BOULDER — It’s strange when you think about it, Colorado senior defensive end Marquez Herrod said, shaking his head.
August camp, especially the two-a-days, seems to drag on, while his college career has almost been a blur.
“Five years, it’s gone fast,” Herrod said after a recent two-hour practice. “But it’s fun being the guy that actually knows what’s going on.”
Herrod, 6-feet-2 and 280 pounds, is the lone senior on CU’s defensive line. It seems almost like yesterday when, soon after arriving in Boulder from the San Diego area in 2006, he was pulled aside by veterans and shown a thing or two.
Now Herrod has assumed a leadership role for a defensive line that remains among the youngest units on the team. Herrod never pictured during his first couple of seasons that someday roles would be reversed, and he would become the mentor.
Who does? Young players just try to survive and don’t think past tomorrow.
“I enjoy helping guys out and being that figure that guys were for me,” Herrod said. “If we’re talking about a technique, I can help the coach show it.”
There’s certainly a lot of teaching going on. Defensive line coach Romeo Bandison looks down a line of fuzzy cheeks while setting up a drill. A pair of sophomores, defensive tackle Will Pericak (pronounced “pre-check”) and defensive end Forrest West, are considered starters along a four-man front that also includes junior nose tackle Curtis Cunningham and Herrod.
Another sophomore, Nick Kasa, is the biggest (6-6, 275) and most athletically gifted of the defensive ends. As a former national top-100 recruit out of Legacy High, he also figures to be in the rotation this fall after a frustrating freshman season that was reduced to four games because of injury and illness.
As was anticipated, the 2009 season proved to be a sometimes difficult transition year for the defensive line. Freshmen were thrown into action with the impossible charge of having to replace multiple-year starters George Hypolite, Brandon Nicolas and Maurice Lucas. But with everybody a year older and hopefully wiser, coach Dan Hawkins called the maturing defensive line potentially “formidable.”
Cautiously optimistic, Bandison prefers to describe his unit as “progressing.” Big improvements must be made in CU’s sack total (27 in 2009, ranking ninth in the Big 12) and rushing defense (ninth in the Big 12, 80th nationally).
“I think we’re on track,” Bandison said. “It’s nice to see tangible evidence that they’re getting better. Their steps are getting better. How they use their hands is getting better. They still make some mistakes. But they’re playing faster. They stay in the gap. They understand more. It’s good to see.”
Group getting bigger
As a group, the defensive line made as many gains in the weight room during the offseason as any unit on the team. West, who is expected to return as early as this week after undergoing knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus, arrived at CU last summer barely weighing 230 pounds. He has added 30 to his frame, and also upped his bench press by a similar amount. With blacksmith-like arms, he is now able to hoist 390 pounds, and may be able to toss aside offensive linemen.
“I was known more as a speed rusher last year,” West said. “But I have a lot of power now. I feel I’m more well-rounded. I’m a lot stronger than I was last year.”
Kasa is 30 pounds bigger than his playing weight (245) at Legacy. And his lift numbers have shown parallel gains. Pericak, a Boulder High graduate who grew up in the shadow of CU, was recruited as a 240-pound tight end. He now checks in at a sturdy 280 with little body fat.
Herrod a leader now
Even with the added girth, CU’s defensive line is not big by Big 12 standards. But Bandison praises the work ethic and “motors” of his men. And extra time is being spent on fundamentals.
“Technique is the key for us,” said Cunningham, a 6-1, 280-pounder from Columbine High. “You don’t have to be the biggest guy. But if you have good fundamentals, you can hang in there.”
That’s where mentoring from an upperclassman such as Herrod factors in, even if taking on a leadership role doesn’t come naturally to him. While Herrod has never lacked self-confidence, he isn’t the most vocal guy on the field.
Perhaps it’s a result of a rough childhood. In a story that’s been well-documented, Herrod was a foster child who was passed to a different home every eight to 12 months. He spent two years at an emergency center for children in San Diego.
“One thing we’ve asked of Marquez is to just lead by example, because he’s a hard worker, and he’s a tough guy,” CU defensive coordinator Ron Collins said.
“I think he’s done a great job of that.”
Herrod was spotted at a recent practice talking to freshman defensive end Chidera Uzo-Diribe about a certain technique. Herrod believes Uzo-Diribe has the potential to become Colorado’s next great pass rusher, and Herrod wants to make sure the eager Southern Californian takes time to develop a strong foundation of fundamentals.
“Guys helped Marquez when he was young, and now he’s helping younger players,” Collins said.
“As a coach, to see a guy mature since he’s been here and to see him take on the role that has been handed down to him, it’s awesome.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
CU defensive linemen to watch
Assistant coach Romeo Bandison, on some of his players:
*PROJECTED STARTERS DE Marquez Herrod, 6-2, 280, Sr. “Marquez is the most experienced guy on the team, and we’re going to need him.”
DT Curtis Cunningham, 6-1, 280, Jr. “He’s a spark plug, a little small, but he is trustworthy and smart.”
DT Will Pericak, 6-4, 280, Soph. “Will is just solid, consistent, smart — all the things you want in a player.”
DE Forrest West, 6-1, 260, Soph. “He probably came out of spring as our most consistent guy.”
*When in four-man frontTOP RESERVES
DE Nick Kasa, 6-6, 275, Soph. “He missed a lot of time last year, but he’s on his way. He has all the physical tools.”
DT Nate Bonsu, 6-1, 290, Soph. “Nate is a plugger, and he’s smart. He has big upside.”
DT Conrad Obi, 6-3, 295, Jr. “We’re finally starting to see some things we hoped and expected he could do.”
DE Josh Hartigan, 6-1, 225, Jr. “Josh has probably been our most consistent player in camp.”
