Tag: Carson Wells

Besides Nate Landman, Buffs snubbed on All-Pac-12 teams

Nate Landman made second-team All-Pac-12

The Pac-12 All-Conference teams were announced on Tuesday, and the Colorado Buffaloes saw just one player make either team.

That one player is linebacker Nate Landman, who earned a spot on the second-team defense.

However, one name that didn’t make either team is Carson Wells, which is a huge surprise. The fourth-year junior linebacker compiled an impressive 51 tackles with 5.5 sacks and a pick-six on the season while he helped pace the Buffs defense.

But, none of that mattered, and Wells only earned All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention along with a lengthy list of Buffaloes players.

Still, the absence of Wells is certainly a surprising one.

The rest of the Buffs to crack the all-conference honorable mention list are as follows:

  • WR Daniel Arias
  • CB Mekhi Blackmon
  • RB Jarek Broussard
  • CB Christian Gonzalez
  • OL Kary Kutsch
  • DL Jalen Sami
  • P Josh Watts

Landman finished his Colorado career with a second-team bid after posting 63 tackles with four pass deflections as he heads out with a storied career sporting the Buffs uniform.

Still, why Wells didn’t make it in his final season at Colorado is surprising, and the Buffs 4-8 season most likely didn’t help his case at all.

All in all, quite a few Colorado players cracked the honorable mention list. It is a good thing that a lot of players got some recognition at least, but Wells missing out on at least a second-team nod is a massive oversight.

Carson Wells, Kary Kutsch and coach Dorrell share thoughts on Arizona win, upcoming week

Carson Wells, Kary Kutsch and Karl Dorrell all spoke to the media on Monday

The mood was noticeably better on Monday, two days after the Colorado Buffaloes earned their first win since the season opener. As I wrote on Saturday, confidence is a powerful commodity in college football; CU’s win, albeit against the 0-6 Arizona Wildcats, appeared to do wonders for a young Buffaloes team.

Taking the podium first was defensive end Carson Wells, who had four TFL’s, one sack and a pick-six vs. Arizona. I’d chalk up his performance to more than just a “confidence booster.”

Up next was offensive lineman Kary Kutsch. Colorado’s O-line has received plenty of flack for the team’s poor offensive numbers, but they played well against Arizona and helped Brendon Lewis have his best performance of 2021.

Karl Dorrell wrapped things up to discuss his final thoughts on Arizona and his initial impression of Cal, which the Buffaloes face in Berkeley on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. MST.

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Big defensive plays charging CU Buffs

The Colorado Buffaloes’ defense has shined through three quarters against Arizona.

We knew that Arizona, like Colorado, hasn’t exactly put up gaudy offensive numbers in 2021. But pitching a shutout through three quarters against any opponent deserves some praise.

In the first half, the Buffaloes’ defense allowed just 99 total offensive yards and just barely held Arizona off the scoreboard. I say just barely because of a gritty goal line stand that CU put together late in the second half. Earlier in that Arizona drive, however, Colorado wasn’t nearly as disciplined. Aided by Mekhi Blackmon grabbing a facemask and then committing a pass interference penalty on consecutive plays, Arizona marched down to the 1-yard line.

The Wildcats would not gain another yard.

Terrance Lang, Jalen Sami, Christian Gonzalez and Joshka Gustava all had tackles before Nate Landman hurried Gunner Cruz and forced an incompletion on fourth down.

The fourth down stop helped Colorado carry a 6-0 lead into the locker room.

Defensive end Carson Wells had perhaps his best half of the season with three tackles for a loss. Landman, who came into the game nine tackles away from 400 in his career, had four tackles in the first half.

The special teams unit made the first big play of the second half when Trevor Woods blocked a punt and returned it to the end zone. Because of Woods’ heroics, the Buffs’ defense came back to the field a little earlier than expected. On the fifth play of Arizona’s ensuing drive, Wells picked off Cruz and returned it 50 yards for another touchdown. Colorado’s first pick-six since 2018 put the Buffs up 20-0 in the third quarter.

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