Boulder – Just as Colorado quarterback Bernard Jackson is settling into his new position as a starter, former Colorado quarterback Brian White is settling into new digs as well.
At Portland State.
White’s transfer to the Division I-AA school became official Monday.
Because Portland State is in I-AA, White can play right away instead of having to sit out a year, which would be the case if he had transferred to a Division I-A school.
White left Colorado on Sept. 10 in search of more playing time.
He will be a backup for the Vikings (3-1), who defeated Mountain West Conference member New Mexico 17-6 this season in Albuquerque.
Portland State, ranked 14th in the Sports Network Division I-AA poll, is in the Big Sky Conference along with Northern Colorado. The teams already have played each other, with the Vikings beating the Bears 45-3 in Portland, Ore.
Since White’s departure, the Buffaloes have been left with just three scholarship players at quarterback – Jackson, senior James Cox and freshman Cody Hawkins.
Jackson, a junior, has started Colorado’s past three games.
Tigers tough to tame
Through four games, Missouri is ranked No. 1 in the nation in total defense, and ranks high in a number of other defensive categories. Colorado coach Dan Hawkins acknowledged the Buffs have a tough task of solving the Tigers’ defense.
“They are very aggressive. They are very athletic,” Hawkins said. “They all, from the front end to the back end, look similar. They’ve got a couple of corners that are huge. Their D-line is very athletic. They all can run and get after you. They’ve got speed. They’re not going to sit back and see what you can do. They’re going to come after you.”
Footnotes
Cox was expected to return to Boulder on Tuesday night, Hawkins said. Cox has been gone for nearly a week to be with his family in Simi Valley, Calif., where last Wednesday his father passed away. … Hawkins was interviewed by ESPN for a segment to be aired on “GameDay.”
Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
