BOULDER — One of the biggest surprises of the Big 12 season didn’t happen on the playing field. It came in the form of an answer.
Colorado’s Dan Hawkins was asked this week to pick the most talented player he has coached against during his two years in the conference. Hawkins didn’t blurt out the name of some blur from Oklahoma or Texas.
Without hesitation, his answer was Kansas two-way player Aqib Talib.
“We think Talib is probably the best we’ve faced,” Hawkins said. “We thought he was pretty good last year, and we think he is better this year, if that’s doable.”
Talib is a 6-foot-2, 205-pound junior who is tied for the Big 12 lead with three interceptions in his primary role as a cornerback and also has four touchdowns on just seven receptions when used on offense. Spectators at Folsom Field on Saturday – and perhaps even ESPN viewers – might hear coaches and players for Colorado (4-3, 2-1 Big 12) holler out “Talib!” or “No. 3!” as the Buffaloes make sure to identify where the star of the 15th-ranked Jayhawks (6-0, 2-0) is lining up.
“Kansas does a great job of moving him around,” CU defensive backs coach Greg Brown said. “He’s an outstanding cornerback. And when they slip him in on offense, they’re putting him there for a reason.”
It would not come as a surprise if Talib declares for the NFL draft next spring, and that’s fine with Hawkins. Colorado already has seen enough of Talib. He intercepted two passes against the Buffs last fall to help the Jayhawks rally for a 20-15 victory in Lawrence.
“Aqib’s reaction time is really good,” CU offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich said. “He reads routes well. You can tell he’s a smart player. He’s a big, physical, fast guy. He has the whole package, which is not good (for CU).”
Buffs quarterback Cody Hawkins must be extra careful when a play call is directed in Talib’s area, Helfrich said. As much as any cornerback in the country, Talib makes opponents pay for mistakes.
Talib set a school record when he returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown against Florida International on Sept. 22.
“If you hang a curve on him, he’ll hit a home run,” Helfrich said. “You’re not going to get away with one against this guy. We’ve got to be clean on our routes and not late with the throws.”
Talib normally plays right cornerback but sometimes moves around based on coverage calls and opponents’ offensive tendencies. Helfrich said CU can’t afford to eliminate Talib’s side of the field or simply throw away from him because that would hinder the offense too much.
“It’s going to be tough to fit in a ball when you’ve got a great corner like that,” Cody Hawkins said. “Sometimes you can take chances. But if you take chances against a corner like that, he’s going to make you pay.
“Aqib is a guy who is going to play in the NFL. He’s the best corner we’ve seen all year, hands down.”
Kansas coach Mark Mangino believes Talib would be one of the nation’s top wide receivers if he were to play exclusively at that position. Talib averages 24.9 yards per catch.
“He just makes plays where we put him,” Mangino said. “Our team rallies around him. They feed off him.”
Talib, from the football hotbed of suburban Dallas-Fort Worth, said he always has enjoyed the spotlight. Making an impact on both sides of the ball fits his ubiquitous nature.
“I like to move around and let people know I’m in the room,” Talib said in July during the Big 12 media days.
Footnote. Jordon Dizon has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Dick Butkus Award, which is given to the nation’s best linebacker. The senior leads the nation in tackles with 97 (13.9 per game), and 71 are unassisted. The list will be narrowed to three finalists on Nov. 9, and the winner will be announced by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando in December.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
The Lowdown
By Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
COLORADO (4-3, 2-1)
Player to watch: QB Cody Hawkins
The redshirt freshman played like a first-year player in the 47-20 loss at Kansas State, completing less than 50 percent of his passes with three interceptions. Hawkins will want to make amends in leading his team to a big victory at home. But he had better not get too eager and force the ball into traffic.
Key for the Buffaloes: Contain Reesing.
Colorado’s offense probably isn’t ready to keep up in a shootout. So, as it was in the upset against Oklahoma, victory may depend on the CU defense limiting Kansas’ scoring to somewhere in the 20s. The Buffs can’t allow QB Todd Reesing, one of Big 12’s best scramblers, to get loose out of the pocket.
NO. 15 KANSAS (6-0, 2-0 BIG 12)
Player to watch: DT James McClinton
The senior doesn’t get nearly as much publicity as cornerback Aqib Talib, but Colorado coaches say McClinton is one of the best they have seen. McClinton (6-1, 285 pounds) will try to stop CU’s inside running game and also make life miserable for Hawkins. McClinton is capable of doing both. He has two sacks and eight tackles for losses.
Key for the Jayhawks: Force turnovers.
Continue to play defense like a band of thieves. Kansas ranks sixth nationally in turnover margin of plus-9 (18 takeaways against nine giveaways). The 12 interceptions didn’t all come against a pillow-soft nonconference schedule. Kansas picked off three passes in the win at Kansas State and four more last Saturday against Baylor.
