Buffs Offense Gets Off To Fast Start In Scrimmage

BOULDER - There's nothing like getting off to a fast start. For sophomore quarterback Tyler Hansen and senior tight end Patrick Devenny, that meant a 70 yard touchdown connection on the first play of the University of Colorado football team's scrimmage Saturday at Folsom Field. 

The senior tight end made a nice catch on a crossing route and took off up the east side of Folsom Field to get the offense on the board right off the bat.  Devenny also caught another touchdown pass and finished with four receptions for 138 yards. 

"He's one of those guys who just works hard," Hansen said. "He's always finishing first in the sprints.  It was just a matter of time before it was going to show on the field and it did today, he's doing a good job."

Sophomore wide receiver Jason Espinoza has had a solid spring from the get-go, and it continued Saturday as he finished with seven receptions for 154 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Buffs. 

Coach Dan Hawkins is pleased that Espinoza has stepped up this spring, but knows the Buffs will need some help from the incoming wide outs next season.

"You saw (Espinoza) out here today," Hawkins said.  "I think Ryan Maxwell can be very much the same.  We got Josh (Smith) and Scotty (McKnight) and (Marques) Simas and we'll see where some of those other guys get in the mix, but yeah, we will need some help from the incoming guys."

Hawkins also said in terms of a speedster at wide out, the Buffs do have options perhaps outside of the current wide receiver corp.

"You need more than just Josh (Smith)," Hawkins said. "We have to find ways to help him out in that area, whether that's one of the new guys or if we do something with a Brian Lockridge or Kevin Moyd, something where you can blow the top off it a little bit more."

In all, the Buffs compiled 535 yards through the air Saturday, 328 from Cody Hawkins and 207 from Hansen.  Simas hauled in a pair of touchdowns while Ryan Wallace, Luke Walters and Ryan Maxwell each caught one apiece.   Maxwell, Simas, Walters and Maxwell all missed last season, meaning five of the 10 touchdown grabs came from players who were not on the field in 2008.