2 weeks Ago
BOULDER — The best sign that the Colorado offense is coming into gear is the number of players involved. While Travis Hunter and Jimmy Horn Jr. had big performances in Week 1, it took until Week 3 to get everyone caught up.
The running backs combined for over 100 yards and Shedeur Sanders is getting the ball spread around to even more wide receivers. One of them was LaJohntay Wester, who had his best game so far as a Buffalo with five catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns. How to watch: Colorado Buffaloes football vs.
Baylor Bears Here’s all the senior from Palmetto, Fla. had to say ahead of this week’s game against Baylor: Q: How good did it feel for you to get the win over Colorado State? A: For my first time in a rivalry game like that, it was definitely great to be able to not only get in (the end zone) one time, but twice. Just to contribute and help us get the win, it was a great experience.
Q: What was the experience like on the field playing in a hostile atmosphere? A: It was definitely different from my last school (Florida Atlantic). (Football) wasn’t as big and taken as seriously. But that atmosphere, everybody had and everybody knew how important the game was, not only to the players on the team, but to the people in the community as well.
It was great to experience it for the first time and actually get the win. Colorado State senior safety Henry Blackburn (11) chases down Colorado senior wide receiver LaJohntay Wester (10) as he scores the second Buffs touchdown in the first half of the Rocky Mountain Showdown on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024 at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins.
(Stephen Swofford, Denver Gazette) Q: You and your brother always share a pregame moment in the end zone where you’re hyping him up. How does that get you both motivated? A: That’s just something that we’ve done since we started playing together, especially at FAU. We have a strong faith in God, so we make sure we give it up to him and make sure he cover us and give us the power, the strength, the knowledge to get through the game and come away victorious.
Q: You were able to get your first touchdown at CU at the end of the Nebraska game in Week 2, how much of a confidence boost was that? A: It gave me a lot of confidence. At first, I was getting down on myself because (the season) wasn’t happening on my terms. I just had to keep praying about and God showed his faith in the Nebraska game and I just kept building off of it going into Colorado State.
Q: This Baylor defense has played well against the pass so far this season, how do you feel like you and the rest of the wide receivers match up against their secondary? A: They’re a very good defense, but like our coaches say, it’s about us. If we’re at our best, nobody can stop us, nobody can play with us. They’re a great defense, nothing against them.
I know they’re gonna come prepared (and) we’re gonna come prepared. Let’s see who the best man is on Saturday. Q: What have you seen from QB Shedeur Sanders from a leadership standpoint so far this season? A: His IQ level is on another level.
He just keeps elevating the guys around him. He wants the best not only for you but for himself, too. He’ll push those buttons that most coaches or other players (won’t) because he knows what you can do (and) your potential.
That guy is just like another coach on the field. Q: Shedeur talked about personally recruiting you to CU from the transfer portal. What was that like when he reached out to you to pitch the Buffs and Boulder? A: It was great.
We’ve actually been building (for) this since 2021 when he came on a visit to FAU. Since then, we’ve been staying in contact and we finally made it happen. It was definitely a blessing to get that call, to finally get a pro-style quarterback who’s being talked about as the number one draft pick in this upcoming draft.
Florida Atlantic wide receiver LaJohntay Wester runs with the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Clemson, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Clemson, S.C.
(AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman) Q: You’re also the team’s starting punt returner. How hard is it to stay patient and how anxious are you to break off a big return? A: I’m very anxious, but I just gotta be smart. They put me back there for a reason, so at the end of the day, I just gotta trust my abilities and y’all are going to see one soon.
Just be patient. Q: You left a situation at FAU where you were catching almost 10 passes per game and were the No. 1 wide receiver.
How much of an adjustment has it been coming here where you’re competing with several players who are all capable of being the top target each week? A: It’s something I knew, but it’s definitely an adjustment that I’ve had to do. Once you get the ball that many times that early in the game at your old school and you come here and you don’t get it as much, it’s just something you’ve gotta adjust to. I knew coming in what they wanted from me and what my role was.
At the end of the day, I came here to win, not for my personal goals. Players to watch Colorado: RB Isaiah Augustave, LB Nikhai Hill-Green Augustave fumbled last week vs. CSU but didn't let that bother him in his first extended action as a member of the Buffs, rushing for over 4.
5 yards per carry on eight attempts. He could be in for a bigger role if Dallan Hayden is limited by injury. Hill-Green has excelled in the starting lineup and is already third on the team in tackles, despite a limited role in the season opener.
Baylor: RB Bryson Washington, LB Matt Jones It's a running back and a linebacker for the Bears as well. Washington is part of a deep running back room at Baylor where it seems like the team's leading rusher changes each week, but the freshman has plenty of momentum to build off of after rushing for 106 yards last week vs. Air Force.
Jones is the team's leading tackler and will be all over the field. Mark Kiszla: Deion and Shedeur Sanders have made the CU Buffs the most hip and hated football team in America Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter named Big 12 defensive player of the week.
