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Colorado quarterback situation, how they got here and where they’re going

Jake Shapiro Avatar
May 19, 2016

 

As Davis Webb decommitted from Mike MacIntyre and the Colorado Buffaloes yesterday afternoon, those inside and outside of the program were thrown for yet another twist and turn relating to the program’s quarterback position. The Buffs quarterback situation has been a tumultuous one since Sefo Liufau suffered a Lisfranc injury on November 13 of last season, against USC. Three different quarterbacks have played behind center for the Buffs and there have been two more who, at one time, pledged their allegiance to MacIntyre. If you’ve got the stomach, let’s retrace this rollercoaster ride and find out where they might be moving next.

Nov. 13, Sefo Liufau injures lisfranc, out 6-8 months

Credit: Justin Edmonds, Getty Images
Credit: Justin Edmonds, Getty Images

Liufau, a three-year starter, goes down at the end of the first quarter in Colorado’s matchup with the Trojans. Just as CU had found a rhythm in the game, their quarterback gets injured and would not return. With a 7-3 lead and momentum, the Buffs needed to find a new leader to pick up what would be the marquee win of the MacIntyre era.

Nov. 13, Cade Apsay now leads the Buffs

Credit: Justin Edmonds, Getty Images
Credit: Justin Edmonds, Getty Images
Despite starting the season third on the depth chart behind Jordan Gehrke, Apsay seized the opportunity, connecting on 18-of-23 throws for 128 yard and two touchdowns. He won the backup job over Gehrke in the Nicholls State contest and never looked back. Though on the night of his debut, he couldn’t lead Colorado to a win, as they lost to JuJu Smith-Schuster and USC 27-24.

Nov. 22, Buffs lose bowl-eligibility in horrible offensive performance

Credit: Young Kwak, AP
Credit: Young Kwak, AP

In a wretched late night showing from the Buffs, Apsay connects on 26-of-40 passes for 238 yards, but he was picked off twice. In three red zone trips, the team only came away with three points. The defense wasn’t much better against a sorry Washington State team either.

Nov. 28, Cade Apsay injured with a concussion

Gene Sweeney Jr., Getty Images
Gene Sweeney Jr., Getty Images

Game starter Cade Apsay was 8-18 for 145 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions before exiting the game with a concussion.

Nov. 28, third-stringer Jordan Gehrke now leads

Credit: Russ Isabella, USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Russ Isabella, USA TODAY Sports

Apsay’s replacement Jordan Gehrke was 11-20 for 111 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. The season’s original backup was not the spark the Buffs needed off the bench.

Nov. 28, opening day starter at linebacker Jaleel Awini takes snaps at QB

Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Fourth-stringer and originally a linebacker Jaleel Awini got in the game. Awini did not attempt any passes, but carried the ball four times for 20 yards and helped jumpstart the offense into it’s second and final TD drive of the day. However, Gehrke and Awini’s effort came up short as the Buffs lost their last game 20-14.

Jan. 7, CU Buffs land transfer Sheriron Jones from Tennessee

Credit: Rockytopinsider.com
Credit: Rockytopinsider.com

Six-foot-two, 208 pounds dual-threat QB and four-star prospect out of high school decided to come to Colorado after redshirting his freshman year in Tennessee.

Jan. 22, Weeks after transferring to Colorado, Sheriron Jones returns to Tennessee

Screenshot-2016-01-22-11.44.46-740x357

Jones is released from his scholarship at Colorado and returns to Knoxville.

Jan. 27, CU Buffs land Davis Webb

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The Prosper, TX threw 46 touchdowns and 5,557 yards at Texas Tech. His former coach, Kliff Kingsbury, said that the 21-year-old QB “He has a chance to be very special,” and that he could be top-five overall NFL pick. The graduate transfer had spent parts of three seasons quarterbacking the Red Raiders.

Mar. 1, Cade Aspay dismissed

Credit: CBS 4
Credit: CBS 4

Apsay, who started the 2015 season suspended was dismissed from Colorado because he violated team rules.

May, 18, Davis Webb Spurns Buffaloes for Bears

Credit: Doublet973.com
Credit: Doublet973.com

The Texas Tech graduate transfer quarterback who had originally committed to spend his final year of eligibility in Boulder with Colorado has reportedly chosen to spend his final season in Berkeley for the Cal Bears.

After a year turmoil, the Colorado quarterback situation heading into the 2016 season is exactly what we thought it would be last fall camp–Liufau being the favorite to start, with redshirt freshman Steven Montez progressing as the backup. It’s the senior’s job to lose and he should be healthy for this upcoming season’s fall camp. He was seen during spring ball jogging and he should have could have some ability for player-run practices.

During the spring game, the depth chart had Gehrke above Montez and Awini, with walk-ons T.J. Patterson and Tyler McGarry rounding out the position. Of course, Liufau was still injured for Spring Ball so he was not an option for the spring game.So, once again, Liufau will almost unquestionably be behind center for the Buffaloes.

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