Buff Bites: Buffaloes Being Recognized

Team Colorado bounced from TBT, plenty of Buffs named to preseason watch lists, and why the #BlackoutBoyz could be even better in 2018 and beyond.

SAY IT AIN’T SO

After nearly taking home the $2 Million winner-take-all prize last year, Team Colorado, the top seed in the West Region, made an early exit from this year’s TBT (The Basketball Tournament). Marcus Hall, Chris Copeland and crew were defeated by Armored Athlete 84-75 in the Super 16. Team Colorado lost to Overseas Elite by five in last year’s TBT Final. Overseas Elite reached this year’s Semifinals for the third straight year.

BUFFS STARS DRAWING NATIONAL ATTENTION

Less than a week after being named to the 2017 Maxwell Award (Player of the Year) watch list, team captain Phillip Lindsay was added to the Doak Walker Award watch list, an award which goes to the nation’s top running back. Since its inception in 1990, the late Rashaan Salaam was the only Buff to capture the Doak Walker Award, doing so in 1994, the same year he won the Heisman Trophy.

Senior co-captains George Frazier (TE/DE) and Derek McCartney (OLB) were also named to preseason watch lists last week. Frazier was one of 46 players on the Paul Hornung Award list (Most Versatile Player), while McCartney was one of a record 109 players selected for the Danny Wuerffel trophy, given to the player who best combines community service with athletic and academic achievement.

‘Big Play’ Shay Fields and Devin Ross were named to the 2017 Biletnikoff Award watch list, which has recognized the top receiver in college football since 1994. The Buffs were one of five programs to have two players make the list. No Buff has ever won the award.

FUTURE OF THE #BLACKOUTBOYZ

While this year’s receiving core might just be one of the best in the country, it’s possible the #BlackoutBoyz could be better in the near future. In the month of July alone, CU received verbal commitments from three talented Class of 2018 wideouts, the last of which came from 4-star Dylan Thomas on Sunday.

A member of the #BlackoutBoyz from day one, they’ll also have this son of a Buffs legend for the next four years.

MONTEZ POISED FOR BREAKOUT YEAR

After filling in for an often injured Sefo Liufau last season, Athlon Sports has named sophomore signal caller Steven Montez one of ‘College Football’s Top-25 Breakout Quarterbacks for 2017’. The Buffs incumbent starter, who checked in at number seven, joined Oregon’s Justin Herbert as the only Pac-12 quarterbacks on the list.

HAPPENING IN HOLLYWOOD

Just your friendly reminder that Coach Mike MacIntyre, Phillip Lindsay and Derek McCartney will be in Hollywood this Wednesday and Thursday for Pac-12 Media Days. Here’s how you can watch. How will Coach Mac and CU build off their successful 2016 campaign? Here’s a great breakdown by my colleague Jeff Hauser on what to expect for 2017 and beyond.