BOULDER — Colorado is calling on a couple of untested former Mullen Mustangs — freshman linebacker Brady Daigh and sophomore tailback Josh Ford — to help replace two of the best players on the Buffaloes roster for Saturday’s homecoming game against an Oregon team with perhaps as much speed as any college team in the country.
Go get ’em, guys.
“It’s going to be a big challenge,” Daigh said after a recent practice. “But I’m excited. I’ll do whatever I’m called to do.”
Daigh (pronounced “day”) moved to the top line of the depth chart at middle linebacker in place of junior Doug Rippy, who suffered a season-ending knee injury (torn ACL) last week at Washington.
Ford, a walk-on, has been promoted to top backup at tailback, with redshirt freshman Tony Jones the new starter in place of injured senior Rodney Stewart. Stewart sprained a knee against Washington and could be out as long as four weeks.
Daigh had long been a target of Colorado linebackers coach Brian Cabral and committed to the Buffs in July 2010 — prior to his senior season at Mullen. “I liked his instincts for the position,” Cabral said. “And he is a physical player.”
Ford, on the other hand, took an indirect route to Boulder. After completing his high school career at Mullen in 2008, he moved in with an uncle who was in the Army, stationed at Fort Riley, Kan.
To improve his academic standing, Ford took junior college classes during the 2009-10 academic year at Barton Community College, in nearby Great Bend, a school without football. Ford (5-foot-9, 195 pounds) transferred to Colorado and joined the Buffs as a walk-on last season, working with the scout team.
Ford caught the eyes of the new coaching staff during the spring, rushing for a team- best 164 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown. All of Ford’s five carries this fall have come in the past two games.
“I just want to do my part to help out,” Ford said this week. “We all train the same way, and I’m looking forward to doing what I’ve been taught to do.”
The 6-2, 235-pound Daigh has recorded seven tackles (four unassisted) in his four games. At midweek, Daigh had not been told whether he would start Saturday or how he might figure in the linebacker rotation.
On occasion, and perhaps even for much of this game, Colorado may choose to replace Daigh with an outside linebacker or safety against the Ducks’ spread attack.
“We have to hold the edge on Saturday with Oregon trying to spread us out,” Daigh said. “They’re quick, so we have to get a lot of guys around the ball.”
Sending multiple players to major-college programs in most years, Mullen is regarded as the state’s premier football program. It stands to reason that the Mustangs prepare their players for college ball as well as anyone.
“That’s what I thought,” Daigh said with a smile. “But when you get to this level, you have to prepare even more. In high school, you can get away with instincts. Here, you’d better use your reads.”
Footnote.
As of late Thursday, CU had about 2,700 tickets left for Saturday’s game.
Tom Kensler: 330-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
Three questions for CU
1. Can Colorado’s injury-depleted defense somehow avoid yielding big plays to Oregon? Seven different Ducks have broken loose on runs or pass plays of at least 40 yards. Protecting the edge and one-on-one tackling will be of paramount importance for a Buffs defense that will be adjusting to the absence of junior linebacker Doug Rippy, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last week at Washington.
2. Will Colorado’s offensive line give quarterback Tyler Hansen enough protection to throw? Last week, Colorado allowed five sacks against Washington, and the offensive line was considered to have turned in a solid performance after postgame film evaluation by CU coaches. (Hansen holding onto the ball too long accounted for at least two sacks.) With Colorado’s top rusher, senior tailback Rodney Stewart, out for up to four weeks with a knee sprain, Hansen had better get accustomed to the defensive front seven looking to sack him and not concerning themselves much with the run.
3. Can Colorado’s home crowd — and perhaps some luck — help the Buffs stay in the game into the second half? Oregon is a 30-point favorite for a reason. Nobody successfully plays catch-up against Oregon. The Ducks are simply too fast to catch. Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
