BOULDER — Still a bit out of breath after his first practice, Colorado wide receiver Andre Simmons said Wednesday he expects to play in the Buffaloes’ Sept. 6 opener against Colorado State despite not having much time to get ready.
“The coaches knew that I could do that or they wouldn’t have recruited me; they’ve got a lot of confidence in me,” said Simmons, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior who had been held in limbo and off the field since preseason drills began because of a snag in his transfer from Independence (Kan.) Community College.
Simmons said the delay involved gathering paperwork from additional summer classes that he took in order to enroll at Colorado. Simmons drew four stars from Internet recruiting sites and was rated among CU’s top 2009 signees. Wide receiver is a position of need for the Buffaloes.
“I had to get used to the quarterbacks, get my timing down, some route running,” said Simmons, who is called “Dre” by the team. “It was a pretty good day for a first practice. It’s easier to learn when you’re out there, instead of staying on the sideline watching. I catch on pretty fast.”
CU coach Dan Hawkins called Simmons “a soaker” when asked about the newcomer’s ability to learn quickly. Hawkins said Simmons can help in the season opener.
“He soaks up a lot of stuff,” Hawkins said.
Wright stuff.
The biggest difference between playing cornerback and wide receiver? Sophomore Anthony Wright pointed to the bulging spiral binder tucked under his arm.
Wright said he was “kind of like joking, but being serious” when asking Hawkins on Saturday if he could get a tryout at wideout.
“Man, (wide receivers) have a big playbook,” Wright said Wednesday. “It’s a whole different language. I walk around with it all day. I don’t look at it during class, though.”
Wright (6-0, 195) just wants an opportunity to play. Although this is his third season, he has no game experience. Wright redshirted as a freshman in 2007 and did not get off the bench last season. He was stymied on the depth chart behind a bevy of experienced cornerbacks.
Wright said he didn’t know if the position change would be permanent.
“I just want to be on the field anywhere,” he said. “I’ll play special teams, offense, defense, anywhere. I’ll play wherever I can.”
Footnotes.
Sophomore tailback Rodney “Speedy” Stewart is back practicing in pads after missing a dozen days. He strained a hamstring during the first scrimmage, on Aug. 13. “It will probably be awhile, but he’s getting there,” Hawkins said of Stewart. . . . Sophomore quarterback Tyler Hansen did not practice Wednesday because he felt ill, the coach said.
