Meet your 2014 walk ons

[Buffnik]

Quality group that we should all appreciate. A number have chosen CU over scholarship offers, a number have transferred in, a number have chosen CU because of their desire to represent the state at the highest level, and all are putting forth as much commitment to this team as their scholarship counterparts.

As has been stated many times: it doesn't matter how you get here, what matters is what you do once you are here.

I'd like to issue a heartfelt "Thank you!" to our walk ons.

And here's the list:

Quarterback
Jaleel Awini (SO), 6'2" 220lbs, Rangeview HS (Aurora, CO) - Gatorade CO Player of the Year as a senior in HS; scholarship player at Air Force who redshirted, started as a RS-Freshman and decided to transfer to CU for a walk-on opportunity
Will Fischer-Colbie (FR), 6'1" 215lbs, St. Francis HS (Los Altos, CA) - 1st Team All De Anza League
Ty Gangie (FR), 6'2" 190lbs, St. Francis HS (Glendale, CA) - San Gabriel Valley Player of the Year

Tailback
Kyle Evans (FR), 5'6" 175lbs, Archbishop Mitty HS (San Jose, CA) - All West Catholic Athletic League (RB & CB) as junior - missed 5 weeks with a broken hand as a senior

Fullback
John Finch (SO), 5'11" 215lbs, Park City HS (Park City, UT) - 2nd Team All-State in HS; also a long snapper for the Buffs
Jesse Hiss (SO), 6'1" 230lbs, Basehor-Linwood HS (Bonner Springs, KS) - 1st Team All-State 4A in HS
Clay Jones (JR), 6'0" 230 lbs, St. Francis HS (Palo Alto, CA) - 1st Team All West Catholic Athletic League in HS
Jordan Murphy (JR), 6'0" 235 lbs, Lutheran HS (Castle Rock, CO) - 1st Team All-State 1A in HS; transferred from CSU; 1st on depth chart following spring

Wide Receiver
Wesley Christensen (SR), 5'10" 185lbs, Pleasant Valley HS (Chico, CA) - played for Butte College for 2 years before transferring to CU
Devyn Grimes (JR), 5'9" 200lbs, Nevada Union HS (Grass Valley, CA) - 1st Team All Sierra League in HS; played RB & WR for Cabrillo College for 2 years before transferring to CU
Joseph Hall (FR), 5'9" 165lbs, Mission Prep (San Luis Obispo, CA) - 1st Team Division IV All State in HS; walked on in spring
Colin Johnson (SO), 6'0" 175lbs, St. Francis HS (Saratoga, CA) - 1st Team All West Catholic League in HS as QB
Robert Orban (FR), 6'6" 195lbs, Regis HS (Denver, CO) - two-time All Continental Conference in HS; started at CU as a TE
Dylan Spradling (FR), 6'0" 190lbs, Ponderosa HS (Elizabeth, CO) - 1st Team All-Continental League as both a Junior and Senior in HS as well as Honorable Mention All-State 4A
Cheldon West (JR), 6'0" 175 lbs, Moorpark HS (Moorpark, CA) - 1st team All Ventura County, Marmonte League and All-CIF in HS; played for Moorpark College for 2 years before transferring to CU

Tight End
Brian Boatman (FR), 6'3" 220lbs, Kent Denver HS (Centennial, CO) - 1st Team All State 2A
Chris Hill (FR), 6'2" 225lbs, Mountain Vista HS (Highlands Ranch, CO) - 1st Team All Continental League (5A) in HS; also a longsnapper

Offensive Line
Vincent Arvia (SO), 5'11" 295lbs, Torrey Pines HS (San Diego, CA) - All Palomar League in HS; enters fall as #3 C
Ed Caldwell (SO), 6'5" 300lbs, Highlands Ranch HS (Highlands Ranch, CO) - enters fall as #4 RT after missing 2013 due to knee surgery
James Carr (JR), 6'3" 300lbs, St. Francis HS (Palo Alto, CA) - 1st Team All West Catholic League in HS; played for Univ. of San Diego as freshman before transferring to CU; enters fall as #4 LG
Connor Darby (FR), 6'4" 315lbs, Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills, MI) - enters fall as #4 LT; didn't allow a sack as HS senior

Defensive Tackle
John Paul Tuso (JR), 6'3" 265lbs, Cherry Creek HS (Englewood, CO) - will miss season following surgery on April 10 for torn ACL & MCL suffered in spring practices
Bryan Wyman (FR), 6'1" 260lbs, Otay Ranch HS (Chula Vista, CA) - played OL in HS; added 20lbs while redshirting last year; enters fall at #3 DT

Defensive End
Aaron Howard (SO), 6'1" 240lbs, Denver East HS (Denver, CO) - All Denver Prep League in HS; played at Wilamette Univ as a freshman before transferring to CU in spring of 2013 and redshirting last season
Garrett Gregory (FR), 6'1" 225lbs, Valley Christian HS (Gilroy, CA) - HM All West Catholic League in HS; enters fall as #4 RDE
Andre Nichols (SR), 6'4" 240lbs, Rampart HS (Colorado Springs, CO) - enters fall as #4 LDE after seeing some snaps as a junior and having a good spring game

Linebacker
Lance Cottrell (FR), 6'2" 215lbs, Plano West HS (Plano, TX) - de-committed from SMU scholarship offer to walk on at CU; projects at OLB
Thor Eaton (JR), 6'3" 210lbs, Pine Creek HS (Colorado Springs, CO) - played WR in HS and enters fall as #3 at WILL (ILB)
J.C. Genova (FR), 5'11" 215lbs, Mater Dei HS (Newport Beach, CA) - redshirted at Portland State last year before transferring to CU, where he will need to sit out this season due to transfer rules; 1st Team All-State in HS & Defensive MVP in Trinity League
Hunter Shaw (JR), 6'3" 205lbs, Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton, CA) - 2nd Team All State in HS; enters fall #4 at SAM (OLB)

Cornerback
Brandan Briscoe (JR), 5'9" 170lbs, Bishop O'Dowd HS (Oakland, CA) - 1st Team All Hayward Area League in HS; enters fall as #4 RCB

Safety
Ryan Moeller (FR), 6'0" 205lbs, Rifle HS (Rifle, CO) - 1st Team All Colorado (Denver Post) and 1st Team All State 3A; enters fall as #2 FS
Richard Yates (JR), 6'2" 190lbs, Kent Denver HS (Lakewood, CO) - 1st Team All Colorado (Denver Post) and 1st Team All State 2A (QB & DB) in HS; enters fall as #3 FS

Specialist
Chris Graham (FR), 6'3" 220lbs, Burlingame HS (Burlingame, CA) - enters fall in a tie as #2 K after redshirting while dressing as the emergency kicker in 2013

That is a total of 32 Walk Ons, most of whom will be part of the "August 105" barring injury or redshirting due to transfer rules.

Where they're from:

California: 17
Colorado: 11
Texas: 1
Michigan: 1
Utah: 1
Kansas: 1

 

[goalline]

ymssr

Lots of full backs. Do you think any move to other positions?

 

[MtnBuff]

A few of the guys on the list, especially in the incoming group, that in the past we may have given schollies to, or are as talented as kids we gave schollies to.

M2 had success with WOs at SJSU and I see him repeating it here. I think at least a couple of those guys will be earning schollies by next year. I think we will also see a number of them get some playing time, even if only on STs this upcoming season.

Even the ones who don't will provide a higher quality of scout team to prepare against that we have seen in recent years.

Another sign of a well run program with a coach who knows what he is doing?

It may take some time because of the hole we were in but I truly think this staff has us on the right track.

 

[vinniew_11]

What about the ILB from Heritage? Wasn't he a PWO?

 

[Buffnik]

What about the ILB from Heritage? Wasn't he a PWO?

I don't know who you mean.

I was working off the latest roster at cubuffs.com that recently came out. The last Heritage player I remember walking on to CU was QB Ryan Novak.

 

[vinniew_11]

I don't know who you mean.

I was working off the latest roster at cubuffs.com that recently came out. The last Heritage player I remember walking on to CU was QB Ryan Novak.

Sorry it was Chatfield, Shawn Berry. As well as Ponderosa WR Dylan Spradling. Possibly gray shirting?

 

[ElCunado]

Think he's talking about Shawn Berry. LB from Chatfield.

Edit: beat me to it.

 

[Buffnik]

Sorry it was Chatfield, Shawn Berry. As well as Ponderosa WR Dylan Spradling. Possibly gray shirting?

Ahh. My guess would be that they are not part of the August 105 and would be added to the roster once classes start.

 

[SBG]

The number of Walloons from cali is impressive. CU OOS is expensive!

 

[MtnBuff]

The number of Walloons from cali is impressive. CU OOS is expensive!

M2 is selling opportunity. Says a lot about him that kids trust him enough to spend that kind of money on the gamble that they can earn their way onto a free ride.

 

[Buffnik]

M2 is selling opportunity. Says a lot about him that kids trust him enough to spend that kind of money on the gamble that they can earn their way onto a free ride.

That and there seems to be the other path. UNCO seems to like recruiting our walk ons to transfer there under scholarship.

 

[Eggon]

Sure seems like coaches know where to look, and whom to encourage. I hope this group overachieves, and they have a solid football experience with the Buffs. Thanks and good luck fellas!

Betcha a couple emerge :nod:


Also, thanks Nick for assembling this list. It is an encouraging snapshot of solid football players. Great to see their past successes. Excited to see who might emerge from this group.

 

[buffaholic]

Moeller is in the mix for PT if not starting. He was impressive in the spring.
I think Cheldon West and Christianson will also compete for PT unless a true freshman can take it away.

 

[boydbuff]

Moeller is in the mix for PT if not starting. He was impressive in the spring.
I think Cheldon West and Christianson will also compete for PT unless a true freshman can take it away.

Agree with your assessment based on what we have heard, especially about Moeller and Christianson. Moeller is currently 2nd on the depth chart which means he is definitely in line to play this year. Christensen was widely appreciated during Spring winning the inaugural Sal Aunese award. He will at least see the field on ST.

 

[Buffnik]

We should see a lot of Jordan Murphy at FB, too.

 

[MtnBuff]

That and there seems to be the other path. UNCO seems to like recruiting our walk ons to transfer there under scholarship.

That arrangement isn't necessarily a bad thing. I can see a kid who wants to give it a try at the highest level but is concerned about what happens if he doesn't earn a scholly.

Coaching staff can tell them "Come to CU and give it all you have. We will give you every opportunity. If it doesn't work out you can stay and be a part of our scout teams or you can go to the FCS school and get the rest of your degree paid for and be able to get playing time.

 

[Buffnik]

Dylan Spradling has been added to the cubuffs.com online roster and I added him in above.

One of the walk-ons we have been most excited for after his great prep career at Ponderosa and because he was originally going to go to SDSU and HCMM/staff were able to flip this highly sought after walk-on.

 

[Buffnik]

Jaleel Awini has also been added. The former Gatorade Player of the Year in Colorado and starting quarterback for AFA has joined the CU program as a walk-on. He is a redshirt sophomore and must sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules.

 

[Shldr2Shldr]

Jaleel Awini has also been added. The former Gatorade Player of the Year in Colorado and starting quarterback for AFA has joined the CU program as a walk-on. He is a redshirt sophomore and must sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules.

He is going to give us quite a weapon to practice against on the scout team.