how Gatewood stacks up against one of the premier players in the country. Fair warning, Gatewood will rotate with fellow senior 3* Riley Smith at the QB spot but should see plenty of action regardless.

Auburn target, 5* QB Justin Fields, got off to a strong start against East Paulding last week. This weekend though he faces a much stiffer challenge in the Rome Wolves who are loaded with FBS talent. Their defensive line consists of at least three future SEC players in 3* DL Jaquon Griffin (LSU Commit), 3* DL Jamarcus Chatman (Tennessee Commit) and 4* DE/LB Adam Anderson (Former UGA/LSU Commit). Fields is going to have to carry a pretty heavy load for his Harrison team to pull this one out but it should be an electric atmosphere and an exciting game to watch.

Finally, there will be plenty of Auburn targets and a couple of commits in action when the Hoover Bucs travel to Loganville, GA to face the Grayson Rams. Both teams won their state’s 7A title last season. Hoover features a pair of Auburn commits at the wideout spots in 3* Shedrick Jackson and 4* George Pickens. They will be facing a loaded Grayson defense that includes two top 2019 AU targets in 4* LB Owen Pappoe and 3* CB Jalen Alexander.

If you got nothing better to do this Friday night, go check out a high school game in your area. You never know, you might get a chance to see the next Auburn star in action. War Eagle!

The Oregon Ducks are going to wear white at home this year. And it’s going to be against Nebraska.

It’s a neat initiative, and one Oregon believes in. But, this brings up an interesting quandary. In that, Nebraska will be, in all likelihood, wearing red on the road.

In a quick check, it appears the last time the Huskers wore red as a road team in a non-neutral site game was in 1976. That year, they wore red in Baton Rouge as they tied LSU 6-6.

Of course, the Nebraska AD would have to confirm it, but that would be interesting that Oregon would go full white and silver for their game. It would be different than what the Ducks wore last year when they played in Lincoln.

Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

Would that mean the dreaded red jersey & red pants make it on the road? I guess we’ll find out soon enough.

Vanderbilt got solid production from the offensive line in 2016. The line wasn’t spectacular, but they opened enough holes for Ralph Webb and kept Kyle Shurmur mostly upright, and that played a big role in a late-season offensive surge.

While the Commodores return basically all of their skill position players from 2016, the offensive line has a 6’7″, 312-pound hole to fill with Will Holden now playing for the Arizona Cardinals. Who will play at the tackle spot in 2017?

(Note: before you ask, I’m dividing the OL into tackles and interior linemen mostly for organizational purposes, but some of the players listed here could play at guard.)

Justin Skule, junior: Skule saw playing time as a true freshman in 2015, then became Vanderbilt’s starting right tackle as a sophomore. Skule started all 13 games at right tackle.

However, it’s unlikely that he will make a start at right tackle in 2017 — because he’s moving to the other side of the line to replace Holden. At 6’6″ and 315 pounds, Skule has SEC-level size and is also one of the most experienced linemen on Vanderbilt’s roster with 15 career starts. Now he’ll have the job of protecting Kyle Shurmur’s blind side.

Devin Cochran, redshirt freshman: There was some talk that Cochran might play as a true freshman after Andrew Jelks got hurt, but with Skule and Holden staying healthy and effective, Cochran took a redshirt year.

Cochran is a physical specimen at 6’7″ and 305 pounds, and after a redshirt year he’s in the competition to start at right tackle — though no one has claimed the job just yet. Either way, odds are good that Cochran will be a starter at tackle at some point in his career.

Bailey Granier, redshirt junior: Granier contributed mostly at guard in 2016, but he has the size to play tackle at 6’6″ and 316 pounds and is in the mix to start at right tackle — though of course, he could also be a starter at guard. That decision seems to be mostly on whether Cochran is ready to start. Granier’s size says tackle but his agility suggests that he could have more of an impact at guard.

Jared Southers, redshirt sophomore: Southers was Vanderbilt’s primary reserve tackle in 2016, appearing in ten games. Now he’s another candidate to start at right tackle or at guard.

At 6’5″ and 310 pounds, Southers has good size and should get some playing time on the line even if he’s not starting. At the very least, he’s solid injury depth.

Johnathan Stewart, freshman: At 6’8″ and 305 pounds, Stewart has obvious potential. He’s also fairly raw and will probably need a year or more before he’s ready to contribute. Don’t expect to see him play this year, but he’s a good prospect down the road.

Cole Clemens, freshman: Want to know the difference between now and 2014/2015? In the first couple of years under Derek Mason, somebody like Clemens — a strong offensive line prospect at 6’6″ and 305 pounds who’s also fairly advanced for a true freshman — would have been pushed into action early as Vanderbilt just didn’t have much in front of him. In fact, such a player DID play as a true freshman (Justin Skule.)

But in 2017, Clemens is a likely redshirt — and that says a lot more about Vanderbilt’s offensive line depth than it does about Clemens.

Bryce Bailey, freshman: Most of what I wrote about Clemens also applies to Bryce Bailey. One or both could ultimately end up at guard, but for now, they’re prospects at tackle. Bailey was a first-team All-State OL in Indiana and a two-time state finalist in the shot put; like Clemens and Stewart, he’s probably redshirting this year.

*SPOILER ALERT: If you haven’t watched episode three of HBO’s Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers yet, stop reading now*

Last week on HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’, Jameis Winston briefed rookie Sefo Liufau about a harsh reality that comes with playing in the NFL.

“You can be cut anytime brother,” Winston explained to the former Buffs quarterback.

The tables were turned in this week’s show, with the rookie imparting some knowledge to the veteran about rescuing goats. Yes, you heard me correctly. Goats.

About 18 minutes into episode three, Liufau is talking to Winston about his girlfriend, her family, and the four goats they rescued. Unable to contain himself without laughing, Winston is in awe, refusing to believe there is such a thing as goat rescuing.

“Are you serious? You can rescue goats?” Winston inquires.

“Yeah, what did you think I meant?” Liufau responds.

“It’s not like dog rescue,” Winston says. “Because I was about to say, they’re [Liufau’s girlfriend’s parents] really rich if they rescuing goats like dogs.”

Here are my takeaways:

1. One of the better moments from HBO’s Hard Knocks series in recent memory. Love getting this sort of access. Jameis Winston is hysterical and needs his own show someday.

2. I had no idea there was such a thing as goat rescue either, but a quick google search yields quite a few volunteer organizations aimed at saving these four-legged creatures.

3. In addition to Liufau making the Buccaneers 53-man roster, I’m seriously hoping Jameis Winston rescues a goat.

Expect Liufau to get some serious air time in next week’s episode which will feature the ever popular rookie talent show. HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ continues Tuesday, August 29 at 10pm ET. In case you missed the first three episodes, you can catch them in their entirety this Saturday, August 26 beginning at 2:30pm ET.

On the first day of class last year, Juwann Winfree walked into the wrong classroom. He was in room 140 on the ground floor, not 1B40 in the basement. He slowly realized his mistake as he looked around the classroom to see a room filled with twenty Middle Eastern students — eighteen Arab, two Iranian-American — and one white kid, plus the Iranian teacher with a thick, almost unintelligible accent. Adorned with dreadlocks that were (and still are) cool as hell, Juwann had a beaming smile and a hint of a chuckle as he asked the class if he was in the right room.

I was there, I was that white kid, and I was so excited for Juwann to be in my Persian-language class. It was easy to recognize Juwann, even though he hadn’t yet suited up for the Buffaloes after transferring from Maryland via Coffeyville Community College (Kan.). Only a week prior, Juwann had torn his ACL in practice and would have to take a medical redshirt. I thought I recognized Juwann by his dreads and smile, but it that was massive knee brace that tipped me off for certain that it was him.

“It’s been a long process,” Juwann explains about his recovery, “I want to thank the [medical] trainers and weightlifting trainers. I don’t feel limited anymore.”

After his arduous rehabilitation, Juwann says he’s basically the same player, but admits he may have lost a step of speed. In his eyes, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Instead of focusing and trying to maintain breakaway speed, he has improved his game in just about every other way. He emphasized his hands and his route running as essential tools that have since improved. He mentioned working on his blocking and running after the catch, having learned from CU’s other receivers who are among the best in the country at those underrated skills. It’s the bits of nuance that make good players great, and it’s the little things that power promising teams.

At 6’3, 210-lbs. (he looks bigger), Juwann has always been more of a physical receiver than a speed demon. At his size with his skill, he lives for the contested catch. He can box out, muscle up, and otherwise physically dominate most cornerbacks. But still, Juwann says physical corners give him the most problems. Luckily for him, he plays for CU, and with Chidobe Awuzie and Ahkello Witherspoon last year and Isaiah Oliver and Dante Wigley this year, Juwann isn’t lacking physical opponents to refine his skills against. These elite corners CU pumps out are invaluable to his development. By the way he speaks about them, it’s easy to tell he has a deep reverence and thankfulness for his positional opposites. Everyday he goes up against an all-conference talent, and everyday he improves his game.

Going into 2017, Juwann will likely be the fourth option in the Buffs’ ridiculously stacked receiving corps. He won’t get as many targets as he warrants, but he’ll have his chance to show how promising he is. According to Juwann, the Buffs will play up-tempo and use tons of 4- or 5-receiver sets, meaning everyone will be involved. The passing game will be electric, and as Juwann is quick to point out, that will open up the run game and help the team stay balanced. Finally, he let loose that beaming smile once again as I goaded him into imagining the Buffs playing with only four linemen so they could have five receivers with Phillip Lindsay still at running back, an offense no one could stop.

Juwann Winfree wants to be the best receiver in the nation. Even if he never gets back that breakaway speed, he’ll continuously work to make that goal a reality. In the meantime, the Buffs have themselves the most overqualified fourth receiver in the nation.