CU tight end Sean Irwin, shown here scoring at Cal last year, is emerging as a reliable target this season for QB Sefo Liufau. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Boulder — The Buffs lost big-play wide receiver Shay Fields two games ago with a high ankle sprain, but they have an emerging big-play tight end of sorts in Sean Irwin.
Quarterback Sefo Liufau didn’t throw much to the tight ends early in the season, but Irwin has become more of a weapon in recent weeks. He has three catches that went for 20 yards or more.
“With Sean kind of emerging as a target, it kind of gives the defense another thing to worry about,” Liufau said. “In the beginning of the year, our tight ends didn’t get the ball, hardly at all if at all. It just gives (the defense) something else to worry about. Their safeties can’t just focus on the receivers and leave the tight end go. We definitely want to try to get them the ball a little bit more, make it so the DBs can’t single out our receivers.”
Irwin has had two huge receptions, one of 47 yards, the other for 42.
“He’s bailed me out twice now,” Liufau said. “Both were seams down the middle, and backside safety didn’t want to take the corner route. Sean ended up just going out and catching the ball over the defensive back. He made an athletic play, which is rare for him.”
Liufau was teasing, of course.
“He’s a great target for us, and we don’t want anyone to overlook him because he hasn’t gotten the ball. He’s done a really good job of making plays for us, and I expect him to keep making plays.”
Irwin was born among triplets, and one of them — Jeromy — is a left tackle for the Buffs who went down with a season-ending knee injury in the second game.
