As all the players begin reporting today for the start of fall camp there are a few Buffs that are new to the team who have the best opportunity to make an impact come game time. There are some players who we haven’t seen take any snaps yet, but I’d like to look solely at the new recruits. We’ll get to those other guys later during fall camp. For now, here is my list of new recruits that we should watch throughout the fall and see if they can crack into the lineup within the next few weeks:
Nick Kasa – This massive d-lineman should hopefully be able to come in and show why he was seen as one of the top defensive ends in the country coming out of high school. At 6’7″ and his surprising quickness off the line, Kasa should give us a nice boost on the defensive front where we will be replacing 3 starters.
*Andre Simmons – While Simmons isn’t technically new to college football (transfered from Independence Community College in Kansas), he is new to the Buffs and FBS (Division I-A) style play. But having that bit of JC experience will help him make a more immediate transition and impact on the lineup. Plus, at 6’3″ and running a 4.46 in the 40 (he said he wants to get back to his best of 4.39) he could give us a much needed height and speed boost at the WR position.
Jarrod Darden AND Terdema Ussery – These incoming WR’s have been working with the team since June, studying the playbook and soaking up as much as they can from the older guys. At 6’4″ and 6’5″ respectively (according to CUBuffs.com), these two could also supplement a lacking wide receiver core and hopefully help out our unimpressive passing game.
These 4 Buffs aren’t the only new guys that could break into the lineup this season, but they have a certain buzz that has developed around their potential. Add that to the needed assistance at their position and you’ve got a recipe that points in the direction of some early playing time.
Some Other Notables:
Zach Grossnickle (K) – If we see another meltdown of Aric Goodman (5-14 in 2008), we could see this Denver native step in. Or any of our other kickers, any change would be beneficial at this point.
Edward Nuckols (DT) – Since we haven’t seen much of the replacement d-line, there is a chance that we’ll need more young talent to step up and contribute.
We’ll have to see how quickly a lot of these young guys pick up the new system, but we are in need of some support from the newcomers this year and they are most fit for the job (as of now). It should be interesting to see how everything shakes out before Sept. 5th but we can be certain that it will be fun to watch! If you’d personally like to see who’s progressing the best be sure to check out the open practices leading up to the scrimmage on the 13th. If you think I missed someone on the list, leave a comment and explain why. We need to get some discussion going and build some hype for the season. Let’s hear your thoughts. Until next time, GO BUFFS!!!

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