Athlon Sports names eight Buffaloes pre-season All-Pac-12

Buffaloes football looks to be in great shape going into the 2017 season. We in Colorado know how good they, but those in the national media are giving individual Buffs early recognition.

Athlon Sports has plenty of Buffaloes on its pre-season All-Pac-12 team — eight to be precise, two Buffaloes each for all four all-conference teams.

Phillip Lindsay (Sr.) and Shay Fields (Sr.) are Colorado’s representatives on the first team. Lindsay, the Tasmanian devil he is, is listed as all-purpose, which is fitting considering his versatility as a running back, receiver and even returner. Fields is listed at WR/TE, a designation that basically means he’s considered the third best receiver in the Pac-12, which is pretty great.

The second teamers for the Buffs are Jeromy Irwin (Sr.) at offensive tackle and Isaiah Oliver (Jr.) at cornerback. Irwin is ready to anchor Colorado’s line and protect Steven Montez’s blindside. Oliver steps in as CU’s lockdown corner and could somehow be even better than his recently drafted predecessors.

The third team is occupied by CU’s two nastiest Buffaloes, guard Tim Lynott (So.) and safety Afolabi Laguda (Sr.). Lynott is perhaps the most promising CU lineman since Nate Solder, and if he can improve on his Freshman All-American season, the Buffs’ run game could be feared throughout the nation. Laguda is one of the most physical defensive backs in the nation, for better or for worse, and he’ll look to support this year’s version of the vaunted Money Gang secondary.

The fourth team has some familiar names as we have Ryan Moeller (Sr.) at linebacker and Isaiah Oliver again at punt returner. Moeller, the former walk-on who was (officially) named First-Team All-Pac-12 last year as a special teamer, will man the middle of what should be an improved linebacking corps. Oliver is a dangerous return man and can prove to be a hidden weapon for the Buffs.

Eight players being picked pre-season All-Pac-12 is fantastic for the Buffs. You do have to take all of this with a grain of salt, unfortunately. For one, it’s a bit early for these selections as we have three full months before football starts. For another, Athlon Sports picked Colorado to finish last in the Pac-12 South last year, so be weary that they might not be the best at predictions.