Colorado's young DBs are relishing increased opportunities

BOULDER — Ask an outsider and they’ll say Colorado’s secondary is doomed because three starters hit the transfer portal over the offseason.

Ask somebody within the program and there’s actually quite a bit of hype building around those who will see increased opportunities in 2022.

“Our cornerbacks are doing a tremendous job,” head coach Karl Dorrell told reporters on Saturday after the third practice of spring camp. “The young guys—(sophomore) Kaylin Moore, even (true freshman) Josh Wiggins—those young corners are stepping up and really, really being noticed out there.”

The Buffs are young at the cornerback position. Nigel Bethel and Jaylen Striker are redshirt juniors but Striker is yet to take a defensive snap for the Buffs. From there, you have true sophomores Moore and Nikko Reed, and then true freshmen Wiggins and Jason Oliver, who both arrived on campus early for spring ball… probably because they recognized there are plenty of open jobs.

This season figures to be the third in which the Buffs see significant contributions from true freshmen at the cornerback position. In 2020, Christian Gonzalez started every game. In 2021, Moore and Reed saw significant playing time. And this year, only four non-true freshmen are currently on the roster.

“It’s nice that there’s another generation of young corners, like we had last year, that are a same caliber of player,” Dorrell said. “They’re competitive and they’re making plays.”

On the first day of camp, the story was the passing camp. According to Dorrell, the story has changed in the past two practices.

“The first day was really clean (for the offense),” Dorrell said. “The second day got a little more challenging because the defense played a little bit more man; it was zone the first day. With man coverage the coverage is tighter, so usually the completions aren’t going to be like every ball’s completed. Now it’s going to be a tough throw and a tough catch.”

It’s no surprise that Moore is performing well in man coverage.

“I like man a little bit more,” Moore said on Friday. “Zone, sometimes it gives you a little break. It gives you a chance to read the field, read the receivers. But I’d rather play man.”

Moore seemed to be the fifth cornerback on the roster for much of last season, but moved past Reed late in the year and saw extensive work against Oregon and Oregon State after injuries hit the starting secondary.

“It was really a great experience,” Moore said. “With DB, it’s all about confidence. The more playing time you get, the more confident you get.”

And while the experience on the field is great, just spending a year in the program and knowing the ins and outs of the defense could be just as valuable, according to sophomore safety Trevor Woods.

“I have a good feeling for everything we’re trying to do,” Woods told reporters on Saturday. “I can now not only focus on everything I learned last year for my position; now I can learn what the corners are doing, what the linebackers are doing, even what the d-line is doing. It helps me play faster. I do the thinking before the play and then play free.”

Like Moore, Woods could be in line for a starting job this time around. Starting free safety Mark Perry hit the transfer portal over the offseason, which opened up a deep competition. Woods played extensively late in his freshman season in 2021, up until a shoulder injury forced him to the sideline.

“I’m doing my best to try and propel myself into a starting role and try to be a leader of this team,” Woods said. “This is what I came here to do and I’m ready for it.”

Moore feels the same way.

“It’s sad to see them go because they were like mentors to me,” he said. “But I’ve just got to step up and be a leader for the team now.”

Does he feel pressure now that they’re got?

“Yeah,” Moore told reporters, “but pressure is a privilege.”

Whoever handles that pressure best will wind up with all sorts of opportunities this fall.