Chidobe Awuzie has been a standout on the CU defense. (Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
Boulder — Junior defensive back Chidobe Awuzie is one of Colorado’s standout defensive players, but coach Mike MacIntyre found out a long time ago how athletic he can be.
MacIntyre has known Awuzie since he was in the ninth grade at Oak Grove High School in San Jose, Calif., when MacIntyre was coaching at San Jose State.
“Oak Grove High School is a phenomenal football school there in San Jose,” MacIntyre said. “They came to our football camp as a team. They came every year. He was an exceptional athlete at the time. We recruited that high school and kids came from there.”
Awuzie made the game-ending interception last week when CU beat Oregon State to end the team’s 14-game Pac-12 losing streak. He has had sacks in three straight games and has five career sacks, third-most in CU history. He has four sacks this season, tops on the team. In the Oregon game he led the Buffs with 10 tackles, and he forced a fumble in the Arizona State game.
“He is a phenomenal football player who has gotten better and better every year,” MacIntyre said. “He started as a true freshman. I think he’s an All-Pac 12 football player. He makes plays, he sacks, he covers, he rushes, he does a little bit of everything.
“I’ve seen him grow up. Itap been exciting watching him turn in to a man.”
