Tag: Sav’Ell Smalls

Colorado DE Sav’ell Smalls moving to new position

Sav’ell Smalls is making the move to a new position

The Colorado Buffaloes have picked up another option at the tight end position.

As shown in a recent Reach The People Media YouTube video, former blue-chip defensive lineman Sav’ell Smalls revealed that he’s making the move to TE.

Smalls came to Colorado last offseason as a transfer from the Washington Huskies. In his first season with the Buffs, he saw action in four games and got credit for two tackles and one quarterback pressure.

Colorado has added several talented defensive linemen this offseason and because the Buffs are thin at tight end, Smalls’ switch could pay dividends in his career. Smalls has the requisite size and athleticism to contribute as a blocking tight end and potentially as a receiving threat.

Nearly 15 years ago, Colorado fans watched Legacy High School (Broomfield) product Nick Kasa make the switch from DE to TE late in his junior season with the Buffs. Kasa became CU’s starting tight end in 2012 and impressed enough to get drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2013. He later signed with the Denver Broncos as a practice squad tight leading up to Super Bowl 50.

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Examining Colorado’s new-look group of pass rushers

Our Tony Cosolo broke down which #cubuffs could excel in the pass rush

When the Denver Broncos won Super Bowl 50, they were led by one of the best defensive units of all time. That group was powered by their pass rush, a so-called “NASCAR” package that put as many pass rushers on the field at the same time as possible.

With the reconstruction of Colorado’s roster nearly complete, a focus has been placed on the defensive line. When looking at the Buffs’ potential depth chart (h/t Jake Schwanitz of DNVR), your mind starts to wonder about what this team can do on passing downs.

Dartmouth transfer Shane Cokes will most certainly be leading the charge from the middle in base and pass rushing situations with former Arkansas DL Jordan Domineck holding down an outside spot. CU could then get creative by playing a bigger EDGE player, possibly Sav’ell Smalls, at the other inside spot to gain a pass rush mismatch against a guard. Throw in a Derrick McLendon on the other outside spot and you have a pass rush that could potentially make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks.

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Washington defensive line transfer Sav’ell Smalls commits to Colorado

Colorado picked up a big transfer portal commitment on Tuesday.

Deion Sanders and Colorado have landed another top player out of the transfer portal. On Tuesday, Washington defensive line transfer Sav’ell Smalls committed to the Buffaloes.

Smalls was a former five-star prospect in the 2020 recruiting cycle for Washington and was ranked as high as No. 15 in the country by ESPN. He initially committed to the Huskies over offers from Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, and USC.

During his time in Seattle, Smalls recorded 32 total tackles including one tackle for a loss.

For Colorado, the Smalls’ commitment is some much-needed positive recruiting PR for Deion Sanders and his program. The Buffaloes have obviously seen an exorbitant, 50 players enter the transfer portal since Sanders took over in December.

While the mass exodus was forewarned by Sanders himself, it has still come as quite the culture shock to the college football system. Many wonder if Sanders’ despite trying to improve his roster immediately is also hurting his own potential down the road as he potentially damages crucial relationships with various high schools across the country including some that produce top talent on a regular basis.

Either way, Smalls is the type of player that Sanders and Colorado will try to have their biggest successes with this year and the next few seasons. With so many overturn on their roster, the Buffaloes will have to take some chances on once high-regarded prospects who haven’t panned out in hopes that a change of scenery and new coaching staff could unlock that potential.

Overall, while Sanders’s tactics have been unusual, at least to this volume, if it proves to be successful, it could mark a turning point in how head coaches look to turn around struggling programs. Since a 10-win season in 2016, Colorado has won five games or less in each of the last six seasons. That 2016 season is also the program’s lone winning season since 2005.

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Washington transfer Sav’ell Smalls, a former five-star recruit, lands with Colorado

Colorado received a commitment from former five-star recruit Sav’ell Smalls

The Colorado Buffaloes can’t go a day without adding a player from the transfer portal. On Tuesday, the Buffs landed Washington edge Sav’ell Smalls, according to his Twitter.

Smalls was No. 23 in The Athletic’s top 25 transfer portal player rankings, and here’s what The Athletic’s Max Olson wrote about Smalls:

Smalls was a five-star recruit in 2020 and a huge get for Washington, but he struggled to break through and earn a starting role behind some talented pass rushers. The 6-foot-3, 259-pound edge defender logged 14 tackles and 12 pressures last season as a reserve while playing 15-20 snaps per game. He’s seeking more playing time at his next stop.

The Buffs have been as busy as ever adding defensive pieces with a few Florida State transfers recently committing to Colorado as well.

Smalls played three seasons at Washington and had his best season in 2022 with 13 games and seven tackles. He should enter the Buffs’ locker room as a favorite to earn heavy playing time and defensive coordinator Charles Kelly has to be thrilled.

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Former five-star edge rusher will change places but could stay in Pac-12

It would be highly beneficial to #USC if Sav’ell Smalls leaves the Pac-12 this offseason.

Sav’ell Smalls of Kennedy Catholic High School in Seattle decided earlier this week that he would not longer be part of the Washington Huskies football program.

The 6-foot-4, 244-pound edge rusher and former five-star prospect produced 32 tackles with one tackle for loss, one fumble recovery, and zero sacks in three seasons and 29 career games at Washington. This includes 14 tackles and one tackle for loss in 13 games last fall in 2022.

Smalls was ranked as a five-star recruit, the No. 1 player in the state of Washington, the No. 3 weakside defensive end, and the No. 30 overall prospect in the 2020 class by the 247Sports Composite. He chose the Huskies over Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Louisiana State, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Stanford, TCU, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, USC, Utah, and Washington State.

You will note that five Pac-12 schools other than Washington were in the mix in Smalls’ recruitment, albeit to varying degrees. It will be fascinating to see if Smalls stays within the conference.

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Former Aggie recruiting target, edge rusher Sav’ell Smalls has entered the transfer portal

Former Texas A&M recruiting target, Sav’ell Smalls has reportedly entered the transfer portal. Could the Aggies be in play once again?

Texas A&M and head coach Jimbo Fisher’s primary objective post-spring football season is to attack the transfer portal, which officially re-opened last Saturday, April 15.

In a nutshell, the Aggies starting units on offense and defense are chock full of enough talent and experience, yet the depth at key positions such as linebacker, defensive back, wide receiver, and the offensive line is in need of additions after too many substractions took play during the first two months after the portal’s initial opening.

A&M’s defensive line is by far its most competent position group from a depth perspective, yet improving the talent as the edge spot could never hurt, especially within the grueling SEC schedule. In a surprising turn of events on Monday night, former five-star edge rusher Sav’ell Smalls, who spent the last three seasons with the Washington Huskies, has reportedly entered the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining.

In 29 appearances under two head coaches, including the former Jimmy Lake, and current head coach Kalen DeBoer, Smalls rarely saw time as a starter, recording 32 tackles and zero sacks in those three seasons, with only one career start during the Covid-shortened 2020 campaign.

Coming out of Burien Kennedy Catholic High School, Smalls was ranked as the 30th best prospect in the entire 2022 recruiting class, and even those he chose to stay close to home to continue his playing career initially, Texas A&M was right in the thick of things as a member of his final 12 program list. If a fresh start at a contending program is what he needs, it’s time for Jimbo to pick up the phone.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty

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Washington LB, former five-star prospect Sav’ell Smalls enters transfer portal

This is not how Washington fans likely envisioned the career of the former five-star prospect to go.

Washington defensive Save’ll Smalls, a former five-star prospect in the 2020 recruiting cycle and a native of Burien, Washington will be moving on from the Huskies program. Smalls announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal on Monday evening via his Twitter account.

“To start I’d like to thank my family for the continuous love and support ya’ll give me. Through thick and thin I’ll always love ya’ll,” he said in his statement.

“To both coaching staffs I played under, I appreciate you for pouring into me daily, and showing me what excellence looks like.

To all the unseen people that are imperative to the day-to-day operations of the program, I thank you. From the strength staff to the athletic trainers to the janitors, caterers, teachers, and academic support staff, please know all your hard work is seen and acknowledged. I appreciate you.

To my brothers. Once we go to war together we are bonded by blood and sweat. If you’ve been in that locker room with me, you know how I’m rocking. It’s love with Sav for life.

I appreciate the University of Washington for everything.

With that being said, I’ll be entering the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining. The dream is still the dream. Wherever I land you, gon get everything out of me. Believe that.”

The former composite five-star prospect was ranked as the 15th-best player in the country according to ESPN’s 2020 recruiting rankings. He chose the hometown Huskies over offers from the who’s who of college football including Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, and USC.

Over three seasons with the Huskies, Smalls played linebacker but never put it all together as expected. He totaled just 32 total tackles and just one tackle for a loss as well as recording one fumble recovery.

He is the 15th player to leave the Huskies program since the beginning of December. The Huskies are currently entering their second year under head coach Kalen DeBoer who led the team to an 11-2 (7-2 Pac-12) record in his first season.