BOULDER – The Colorado Buffaloes have some big questions on defense with eight starters gone and three new coaches in the fold. While most look at the secondary coming into the 2017 season, there is no doubt that one of the biggest uncertainties for the Buffs defense is the defensive line.

CU will have to replace the likes of Jordan Carrell, Samson Kafovalu, and Josh Tupou, all of which got looks from NFL teams this past spring (Carrell was drafted in the seventh round by the Cowboys).

With three NFL-caliber players leaving, there will certainly be some holes to fill and there are question marks at virtually every defensive line position. We’ll start with Leo Jackson III.

Jackson enters 2017 as a fifth-year senior who played just under 300 serviceable snaps in relief of Kafovalu and Tupou last year. Because he is a bit undersized, Jackson won’t be expected to have the run stuffing ability of Kafovalu or Tupou, but he will bring much needed Pac-12 experience to an inexperienced group up front. Don’t be surprised if he sneaks a couple of sacks in and leads the D-line in tackles this fall.

The player that is causing major buzz amongst fans this summer is the man looking to replace Tupou at nose tackle, Javier Edwards. A JUCO transfer from Blinn College in Texas, Edwards has a massive body (over 380 pounds upon arriving in Boulder), who the Buffs expect to plug some running lanes in 2017. The coaches need him to lose some weight and get into “football shape” before the season, and from various accounts, he seems to be doing so. If Edwards can live up to his talent and be a force in the middle this fall (which many believe he can), there won’t be too much of a fall off from Tupou.

The third and last starting spot on the line might just be the biggest question mark on the entire defense coming into fall camp. After spring ball, fifth-year senior Timothy Coleman sat atop the depth chart ahead of Junior College transfer Chris Mulumba at the other end position. Mulumba undoubtedly has the physical size and speed to compete at the Pac-12 level but may need a little more time to develop his technique to earn the top spot on the depth chart. He already feels like another Jimmie Gilbert. We will see where he sits at the end of fall camp, but don’t be surprised if he is the third lineman against Colorado State on Sept. 1.

Battling Mulumba will be a fifth-year senior, Tim Coleman. Because of his size (6-3, 230-pounds), he is not the prototypical 3-4 lineman, but his speed and experience will certainly allow him to be productive when, and if he is in the game. He carries some Pac-12 experience under his belt as he played in all 12 games in 2016. Just like Jackson, Coleman isn’t going to overpower many Pac-12 offensive linemen, but he certainly has the experience and technique to be pesky and cause some trouble for opponents this fall. Whether Coleman remains at the top of the depth chart at the end of fall camp remains to be seen, but if he is, he will certainly be a reliable option for D.J. Eliot and the defense.

– Other Notable Names –

Three names come to mind when thinking of who else could be in the mix for D-line play this coming fall. Jase Franke, Lyle Tuiloma, and Frank Umu all figure to battle for some significant playing time in 2017. While Franke figures to be a solid depth piece this fall and has flashed in the past, Tuiloma and Umu are huge bodies who may be able to significantly contribute this fall if they convert potential into production. Overall, all three figure to add much-needed depth to the defensive line this season.

– Prediction –

The Buffs certainly have questions across the defensive line leading up to the Colorado State game on Sept. 1 but:

• If Javier Edwards can establish himself as a run-stopping force in the middle;
• If Leo Jackson provides solid reinforcement on one end, and either Timothy Coleman or Chris Mulumba can push each other throughout the year on the other then;

The Buff defensive line has a chance to be right in the middle of the Pac-12 this year. Will they be as good as in 2016? That remains to be seen, but if the starting three (or four) stay healthy, this year’s group has potential to cause some trouble this fall and that’s really good news considering how much they lost.