BOULDER — Springtime is about blossoming, about surprises, about emerging. It’s the same in football, in which players can shoot up the depth chart and late bloomers can finally blossom.
“You’re kind of seeing, ‘OK, the light is starting to come on,’ ” Colorado coach Dan Hawkins said. “You can see: ‘He’s starting to get it. He’s starting to figure it out.’ Just another year (of experience) and guys are way different.”
Defensive tackle Taj Kaynor is a prime example. Last fall, the 6-foot-5, 275-pound junior got on the field for 20 snaps — all season. This spring, he’s challenging for the first team as the Buffs look to replace the departed tandem of George Hypolite and Brandon Nicolas.
“This is my last go,” Kaynor said. “I’m trying to sell out. I want to leave (spring drills) with a good impression going into the fall.”
Tight end Ryan Deehan is in a different situation. A second-year player, Deehan admits he got by mostly on instinct and athletic ability last season.
“I’m having fun this spring because I’m getting more comfortable with what we do as a team,” said Deehan, who coaches believe has the potential to be a go-to player.
Then there’s offensive lineman Bryce Givens. The former Mullen High School blue-chipper arrived last fall at 6-6 and 240 pounds, looking more like a Q-tip than a tackle. He redshirted, ate well and is up to 280 pounds and competing for a starting spot.
“Bryce is a long guy with a lot of talent,” said Denver Johnson, CU’s new offensive line coach. “He has the arm length that you’re looking for in a tackle.”
Players develop at different rates. Some pick up major-college ball quickly. Others might take years as their bodies fill out and their minds adapt to a much faster game.
“You never totally know (why),” Hawkins said. “You just throw a rock on the gas pedal and wonder, ‘How long is it going to take?’ There are a lot of factors that go into it.”
For Kaynor, he always had someone bigger and more experienced ahead of him. He arrived in 2005 from Cherry Creek High School as a 225-pound defensive end. Moved inside after his freshman year, Kaynor has added 50 pounds to his lanky frame the past three years. But with talented upperclassmen ahead of him, he couldn’t get on the field for an extended period of time.
“Waiting for my time was really hard to deal with,” Kaynor said. “It definitely bothered me; I’ve had my down times. But my teammates picked me up. And I never stopped learning.”
Kaynor blocked a field goal in Saturday’s scrimmage. He said he is playing with more focus than at any point in his career.
Coaches have been hard on Kaynor. They see the potential but haven’t been able to get it out of him — yet.
“It’s been tough on Taj the last couple of years,” Hawkins said. “We’re asking a lot of him and pushing him. It’s showing up. He’s making a lot of plays.”
So is Deehan. At 6-5 and 245 pounds, the Californian has prototypical size for a tight end, and his hands are among the best on the team. Now, it’s just a matter of figuring out how to beat a defense.
“I have a better understanding of what’s going on with the defense, what’s going to happen,” Deehan said.
Tight ends coach Kent Riddle raves about Deehan’s potential.
“Ryan is playing with more confidence, more speed,” Riddle said. “He’s still learning, but he’s going to be a big factor for us.”
Givens said working with the first team this spring has given him confidence.
“It’s a mind game,” Givens said. “Every day there is something different. You work on one thing and then maybe something else isn’t where it should be.
“You just try to win that job. There are a lot of guys with talent. But it’s the guys who stay after it and work hard and focus every day that succeed.”
And blossom.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
Spring stars
Tom Kensler looks at three players who are blossoming this spring for CU.
TE RYAN DEEHAN
6-5, 245, soph.*
2008 — Caught five passes for 61 yards.
2009 — Running more precise routes, has improved pass protection; expected to be impact player, sharing time with incumbent Riar Geer.
OT BRYCE GIVENS
6-6, 280, redshirt fr. *
2008 — Redshirted as a 240-pounder.
2009 — Has added 40 pounds; is working with the first team at right tackle. Will probably start this fall.
DT TAJ KAYNOR
6-5, 275, fifth-year sr.*
2008 — Played only 20 snaps all season.
2009 — Competing for starting job, showing more energy and confidence than in past.
* Class for 2009 season
