Big 12 North Preview - Colorado Buffalos

The one time "rival" of Nebraska is looking to do better than their worst season in recent memory. 2006 was a rough year for the program and it's fans. Like Nebraska of a few years ago, they are rebuilding their program under second year coach Dan Hawkins. Hawkins turned around Boise State and made them into the Cinderella story they were in last year’s Fiesta Bowl, upsetting perennial power Oklahoma in the waning seconds with a Statue of Liberty play on a two point conversion to win rather than tie and play in overtime, which is probably second only to Matt Don’t be fooled, those were Hawkins’ recruits out there on that field. Credit him for the players.

The Hawk has a big job to do out in Boulder, and that’s turn a once proud franchise back into a national contender. He’s a mover and full of energy, which is something that coaching and operating in a conference like the Big 12 is going to require. Earlier in the decade they were competing, and getting the best of, the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Kansas State Wildcats for the top of the heap in the Big 12 North. Those days are a thing of the past and they will have to find a new identity under Hawkins. It’s not as if former coach Gary Barnett left the cupboard bare, quite the opposite.

The Buffs will have nine starters returning on the offensive side of the football this year. The big question is who will be under center? Senior Bernard Jackson will be switching positions this year, and may be used as an option to mix things up a bit if quarterback play becomes stale. The QB job will be left up to junior college transfer Nick Nelson who was impressive in his sophomore year at Saddleback (Cal.) Community College. He was ranked in the top 10 JUCO quarterbacks last year. He compiled 2,241 passing yards with 18 touchdowns and 9 interceptions leading his Gauchos to an 11-1 record. His direct competition will come from coach Hawkins’ son, redshirt freshman Cody Hawkins. The senior Hawkins promised that won’t factor in to the final decision.

The rest of the offense is made up of plenty of experienced players. Senior running back Hugh Charles will try to rebound from an unimpressive junior season. In the 2006 preseason he was on the Doak Walker watch list, by the end of the season he had only started nine games with 779 yards. The receiving core is in tact from last year as well. Watch for senior Dusty Sprague if he can stay healthy.

Colorado’s defense is nothing to sneeze at either. With returning defensive end Abraham Wright who totaled 11.5 sacks last year and potential All-American senior linebacker Jordan Dizon the front seven should be at most solid and at the least serviceable. Dizon had a career high 19 tackles against the Cornhuskers last season, and had 137 tackles overall which turned out to be the most in nine years at the school. The secondary is taking a nasty hit and will be the Achilles Heel for the Buffs defense. Three of the four starters from last year graduated, however the lone starter from the ’06 squad is Terrence Wheatley. He was a 2006 All-Big 12 pick after missing the entire 2005 season.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the loss of senior kicker Mason Crosby to the NFL. He set the Colorado scoring record with 307 points and set over 33 single season and career records at the school.

Oh yeah, remember that rant that Hawkins went on last winter? You'll also get some social commentary from Best Damn Sports Show host John Salley. Here you go...

2006 Overall record: 2-10
2006 Conference record: 2-6 (5^th Big 12 North)
Offensive returning starters: 9
Defensive returning starters: 7

Offense: C-
Defense: B-
Special Teams: B
Overall: C

2007 Prediction: 3-7 Overall, (2-6) Big 12
2007 Big 12 North Ranking: 5th

Next Preview: Kansas Jayhawks