Offensive Starters Returning: QB Bernard Jackson, RB Hugh Charles, FB Maurice Cantrell, WR Alvin Barnett, WR Patrick Williams, TE Riar Geer, OL Edwin Harrison, OL Tyler Polumbus, OL Daniel Sanders

Defensive Starters Lost: DE Walter Boye-Doe, DE Abraham Wright, LB Thaddaeus Washington, CB Terry Washington

Defensive Starters Returning: DT George Hypolite, DT Brandon Nicolas, LB Jordon Dizon, LB Brad Jones, CB Terrence Wheatley, S Lionel Harris, S Ryan Walters

Starting Specialists Lost: K Mason Crosby

Starting Specialists Returning: P Matt DiLallo

The 2006 season began with a loss to Montana State and never got much better. By the end, Folsum Field felt more like a prison than a football stadium and the blues were definitely flowing freely. Year two under Coach Dan Hawkins can only be better and reaching the six win plateau is not out of the realm of possibility.

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2007 Colorado Offense:

After about 48 hours of being the returning starting quarterback, Bernard Jackson was moved to his wide receiver and running back positions where he spent the previous two seasons. The Buffaloes held out on removing the redshirt of coaches’ son Cody Hawkins and, as long as they can live with a 2-10 season on the record, the team will be better off for it in the long run. Hawkins will have some competition from junior college transfer Nick Nelson for the starting gig. Along with Jackson, Patrick Williams, Alvin Barnett and Dusty Sprague form a solid group of veteran receivers. The receivers were underappreciated due to the lack of a quarterback to throw them the ball, but will be of great value if Hawkins or Nelson can air it out effectively. Tight end Riar Geer led the team in receptions as a freshman in 2006 and will once again be involved in the offense.

Hugh Charles did an admirable job rushing for 779 yards. However, the situation will improve greatly if junior college transfer P.T. Gates can qualify academically. The return of center Daniel Sanders and tackles Tyler Polumbus and Edwin Harrison should help the running game, but the most important thing to help the running game is actually having a passing threat.

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2007 Colorado Defense:

The Buffaloes defense stepped up and at least gave the offense some opportunities to win a few games. Led by George Hypolite on the line, Jordon Dizon at linebacker and Terrence Wheatley in the secondary, Colorado has plenty of experience. Hypolite and nose tackle Brandon Nicolas return to the middle of the line, but ends Maurice Lucas, Alonzo Barrett and Marquez Herrod will have to get some pressure on the quarterback. Dizon and fellow linebacker Brad Jones combined for over 200 tackles and will be asked to do much of the work again this year.

It does not get much better than Wheatley at cornerback. The senior has the ability to shut down the best receivers in the conference and will need to do so on a consistent basis. Former safety Ben Burney and redshirt freshman Jalil Brown and Jimmy Smith will battle for snaps opposite of Wheatley. Starting safeties Lionel Harris and Ryan Walters return, which should help Colorado give up less than 228.5 yards per game.

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The Bottom Line for the 2007 Buffs:

The defense will be solid and the offense cannot be any worse. It may take some time for Hawkins or Nelson to get things rolling, but they will. And when that happens, the Buffaloes will be a dangerous team. It may be a year too soon for a bowl game, but Coach Hawkins is not far away from taking Colorado back to its former glory days.

by Joel Welser