0:00
And just like that, we are at the end of week three of spring football here at Colorado,
0:05
nine days in the books. Friday, refs here, kind of a, not a scrimmage, but you know, more
0:10
so with intense practice. Today, Nichols Day on the podium, we got coach Mathis back in
0:17
that role as a Nichols coach, and then Preston Ashley, Presto, money on the podium.
0:21
Presto, Presto. I think we learned a lot today, but sorry we kept him at this. A lot of
0:27
info about boot carder seats and a great quote from him, basically saying he has the potential
0:32
to be one of the most talented players. He's coached besides Travis. Yeah. That is a, that's
0:37
a side of a comment when you can get, especially for somebody like coach Mathis, obviously
0:41
coach Travis Hunter, which obviously I believe that Travis is wedding like they're close.
0:45
Yeah. And I think coach Mathis wouldn't say that if he didn't really truly in his heart
0:51
of hearts, really believe that. I mean, there's obviously a lot of talk that you mentioned
0:54
about boot today, who's obviously going to be that nickel in this defense. A very important
0:59
player like coach Mathis talked about like what that nickel position kind of has to do.
1:03
And in this defense, that guy has to be an athlete and real knowledgeable. And I was kind
1:07
of my biggest takeaway. I think about boot today is that we all knew he was super talented.
1:12
Right. Coach Mathis went on and on about how smart of a football player. Yes. Like how
1:16
high of IQ football player is he goes, you know, sometimes like he knows his weaknesses.
1:22
So he kind of overplays them like he knows his strengths just as well too. So if you get
1:27
a high IQ, you know, football player in addition to all the physical, you know, traits, skills
1:34
that boot car has, you have a special football player and a player who can compare to Travis
1:39
Hunter by a guy who coached. I mean, that's one of my biggest takeaways too. Kevin Mathis
1:43
is talking about how smart boot car is. Preston mentioned that as well. Yeah, he did.
1:48
And you have to at that nickel position. We've talked a little bit about it in this
1:51
Christmas defense. How important that nickel is going to be and coach Mathis kind of
1:55
emphasize that as well. But it seems like Boo is really emerging. It's just an all-around
1:59
smart football player. And again, people talked a lot about the versatility of Travis.
2:03
They talked about all the skills, but his mind for the game exactly. That was probably one
2:08
of his biggest advice, best attributes and why he was able to handle those two-way duties
2:12
so well. I mean, I think my favorite play arguably of Travis Hunter's career at Colorado
2:17
was that interception against UCF when you hit the ice master. And like, that is just
2:22
as much as it is the physical freaking is what he did on that play. But it's him taking
2:28
away the deep play, kind of baiting KJ Jefferson to throw in their short-around, being able
2:32
to break on it. Like, that is playing football at a 4D chess level. And which is what Travis
2:37
did. It sounds like Boo has some of that in his game as well. Let's not forget to Kevin
2:42
Matt, this coach in these nickels. There's also this team's defensive passie game partner.
2:47
So he kind of has his hands on the corners to say these as well. He gave some shout outs
2:52
to Nate Mitchell. Obviously, he also talked about the fact that he expects some of these
2:56
young freshmen, these young BBs to play. Like they said, they're counting on them. And he
3:02
said, these guys have that type of ability, specifically talking about a Mojo Maurice Williams.
3:07
My guy Braille Edwards. Don't be surprised if you see those guys being impactful players
3:13
and being counted on the secondary. It wouldn't be a big shock because we've seen younger
3:17
guys play. But I think coach Matt was kind of adding it like this might be the first time
3:21
where like we're really, really depending on some of these younger guys because they're
3:25
just like that coming from those playoff, you know, kind of for championship kind of programs
3:29
in high school. Keep it out for those young boys in the secondary.
3:33
Absolutely. Preston Muddy's first time in the podium, man. That guy is just all smiles.
3:38
He loves Colorado. He loves Coach Prime. He loves wearing it on his chest. Like you've
3:42
talked about that. Just a very impressive young man on the podium. For sure. I mean,
3:47
another addition to the short list of true freshmen on the podium here at Colorado. Coach Prime
3:53
here is not nothing. Totally. He also talked about a great quote about Randy Fontane saying he
3:59
was a very complete player. Also kind of called him the leader of the defense so far.
4:04
mentioned Tyler Martinez, Nate Mitchell, and Cree Thomas as a guy too. And you know,
4:11
he was a big one as guys who are merging as they just also threw in Julian's name as well.
4:14
I think he threw someone else's name in on offense too. But, you know, Preston Muddy, he comes
4:20
in here. He's trying to personify the program, right? And I think that he's fitted really well
4:25
here and I think he's respected by a lot of those guys as well too. And obviously,
4:29
hit me and put on the podium. That's a great honor that Coach Prime put on him. But
4:34
it feels like he's kind of a little bit of part of that leadership core already. He doesn't
4:38
it does. No doubt. And this is something that I said a couple weeks ago that Kevin Matthews
4:41
also said today, which made me feel good. Like, it's one thing when you follow a young man's
4:46
recruitment and they're kind of selling themselves to a program, just like a program
4:49
you send themselves to them. I'm like, you can put on this persona that like you're everything
4:53
to program once and a lot of times, maybe not a lot of times, but sometimes once you get on
4:58
campus, once you're committed, once you're part of the team program, like that persona might
5:02
dissipate a little bit. Like, that is just not what has happened with Preston actually. You know,
5:06
Coach Madness said today, like he is the same guy that I recruited, you know, out of Mississippi,
5:10
you know, a handful of months ago. So, you love guys not switching up and being who they say they
5:15
are. He had a don't call you mentioned. Preston did on Blue Card and he goes, he's such an amazing
5:19
athlete and he's so smart. Just being around such a good football player makes me want to bust
5:24
my tail even harder. He's a role model and you got the leadership thing onto Blue Carder's
5:30
plate as well. Like, this is a special, special player. Totally. You know, talking about Blue Carder,
5:35
you got to talk about Tennessee and what happened there, right? Coach Madness, I think, was pretty
5:38
straightforward with that whole process. Just mentioning how, look man, these players have a lot
5:43
on their plate and it's not really talked about how much they have to deal with mentally, right?
5:47
And Coach Madness talked about presenting a space for them to come and talk and how
5:52
who has actually really lived up to expectations so far and has fitted really well and, of course,
5:57
not everything's perfect. I mean, they're still talking, you know, kind of learning each other and
6:00
stuff. But by all accounts, it sounds like Blue Carder's doing a fantastic job so far here to color
6:05
her too. And that's just a master storyline, a master development for the support team because
6:09
that this team is just defense in particular is going to be good at the very least improve from
6:14
last year. Blue Carder's going to have to be a big reason why. So, all early returns,
6:20
look, really solid right now. And he's an else from date 9. I don't think so, man.
6:24
Shout out to Presto again as well. He said, I stayed here for spring break. He said, I didn't want
6:27
to go home because this is my home. Yeah, I just love that. This is somebody so overly buoyant.
6:32
And he also says today that we've mentioned, let's talk about pride and whatnot. He said, playing
6:37
for the name on the front of your jersey. Yes. Just as much of your playing for the name on the back.
6:41
So, this kid just says all the right things. He's made of the right things and he's got a bright future.
6:46
Absolutely. Great day here, dude. Here at CU, we are headed back to talk about practice. See you soon.