BOULDER — Thanks to a Major development, Colorado linebackers coach Brian Cabral is able to sleep at night.
That’s sophomore Jon Major, the former Ponderosa High standout who appears finally ready to chase his potential after undergoing 2008 knee surgery for a torn ACL.
The progress shown by Major during spring practice must seem like a godsend to Cabral. For the first time in his 21 seasons as an assistant at his alma mater, Cabral must replace four departed seniors at inside linebacker: 2009 starters Jeff Smart and Marcus Burton, and reserves Shaun Mohler and Bryan Stengel. Entering the spring, filling the two inside linebacker spots was considered one of the team’s critical needs.
It appears Major has secured one of those spots. A Parade All-American as a high school senior, Major redshirted in 2008 and then played in just six games last season. He recorded 13 tackles.
“The first 3 yards,” Major said when asked where the lingering soreness hindered him last fall. “But the knee feels really good now. I don’t have to wear the knee brace anymore. I’m still learning, but I think I’m coming along fast.”
This is only spring practice. But Cabral said if he had to start a game today, the starters at inside linebacker would be senior Michael Sipili at the “mike” (middle) and Major at the “will” (weakside) spot. The top backups would be redshirt freshman Derrick Webb behind Sipili and former safety Patrick Mahnke, a junior, behind Major. Only Sipili (eight career starts) has much experience.
Cabral said Major is showing steady improvement.
“Jon showed glimpses of that burst last year, but we had to be careful last year about how we brought him back (after knee surgery),” Cabral said. “It wasn’t until recently that Jon has been pain-free.”
Senior linebacker B.J. Beatty said Major “has finally come out of his shell” during spring drills. Major, 6-feet-1 and 220 pounds, was regarded as the state’s top high school prospect during the 2007 recruiting cycle. But he tore the ACL in a drill two weeks into August camp.
“It’s tough coming back from an injury, but he’s been moving great. It’s good to see,” Beatty said. “We knew he had talent. What struck me last year was when he hit a Wyoming quarterback out of bounds. That part isn’t good, but he must have covered 30 or 40 yards. His closing speed showed you what he is capable of.”
Footnotes.
CU offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau said after Thursday’s practice that inclement weather today could force a cancellation of the scheduled scrimmage. Another factor, Kiesau said, is that a few players got banged up Thursday. If the scrimmage is a go and gets moved inside the bubble, it would be closed to the public because of a lack of space for spectators. . . . Redshirt-freshman QB Seth Lobato, a walk-on from Eaton, is taking some reps at wide receiver. . . . Kiesau on the offense this spring: “(The enthusiasm is) off the charts, best it’s ever been.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
