Walk-on quarterback and Boulder’s own T.J. Patterson gets to strap up in the black and gold every day now, and “it’s amazing.”
Patterson played at both Fairview and Boulder high school before redshirting the 2013 season at Wyoming. This year he’s a sophomore with three years of eligibility left, and he couldn’t be happier to be back playing football at the foot of the Flatirons.
“Feels great to be out there, like you said, obviously my dream growing up in Boulder was to be a quarterback at CU, and it finally happened.”
Despite not getting any time in any of the four spring scrimmages, T.J. was very productive in the spring, practicing regularly while learning offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren’s offense.
“Me and Coach Lindgren would meet all the time in the spring,” he said. “We’d be going over the signals, and concepts.”
This was crucial for Patterson, since he’ll be sending in offensive signals this year.
The walk-on quarterback is very comfortable in his role right now, and simply happy to get a chance to throw to Colorado’s strong receiving corps.
“It’s just an honor to throw to these wide receivers,” he explained. “They’re the best, you just put it up there and they always snag it. You’ve got some of the best guys in the country, you got Spruce you got Bobo, it’s awesome throwing to those guys.”
And it’s not just the receivers that have helped Patterson, his fellow quarterbacks have made for a smooth transition from Laramie.
“Everybody is real cool, it’s a real close group, it wasn’t like that in Wyoming,” he explained. “It’s different, I wasn’t really expecting this, we’re all real tight. We all like each other, we all help each other out, learning the plays, the system, and the signals.”
Even new defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt has taken to the walk-on.
“Leavitt is the man, everyone loves Leavitt,” told Patterson. “He has the energy and attitude, everyone loves hanging out with him. He’s always messing with us too, telling the quarterbacks we have the best position in sports. He’s a funny guy.”
The Boulder product is naturally looking forward to the start of the season, but he also knows there are more than 25 practices between now and then.
“It’s good to be out there, it’s fun, it keeps us busy,” he told. “We’re counting down the practices. We have a few days where we go twice, once at night, so it’ll go quick. I’m just excited for the season, It’s gonna be real fun.”
“It’s a business trip and not a vacation,” Patterson said about the season opener in Hawaii, “I played them once before up in Wyoming, it was way too close, I definitely want to blow them out of the water this year. We’re going to keep focused and try to get the win.”
After practice, as Patterson walked across the bridge back to Dal Ward Athletic Center he turned and said, “fall camp is the ultimate grind.”
He paused, looked in the direction of Boulder High School, and added, “we’re just right up the street, it’s crazy. I’m excited to be here, and to have this opportunity, it’s amazing.”
