At each cease, Sy’veon Wilkerson has discovered success on the soccer discipline.
He was all-conference as a sophomore, junior and senior in highschool, speeding for greater than 2,000 yards and 26 touchdowns in his final two seasons.
He was first-team All-MEAC with 848 yards and eight touchdowns at Delaware State within the fall of 2021. And, final 12 months, he transferred to Jackson State and was first-team All-SWAC after speeding for 1,152 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Now, the 5-foot-9, 205-pound Wilkerson is making the soar to the Energy 5 and he goals to show himself with the Colorado Buffaloes.
“I’m prepared to return in and compete,” he mentioned. “I’m able to go and I’m able to play.”
Main as much as preseason camp, BuffZone.com will preview every place group for CU and on this installment, we have a look at the operating backs, which is likely to be the deepest place group on the roster.
CU head coach Deion Sanders and operating backs coach Gary Harrell are getting a identified commodity in Wilkerson. He was a workhorse for them at Jackson State a 12 months in the past they usually know they’ll rely on him. Wilkerson is aware of what he’s entering into, as nicely.
“These have been coaches I might speak to and are available to about something and I might belief,” Wilkerson mentioned. “We need to be round coaches that we belief and that actually care about us. So being with Coach Prime and the remainder of the workers, I’m excited for it. It’s identical to being round household. It’s like being at residence.”
Wilkerson additionally is available in realizing he’s not a lock to begin just because he was with this workers a 12 months in the past. However, he is aware of he’s going to get a good shot to compete in what has grow to be a giant group of gifted operating backs.
“I’ve needed to battle for a beginning job each workforce I’ve been on, really since little league,” Wilkerson mentioned. “So it’s not likely nothing new to me. That’s why I wasn’t actually fearful about coming in and competing as a result of I’ve been doing that every one my life.”
Nearly as good as Wilkerson has been so far, he wasn’t the highest-profile addition to the operating again room this offseason.
Touchdown Alton McCaskill IV, a switch from Houston, was a big transfer for CU this offseason. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound sophomore was the American Athletic Convention rookie of the 12 months in 2021 when he ran for 961 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry for the Cougars. He missed final 12 months with a knee harm, however is able to go together with CU.
CU additionally introduced in sixth-year senior Kavosiey Smoke, who was productive throughout his 5 years at Kentucky, primarily as a backup. He posted 1,583 yards and 13 touchdowns at Kentucky, averaging 5.44 yards per carry.
“Each of them, they’re distinctive of their types,” CU defensive coordinator Charles Kelly mentioned of McCaskill and Smoke. “Each of them are exhausting to deal with. Smoke’s somewhat bit extra compact, however he’s highly effective, somewhat bit decrease heart of gravity. However all of these operating backs have an opportunity to be actually good and once we get the ball to them in area, they’re going to be exhausting to get down.”
The group additionally contains highly-touted true freshman Dylan Edwards, a four-star recruit who was dedicated to Notre Dame earlier than flipping to CU in December. Though he’s solely 5-9, 165 kilos, Edwards has blazing velocity and racked up 6,426 yards and 95 touchdowns throughout his highschool profession, averaging 10.3 yards per carry. Along with his velocity, he might additionally line up as a slot receiver for the Buffs.
Past the newcomers, the Buffs have two returning gamers who’ve displayed intriguing expertise that might get them into the combo. Anthony Hankerson gained 274 yards and led the Buffs with three speeding touchdowns as a real freshman reserve final 12 months.
And, Charlie Offerdahl is a walk-on whose work ethic was broadly praised by the earlier teaching workers and infrequently highlighted by the present workers. Offerdahl rushed for 150 yards final 12 months, probably the most in a single season by a CU walk-on.
“I really feel like with this operating again room it’s gonna be wholesome competitors,” Wilkerson mentioned. “We gel very well already. I really feel like that’s gonna assist us simply be, like, the perfect operating again room within the Pac-12, regardless of who’s beginning, who’s second, who’s third. I really feel like at any time when somebody goes down or no matter, it’s all the time subsequent man up and it’s no drop off.”
Place: Working backs
Returners: Anthony Hankerson, So.; Charlie Offerdahl, So. (walk-on); Christian Sarem, R-Fr. (walk-on).
Transfers: Kavosiey Smoke, Sr. (Kentucky); Sy’veon Wilkerson, Jr. (Jackson State); Alton McCaskill IV, So. (Houston); Ahmir McGee, Jr. (Portland State; walk-on).
True freshmen: Dylan Edwards
Key losses: Deion Smith (transferred to BYU); Alex Fontenot (graduated).