BOULDER — It didn’t take long for Colorado safety Tedric Thompson to realize there’s a new sheriff in town. After just two spring practices, new safeties coach Joe Tumpkin already has made his presence felt.
“Coach Tumpkin can get loud,” said Thompson, a returning starter who will be a junior this fall. “He brings a lot of energy. We needed that in the secondary.
“He’ll jump on you if you do something wrong. But he also will let you know if you do something good. I like the way he explains things.”
Tumpkin, 44, previously served five years as defensive coordinator at Central Michigan. He arrived in Boulder two weeks ago.
Tumpkin reviewed CU’s game films to analyze the returning talent at safety, then met with the defensive backs to introduce himself and his ideas. Tumpkin may have learned more about his new players in two practices than during all those meetings.
“I’ve loved the energy we’ve had in our first two practices; guys are flying around,” Tumpkin said Wednesday. “There’s Pac-12 talent out there. We just have to hone it down and get better at it.”
He added: “We have to work on their technique and make sure they’re doing the right things. Half the battle is just getting more experience. They wouldn’t be out here if they weren’t good enough to play.”
Tumpkin began looking for job opportunities after Central Michigan head coach Dan Enos abruptly left the Chippewas in mid-January to become the offensive coordinator at Arkansas.
A native of Detroit who played high school ball in Miami, Tumpkin played college football at Michigan Tech. He did not know CU coach Mike MacIntyre or new defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt. But Tumpkin was aware of their background and coaching success, and he spoke to friends in the coaching profession who said he would fit in with both, and with Colorado.
MacIntyre said he has been impressed with Tumpkin in the short time that they have worked together. Before his stop at Central Michigan, Tumpkin coached linebackers at Pittsburgh and Southern Methodist.
“Joe has great knowledge with kids, he’s a great teacher and very fundamentally sound,” MacIntyre said. “Watching him in meetings with his players, he’s excellent.”
Charles Clark was responsible for the entire Buffaloes secondary in 2014. MacIntyre, a safety during his playing days at Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech, helped Clark when he could. But MacIntyre decided during the offseason that the secondary needed two coaches, considering the Buffs’ defense must prepare to face those pass-happy spread offenses of the Pac-12.
Clark now handles the cornerbacks.
“Me and Coach Tumpkin are working well together,” Clark said. “Because safeties have to also get so involved against the run, safeties and cornerbacks are really two different positions.
“Usually, you have five DBs out there,” Clark added. “That’s more than about any other position. So you need two coaches. And having two guys in the meeting room is good. The more knowledge we can give players, the more confident they’ll be to play fast.”
Tom Kensler: tkensler@denverpost.com or
Colorado’s depth at safety
Returning starters: Tedric Thompson, junior; *Chidobe Awuzie, junior
Others returnees with starting experience: Evan White (2014, three games), sophomore; Ryan Moeller (2014, two games), sophomore; Marques Mosley (2012, four games), senior
Top newcomer: Afolabi Laguda, sophomore transfer from Butler County (Kan.) Community College
*Might be moved to cornerback
Note: CU is petitioning for 2013 starter Jered Bell to get a sixth year after missing 2011 and 2014 seasons with knee injuries.
