BOULDER, Colo.—The Colorado Buffaloes haven’t even started playing in their new conference yet, and already first-year coach Jon Embree is racking up wins against future rivals.
Embree said he persuaded eight players to switch allegiances and sign letters of intent with the Buffaloes on Wednesday, including several who were set to sign with teams in the soon-to-be Pac-12. Colorado will join the conference next season.
Despite a late start on the recruiting trail, Embree secured 19 players in his first recruiting class as he takes over for Dan Hawkins, who was fired after going 19-39 during four-plus seasons in Boulder.
A former standout tight end and one-time assistant at Colorado, Embree has vowed to restore the luster to a program that has fallen on lean times.
He has taken the decline personally.
“They have to know that if they come here, there’s a lot of work involved to be a Buffalo,” said Embree, who was named the head coach on Dec. 6. “That there is a privilege to be a Buffalo. I let it all out. I let it all hang out, the good, the bad, the ugly.
“I tell them I know there is no perfect place. But here’s what’s going to be demanded of you.”
Embree had quite a few success stories on the road, swaying offensive lineman Paulay Asiata out of his decision to sign with Washington and enticing linebacker Woodson Greer away from Arizona State.
But his most rewarding coup may have been luring offensive lineman Marc Mustoe from UCLA, keeping the local kid home. It was a good win, especially since Embree spent three seasons as an assistant with the Bruins and his son, Taylor, is a senior wide receiver at the school.
“I ain’t going to lie—that felt good,” Embree said with a grin. “That felt good to take him away.”
All’s fair in recruiting.
The Buffaloes are hardly making friends heading into their new conference.
Then again, that’s not on the agenda.
“I appreciate the fact there were some schools out there that said some real nice things,” Embree said with heavy sarcasm. “I appreciate that and am looking forward to playing them. I really am.”
He lost some recruits, too, missing out by his count on at least seven.
For a first go-around, though, he’ll take it. Embree ended up with eight offensive players, including junior college quarterback Brent Burnette. He was brought in to provide some competition for Tyler Hansen, especially with the departure of senior Cody Hawkins, the son of Dan Hawkins.
The Buffs also ended up with nine players on the defensive side, even going to great lengths to get K.T. Tu’umalo, a linebacker from Honolulu, who appeared bound for Boise State. Embree was ready to write him off, but Brian Cabral, who took over as the interim coach when Hawkins was fired, convinced him to make the long excursion.
The trip proved quite fruitful as they not only landed Tu’umalo but also ended up with Asiata and defensive end Juda Parker, who were teammates in Hawaii.
In the future, Embree said he would prefer to have more of a presence on the home front. He landed two so far from Colorado. Another, linebacker Leilon Willingham of Mullen High School, has yet to declare, but is possibly leaning toward other options.
“I have to be better in-state,” Embree conceded. “We went 2 of 3. That’s not good enough. I want to go 3-for-3. If that’s what we feel like can help us, then we need to get all three in the state. We didn’t get it done, and that falls on me.”
Embree had a succinct plan despite only spending just 13 days on the road. He wanted to bring in players not afraid to work for their position.
No promises to anyone, no guarantees.
“If a kid is always asking about the depth chart and you show it to them and a week later they’re calling and asking about it again, that’s a red flag,” Embree said. “You can tell if they’re competitive.”
He even brought in a kicker, just to increase the competition at that spot.
“Kids every day they go out there, whether they’re lifting, running or practicing, have to feel like, ‘I have to earn my job today,’ ” Embree said. “That’s how it works.”
Embree has never been so much as a coordinator in his career. But he has been mentored by some of the best in the coaching business, learning under Herm Edwards while both were with the Kansas City Chiefs and Mike Shanahan in Washington. He also was groomed by former Buffs coach Bill McCartney, who pretty much launched Embree’s coaching career following a brief stint in the NFL.
“First thing I sell (players) on is me,” Embree said. “Then I sell them on the program. Then I sell them on what this program has done for me and what it’s done for players that maybe have been in their situation.
“I want to be honest. I never want a kid to come back and say, ‘Well, I didn’t know it was going to be like this.’ “
