Getting strong field position is a must this season and the Buffs’ special teams units can produce
Colorado has built a history of having strong special teams play. The legs of the Buffs’ kickers and punters have sent footballs flying into orbit on a regular basis.
This year seems to be no different as the Buffaloes have highly-touted players in the placekicking and punting rooms. Colorado also returns its top three leaders in special teams point totals from a year ago, along with a host of young players who will be looking to make their mark. Additionally, both the punt and kick return positions also seem to be set going into the season.
Let’s look at how we believe it will all play out.
Three Buffs were recognized on the @SuperWestSports preseason All-Pac-12 teams
The college football season is a few weeks away, and now is the time for preseason conference teams to be announced.
While the Colorado Buffaloes aren’t expected to make much noise in the 2022 season, there are a handful of players to keep an eye on and some that might make some noise leading up to the 2023 NFL draft.
Kicking is looking like a strength for the CU Buffs in 2022
Kicking at altitude is a definite draw for the nation’s top legs to play for the Buffs. Mason Crosby, Mark Mariscal, John Torp and Mitch Berger (to name a few) all enjoyed success as either placekickers or punters in Boulder.
In 2021, we witnessed the beginning of what could be another strong career for a Buffs’ kicker. After missing his first three field goal attempts of the season, true freshman Cole Becker nailed 14 of his final 17, including a game-winner against Oregon State. He was also a perfect 25-for-25 on extra points.
“Having the experiences last year and hitting long ones, short ones; makes, misses, I know all the things that will happen now, so I feel like I’m better prepared for it.”
On the punting side, losing All-Pac-12 honorable mention Josh Watts does hurt, but freshman Ashton Logan’s upside could be even higher. Logan, a class of 2021 recruit who grayshirted last season, was ranked as the No. 14 punter in his class per 247Sports.
The Colorado Buffaloes fell 28-13 in their final game of the season against the Utah Utes on Friday in Salt Lake City, finishing the year with a 4-8 record. While the Buffs upsetting the No. 19 Utes was unlikely, this game exemplified many of the strengths and weaknesses that Colorado has shown all season long.
Now that it’s all said and done, we have some time to reflect on what was a turbulent season for the Colorado Buffaloes. Here are five takeaways from their final game of the year against the Utah Utes:
The Colorado Buffaloes have faced plenty of adversity this season but they faced a new kind of challenge on Saturday when Oregon State sent things into overtime on a 60-yard field goal.
But Brendon Lewis and company didn’t fret and scored on both overtime possessions to take down the Beavs, 37-34. True freshman kicker Cole Becker played hero, among many others, when he nailed the game-winner from 42 yards out.
Head coach Karl Dorrell said his young Buffs took another step forward in terms of maturation. Perhaps the “binky,” as Dorrell coined, is slowly making its way out.
“They’re starting to navigate and find a way,” Dorrell said. “They’re starting to deal with the difficult circumstances and overcoming those things. By no means are we where we need to be, and I’m not saying that all of a sudden we got the answers —no, I’m not saying that. But I feel that they’re starting to learn how to deal with some stressful moments.”
Following a Brendon Lewis to Brenden Rice 2-yard touchdown, Colorado held a 10-point lead in the third quarter. Oregon State, however, answered against a Nate Landman-less Buffaloes’ defense and scored 14 unanswered points to take a 24-20 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
The Buffs’ offense was now needing a touchdown, and they delivered. Jarek Broussard, who rushed for a season-high 151 yards, found 49 of those to bring CU’s offense down to the OSU 23. A few failed plays later, Colorado was facing a third-and-15 when Lewis connected with Montana Lemonious-Craig just inches inside the endzone.
Colorado’s freshman QB has now thrown for six touchdowns in his previous two games.
“My confidence has skyrocketed,” Lewis said. “I feel like if we hit plays early in the game, then my confidence goes up from there, and then the rest of the game is just a breeze. Like I said earlier, my teammates, when I see them make plays, it makes me want to keep going.”
Nov 6, 2021; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Brendon Lewis (12) scores a touchdown past Oregon State Beavers defensive back Alex Austin (5) in overtime at Folsom Field. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
But after OSU missed a field goal on its ensuing drive, Colorado was unable to run out 32 seconds of the clock. OSU kicker Everett Hayes then nailed an impressive 60-yard field goal to send the game into overtime.
In CU’s first overtime possession, Lewis once again delivered in the clutch with a 9-yard rushing touchdown. The Beavers retaliated with a touchdown of their own but then missed a field goal on the first drive of the second overtime.
All Colorado needed was a score and Becker’s 42-yard field goal was enough to send the homecoming crowd home happy.
“That’s the moment all young kickers dream about,” Becker said.
The Colorado Buffaloes shocked everybody with a thrilling double-overtime victory against Oregon State on homecoming night in Boulder.
It was a fantastic game from start to finish, and the Buffs surprised everybody by topping the Beavers. Brendon Lewis played well once again, finishing 15-of-24 for 170 yards and three scores.
Jarek Broussard ran wild and often with 24 carries for 151 yards. But it was kicker Cole Becker who went home as the hero of the evening and possibly the entire season after the clutch kick.
After Everett hayes missed a 38-yard field goal for the Beavers, Becker stepped up and nailed a 43-yarder to send Boulder and the fans at Folsom Field into a wild frenzy.
Becker also knocked in two more field goals on the evening, including a 52-yard bomb at the end of the first half.
The fans and the Buffs sidelines went into a celebration after the game-winner sailed through the uprights.
What made it even sweeter was that the Beavers were heavy favorites coming in, but that’s why you play the games.
The Buffs notched only the third victory of the season, but this one is the highlight of them all. Lewis played well, Broussard ran well, and Becker delivered with 3-4 on field goals and a perfect 4-4 on extra points.
For the second straight week, the Buffs offense looked alive. Moreover, the 37 points are a season-high for Karl Dorrell’s team, and perhaps things are starting to trend upwards.
The Buffs move to 3-6 on the year and have games against UCLA, Washington, and Utah to round out the campaign.
True freshman kicker Cole “The Ice Man” Becker finally put an end to the longest scoreless streak in Pac-12 history. Remember Jarek Broussard’s 2-yard rushing TD in the first quarter against Texas A&M? Well the Buffaloes hadn’t scored since then, which included being shut out by Minnesota, to culminate in a Pac-12 record 24 consecutive scoreless possessions. Becker’s 51-yard field goal late in the second half was more than needed.
Besides Becker’s first collegiate field goal, the Buffaloes’ offensive woes continued in the first half against Arizona State. Brendon Lewis threw for just 36 yards and Alex Fontenot did the same 36 yards of damage on the ground. Arizona State scored a touchdown in both the first and second quarter to lead the Buffs 14-3 at the break.
Colorado's scoreless streak ends after 137 minutes, 11 seconds and 24 possessions #cubuffs
