Boulder – Often, the competition to play in the games actually plays out like games. To that end, the Colorado quarterbacks are finding out that things aren’t always as they seem.
Friday, Brian White had a nice early lead in the race to be CU’s starter. But after a rain-soaked, 99-play scrimmage Sunday, that lead has been trimmed to nearly nothing.
James Cox is back.
The senior from Simi Valley, Calif., discounted by nearly everyone as a serious starting contender at the beginning of preseason camp, continued his push up the depth chart with solid play when it counted. He completed 7-of-14 passes for 89 yards and no interceptions in CU’s first preseason scrimmage, which also featured a 66-yard field goal by Mason Crosby.
“I thought James moved the club and did some things probably in total maybe better than those other guys,” Buffs coach Dan Hawkins said.
Cox played mostly with the second team. But near the end of the scrimmage, he joined the first team. Offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich said Cox’s play warrants additional reps with the No. 1 team this week.
“James did some good things tonight, had good presence and made plays that quite frankly he hadn’t made consistently leading up to tonight,” Helfrich said.
The reshuffling begins today, not to say White (7-of-9, 41 yards, one interception) has completely fallen back. Hawkins acknowledged White’s task was tougher most of the night, going against the No. 1 defense. But the battle for the starting quarterback job seemed a bit more wide open after Sunday than it had after the first week of practices.
Cox has the most game experience, and though he missed spring drills because of a wrist injury, he kept his “mental reps” high on the quarterback simulator and through playbook study. He says he’s never felt as if he were too far behind juniors White and Bernard Jackson to catch up, and now it’s time to prove it on the field.
“I try not to listen to what everybody says,” Cox said. “I try to come out and compete with myself every day and compete with the other quarterbacks. I just want to prove that after the Clemson game (in the Champs Sports Bowl) and the other three years, that I can come out here and play and be a good quarterback, lead the offense and put points on the board.”
Hawkins was lukewarm on the Buffs’ overall performance.
“We showed some signs, some sparks in there,” he said.
Other players who stood out were running back Mell Holliday (six carries for 43 yards), defensive tackle Brandon Nicolas and Crosby, who made two field goals besides the 66-yarder.
The rest of the first-team offense was Blake Mackey and Patrick Williams at wide receiver; Tyler Polumbus, Brian Daniels, Mark Fenton, Daniel Sanders and Edwin Harrison on the line; Tyson DeVree at tight end; Hugh Charles at tailback; and Paul Creighton as the H-back/fullback.
The first-team defense was Nicolas and George Hypolite, Walter Boye-Doe and Abraham Wright on the line; Thaddaeus Washington, Jordon Dizon and Brad Jones at linebacker; Terrence Wheatley and Lorenzo Sims at cornerback; and J.J. Billingsley and Ben Burney at safety.
Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-820-5455 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
