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Like I said, this is not a surprise. There was rumor, innuendo, off the record leaks, and finally just "it's done - accept it" talk about the former Chaparrel High School Star coming home to CU, now it's official - Shane Callahan is a Buff.
CU has petitioned to the NCAA for a waiver to the transfer rule, which requires a player to sit out one year after a transfer. It is based on Callahan transferring back based on a family illness. Frankly, that is always a dubious claim, and the NCAA has no consistency in their rulings (unless you're Oregon, then you get the waiver regardless). So let's call this 50/50 as to wether or not he will be eligible this year.
That decision could be potentially huge for the Buffs offensive line. To be fair, he's only played a handful of snaps against crappy teams while at Auburn, and also redshirted, so it's been a while since he played consistently, but our offensive line is a clear position of importance that needs improvement, and Callahan would definitely help that. He's a former 4-star recruit with the size and technique who can step in immediately and contribute.
And that's important. Our offensive line was bad last year, and I wasn't impressed at the spring game - particularly at tackle. Right now, our tackles project to be Stephane Nembot, who has struggled in pass protection, and either Marc Mustoe or Jeromy Irwin at left tackle. Mustoe has not impressed, and Irwin has been injured and barely played. Adding Callahan to the mix is huge.
That said, he shouldn't be counted on as a savior. Some Buffs fans praise this former blue chip recruit from the SEC as a game changer, and also dismiss former blue chip SEC recruit RB Dee Hart going to CSU. Neither are true. Both add hope and options at positions of need, but neither are anything proven.
UPDATE: In fantastic news, Callahan has been declared immediately eligible:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Great news! Callahan declared eligible to compete this fall for the Buffaloes. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoBuffs?src=hash">#GoBuffs</a> <a href="http://t.co/kh4rbod6y1">http://t.co/kh4rbod6y1</a></p>— Colorado Buffaloes (@cubuffs) <a href="https://twitter.com/cubuffs/statuses/496435078684086272">August 4, 2014</a></blockquote>
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