At each cease, Sy’veon Wilkerson has discovered success on the soccer subject.
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 yr, 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 working backs, which is likely to be the deepest place group on the roster.
CU head coach Deion Sanders and working backs coach Gary Harrell are getting a recognized commodity in Wilkerson. He was a workhorse for them at Jackson State a yr in the past and so they know they’ll rely upon him. Wilkerson is aware of what he’s moving into, as effectively.
“These have been coaches I may discuss to and are available to about something and I may 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 employees, 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 start out just because he was with this employees a yr in the past. However, he is aware of he’s going to get a good shot to compete in what has change into an enormous group of gifted working backs.
“I’ve needed to combat for a beginning job each group I’ve been on, truly since little league,” Wilkerson mentioned. “So it’s probably not nothing new to me. That’s why I wasn’t actually apprehensive about coming in and competing as a result of I’ve been doing that each one my life.”
Nearly as good as Wilkerson has been thus far, he wasn’t the highest-profile addition to the working 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 yr in 2021 when he ran for 961 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry for the Cougars. He missed final yr with a knee damage, however is able to go along 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 laborious to deal with. Smoke’s slightly bit extra compact, however he’s highly effective, slightly bit decrease middle of gravity. However all of these working backs have an opportunity to be actually good and once we get the ball to them in house, they’re going to be laborious 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 may 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 yr.
And, Charlie Offerdahl is a walk-on whose work ethic was broadly praised by the earlier teaching employees and infrequently highlighted by the present employees. Offerdahl rushed for 150 yards final yr, probably the most in a single season by a CU walk-on.
“I really feel like with this working again room it’s gonna be wholesome competitors,” Wilkerson mentioned. “We gel rather well already. I really feel like that’s gonna assist us simply be, like, the perfect working again room within the Pac-12, irrespective of who’s beginning, who’s second, who’s third. I really feel like every time somebody goes down or no matter, it’s at all times 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).
