LaJohntay Wester and Will Sheppard make Colorado football WR room more dynamic group than last year
LaJohntay Wester and Will Sheppard make the Colorado football receiver room more dynamic than they were last season according to BuffsBeat's J'Mar Smith.
"Colorado’s offense was centered around their star QB and two-way talent, but Jimmy Horn, Jr. will look to improve from his Junior campaign," Smith prefaced before saying, "This is setting up to be a more dynamic group with Horn around Vanderbilt’s Will Sheppard and FAU’s LaJohntay Wester."
CU is losing Shedeur Sanders' No. 1 option in 2023, Xavier Weaver, to the NFL draft. Still, the increased number of weapons at his disposal now gives the Buffs' offense more game-breakers in the passing game.
Smith does see an issue with the tight end room, though, after Michael Harrison's departure from Boulder to San Diego State and former offensive coordinator Sean Lewis in the offseason via the transfer portal.
"While the offense is filled with skill players the Buffs need depth at the tight end position," Smith prefaced before saying, "CU bolstered nearly every other offensive position, but the extra blocking end needs a few more talents.
"Cincinnati transfer Chamon Mateyer will give the team a boost. However, if you look at last year as an example, tight end Michael Harrison finished tied for second on the team in touchdown receptions (5) and fifth on the team in receptions (34). All signs point to the dire need for more TE depth to not only help in the passing game, but also blocking in the non-existent run game that needs an upgrade from last season."
Former Colorado football EDGE Sav'ell Smalls switching to tight end this season
One potential breakout candidate in the Colorado football tight end room is former EDGE rusher Sav'ell Smalls. BuffZone's Brian Howell sees Small's switch from tackling to pass-catching as one of CU's most intriguing storylines this coming Fal.
"A five-star recruit as an edge rusher coming out of high school in 2020, Smalls didn’t play much in his three seasons at Washington," Howell prefaced before saying, "He didn’t play much last year at CU, either, with 38 snaps on defense. This offseason, he moved to tight end, which gives him a fresh start and CU a 6-foot-3, 260-pound option at a position of need. He played tight end a bit in high school and has potential. If nothing else, he’s one of the most intriguing players to watch this spring."
With all the talent in the WR room, you figure at least one tight end will benefit from the attention those receivers are getting and could quell all these worries about the position group.