Colorado Buffaloes Spring Football 2018: Newcomers to watch

The eight inches of snow on the ground and the ice on your windshield are lying to you - it’s spring time, baby. Mike MacIntyre has willed it so. Once again, the Colorado Buffaloes have an early spring after getting an unfortunate break from football starting in December. The first leg of the offseason is completed, and a month of pseudo-football is just what the doctor ordered.

Changes abound in the 2018 offseason. Some were forced, some were voluntary. Plenty of experience is leaving on both sides of the ball, and there are new faces to learn on the coaching staff and the field. Let’s focus on the players because there’s plenty of playing time up for grabs for these young Buffs.

Delrick Abrams, CB

Picking a junior college recruit is kind of cheating, but given his importance to the 2018 season and the competition he’s facing, I think it fits. While Davion Taylor, a fellow JuCo transfer, will also step into a starting spot at Buffbacker, his competition is a little less fierce. Isaiah Oliver has vacated a cornerback spot for the Buffs, and there are plenty of guys that are ready to take that spot. The other boundary corner spot is likely to be manned by Dante Wigley or Trey Udoffia, leaving one of them up to compete with Delrick. There is also uber-talented youngster Chris MIller and freaky athletic junior college sophomore Kevin George, who redshirted last year. With four options for this spot, Abrams will have to prove he belongs. Enrolling early certainly helps, as does his long frame and smooth athleticism. There is a reason that he was one of the most sought after defenders in the junior college ranks. Delrick, as a junior. is physically ready for the spot and has all the tools. This spring, he gets to prove that he is the next top of the line DB from CU.

Terrance Lang, DE

Lang is arguably the most important newcomer, especially on this list. The defensive line was not the highlights of the team last year. This year, with new bodies and a new coach, every spot is up for grams. A mix of veteran players and freshmen brimming with potential will be battling to be noticed in the spring. Lang has the inside track. A steal from USC in the recruiting cycle, many were expecting him to come in and compete immediately. But as a freshman last year, Terrance came in severely underweight after playing basketball his senior year of high school. This gave the Buffs the “opportunity” to redshirt him and give him some extra seasoning. Now, with the weight back (up at around 270 with plenty of room for more), Lang is expected to blow up. Like the other names on this list, he has all the physical tools that CU players haven’t had recently. Freaky long, fast for his size, and agile, Terrance is a great fit as a 3-4 DE. The spot is open for the taking. Watch for Lang’s name to pop up this spring.

Will Sherman, OG

ALLEN’S own Will Sherman is ready for big-boy football. After playing in one of the toughest Texas leagues and excelling, Sherman redshirted last year. He has added weight and understands Klayton Adam’s scheme. Now, with the entire interior of the offensive line taking off or recovering this spring (Tim Lynott is rehabbing his torn Achilles), the Civil War general has the talent and opportunity to blow up. While Colby Pursell is already the odds-on favorite to take over at center, the OG spot opposite Lynott (assuming he’s healthy this season) is completely up for grabs, with some older guys and young guns competing for the spot. It’s worth keeping an eye on Sherman for the spring, because he has the talent to take over that spot for four years. If he can separate himself from the pack during spring practice, that’s a great sign of things to come from the Sherman Tank.