Colorado Buffaloes Complete First Week of Practice

CU fall practice: notes and quotes from week one

One face the Buffs were happy to see as fall camp opened Aug. 4 was that of junior tight end Riar Geer. Geer, suspended for all of spring practice due to an off-campus fight last winter, was reinstated by CU’s Office of Judicial Affairs after an appeal.

Geer will be on CU’s strictest probationary status, meaning his suspension could be reactivated if any other issues arise. Translation: Geer is back, but on a very short leash.

Geer’s reinstatement was offset by the loss of six players, including four who will be academically ineligible for the season. Lost due to poor grades were wide receiver Markques Simas, offensive tackle Sione Tau, linebacker Nate Vaiomounga, and offensive guard Erick Faatagi.

Of the four, the loss of Simas and Faatagi will have the most impact. Simas, who redshirted as a true freshmen in 2007, was impressive on the scout team last fall, and was expected to compete for a starting spot this August.

Faatagi sat out last season and last spring due to academics. A transfer from El Camino College, Faatagi will leave Boulder without ever playing a down. (The other three, like Simas, are freshmen, and can return next season if their grades improve).

Another loss to the offensive line was suffered on the first day of practice when redshirt freshman guard Mike Iltis went down with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Iltis, who was expected to compete for a starting guard position this fall, will be lost for the season. Iltis, for his part, was philosophical.

"It’s hard, but things happen," said Iltis. "All I am thinking about now is just getting better mentally, getting better physically, and going through rehab with a 100 percent positive attitude and coming back better than I was."

Friday’s practice brought about another ACL loss, this time to defensive end Drew Hudgins. He sat out last season with an Achilles' tendon injury after transferring to Colorado from Highland Community College in Kansas.

With three seasons lost to injury in five years, Hudgins would likely be eligible for a medical redshirt, and be allowed to play in 2009 if he wants to take one last try at playing at CU.

While Hudgins did not play last season, his loss may be the most significant of the six. Colorado is in desperate need of a solid pass rush if the pass-happy teams on the 2008 schedule are to be contained.

CU is young and inexperienced at the cornerback position, so a strong pass rush is mandatory if the Buffs are going to avoid giving up big pass plays. Hudgins was being counted on to provide just such a pass rush.

Still, it is not as if the Buffs will be without options. A total of 105 players reported on Aug. 4, including 20 true freshmen and three invited walk-ons.

Position updates

Quarterback: The big issue of spring practice is a non-issue this fall. It will take an injury to Hawkins or some exceptional play by other quarterbacks on the roster to unseat Cody Hawkins as the starter.

Hawkins was reported as looking "buffed up", appearing noticeably bigger and stronger.

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