BOULDER — Colorado redshirt freshman receiver Jay MacIntyre hopes everybody has gotten over the fact that he’s the son of the head coach. MacIntyre acknowledged that there had been some feelings of awkwardness.
“I think the team is past that,” MacIntyre said. “I think they respect me, and we all get along. There were questions about it when I first came here. But now it’s really good. I feel comfortable.”
What helped is that the 5-foot-10, 185-pound MacIntyre showed he can play. MacIntyre performed well enough during August camp to be included with CU’s travel squad and is making his bid to move up the depth chart during spring workouts, which began last week. Last fall he dressed for every game and was ready to discard the redshirt in case injuries piled up and he was needed.
Known for his quickness, agility and football acumen, MacIntyre arrived at CU with impressive credentials. He earned first team all-Colorado honors in 2013 as a senior for Louisville’s Monarch High School, where he played quarterback, cornerback and returner. In his only season at Monarch, MacIntyre also starred for the basketball team as a point guard.
MacIntyre turned down football scholarship offers from Wyoming and Air Force to play for his father, Mike MacIntyre, at Colorado. Before making that decision, Jay had to pick between sports. He also had scholarship opportunities to play Division I basketball for schools such as Stetson, Idaho State and Montana.
“I thought I’d have a better opportunity in football,” he said.
The announcement on national signing day that MacIntyre was coming to CU raised eyebrows among some fans who recalled disappointing seasons with Dan Hawkins as coach and son Cody as the quarterback.
Mike MacIntyre made it clear once his son signed that Jay would not be competing at quarterback. It didn’t take long for Jay to show he belonged.
“Right away last fall, Jay’s actions backed up the fact that he was a scholarship guy,” wide receivers coach Troy Walters said. “He was competitive. He made plays. He did what he needed to do. That’s where you gain respect, by what you do. I was going to outwork everybody (when I played). Jay is the same. He’s the first one out on the field. He’s the last one to leave.”
Jay MacIntyre understands the schemes. As a dual-threat quarterback in high school, he showed his toughness and ability to make defenders miss in the open field. But he is still learning the nuances required of being a college receiver.
“You see guys run routes on TV, but there’s a lot to it,” MacIntyre said. “You have to be patient. When you haven’t grown up as a receiver, you sometimes try to rush your routes and when getting out of your breaks. Timing is huge.”
MacIntyre is penciled in as a slot receiver, playing behind sophomore Donovan Lee (5-9, 165), who caught 13 passes last fall as a true freshman. CU coaches like to use players at a variety of positions, and MacIntyre is getting repetitions at other receiver spots.
“The spring is big for any guy coming off a redshirt year,” Walters said. “It’s time to prove yourself.”
For Jay MacIntyre, that perhaps involves proving himself in different ways.
Tom Kensler: tkensler@denverpost.com or
