BOULDER - The streak began with Barry Remington in 1986. For 11years, at least one Colorado linebacker made the All-Conference firstteam. Five were at least a third-team All-American. Two won theButkus Award as the nation's best linebacker.
But since 1996, only one Colorado linebacker has received any post-season accolades.
'I don't know why that is, but for some reason there wasn't thatquality of linebacker,' inside linebackers coach Brian Cabral said.
'But there is now.'
Colorado may be about to re-establish its perception as aLinebacker U. with Drew Wahlroos, Sean Tufts, Kory Mossoni and JoeyJohnson.
The Sporting News and Lindy's recently ranked Colorado'slinebackers as the third-best group in the country. All but Mossonihave been tabbed for either first-team or second-team preseason all-conference teams.
All are seniors except Tufts, a junior. The depth behind them isshallow, especially with senior Aaron Killion a month away fromreturning from a shoulder injury. But the experience of the top fouris one reason Colorado coaches aren't squelching the hyperbole.
'I don't think I've been around a more solid group, a bettergroup,' said head coach Gary Barnett, a veteran of 18 Division Iseasons.
He was a Colorado assistant in 1990 when the Buffs featuredseniors Alfred Williams and Kanavis McGhee on the outside, andsophomores Greg Biekert and Chad Brown on the inside. All went on toNFL careers. Barnett was offered a chance to reconsider. He didn'tbudge.
Cabral has coached the inside linebackers since 1989. Wahlroosreminds him of the hole-filling, Butkus-winning Matt Russell. Tuftsreminds him of the ball-hawking Brown. 'The two starters are as goodof a pair as I've had in a while,' Cabral said. 'I really like them.They're both tough, physical, smart inside linebackers.'
Wahlroos moved in from the outside spot last spring. The Buffaloesswapped him with the quicker Johnson, who will share time withMossoni, the likely starter, in a 4-3 scheme that features just one'outside' linebacker.
While the coaches espouse their talents, the players vow not totrip over their potential. Reluctant to discuss their futures, theyare quick to review the past.
'So many great linebackers have come through here,' Mossoni said.'Definitely, the tradition and a chance to be a part of that was amain reason I chose to came here.'
'As a 17-year-old, I wanted to be a part of that,' Wahlroos said.'I thought, 'Hopefully, by the time I'm 22, some of the younger guysgetting recruited will be saying, 'Wow, I want to be a part ofthat.''
Wahlroos is now 22. And if potential recruits aren't saying ityet, they might be by season's end. Or maybe in April. From 1991 to1999, 10 Colorado linebackers were chosen in the NFL Draft. After athree-year talent hiccup, a couple more could be snared next spring.
Tufts, who will start Saturday against Colorado State, is one ofseveral Buffaloes facing possible one-game suspensions this season.
Sitting out Saturday's game will be junior cornerback ClydeSurrell. Senior safety Roderick Sneed has said he likely will besuspended for Colorado's home opener against San Diego State on Sept.7.
- John Branch may be reached at jbranch@gazette.com. TheAssociated Press contributed to this report.
