On-call QB fight for preseason camp – Greeley Tribune

At the end of the 2021 season, Brendon Lewis gave himself some homework.

As a redshirt freshman, Lewis started every game as quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes and experienced more growing pains than success.

“After the season he went back and watched all the games by himself and took notes and criticism about what he could have done better, what he did well, what he needs to improve,” said head coach Karl Dorrell. “So he went through that process for himself at the end of the season.

“To his credit, he’s invested a lot of time and — I’d say sweat capital — this last offseason in developing into a better quarterback than he was last fall.”

This summer, BuffZone.com previews each position group for CU, and in this final episode, we look at quarterbacks.

When the Buffs open preseason camp on Tuesday, there will be a starting job battle between Lewis and junior JT Shrout. Lewis is the man to beat.

Though Lewis and the offense have struggled in 2021, the Buffs at least have their quarterback experience to draw on. It’s the only position group on the team with every grantee back, and it’s the first time in his tenure at CU that Dorrell has returned to quarterback experience.

“The best part is that (Lewis) played 12 games for us last year,” Dorrell said. “He can use that as a year as a starter and get that much experience playing in the Pac-12, especially some of the non-conference games that we’ve had.

“Whether it’s good or bad, you learn from that experience. Brendon did that. I’m looking forward to seeing him when we go to training camp next week.”

Along with his experience, Lewis has earned respect in the CU dressing room.

“Brendon is a leader. He’s a mentor to younger guys,” said junior guard Casey Roddick. “He’s also one of the mentors we look up to. He’s on our leadership board. He is also one of our celebrity captains.”

Linebacker Robert Barnes doesn’t sit in meetings with Lewis, but sees him on the field every day.

“What I love about B-Lew is that he’s trying to improve something in his game every day,” Barnes said. “He knows there were many areas that he could develop and improve, and he focuses on those improvements every day, putting in countless hours, extra work, filming, studying – whatever he can do – to really become the best quarterback being who he is capable of being, so I commend him for that.”

Lewis’ main goal was to improve as a player but he also needs to win the starting place again.

A year ago, Lewis and Shrout, who joined from Tennessee in 2021, competed until Shrout went down with a season-ending knee injury in August.

Not only did Shrout miss the season, but he was also restricted during spring training in April. He is now ready to compete.

“He’s absolutely 100% right now,” Dorrell said. “He’s doing everything that everyone is doing in terms of their summer training so he’s ready to go.”

Shrout hasn’t played a game since December 19, 2020, when he was in Tennessee, and Dorrell said Shrout has to be patient as he goes through camp.

“I would say with JT his challenge is JT,” Dorrell said. “I would say that just because he hasn’t played the game in a year. He gets nervous because he understands the competition, stuff like that. He just needs to get out here and perform and really do the things he’s comfortable with, kind of get back into that rhythm of pain and beating, stuff like that that he’s been missing for the last year and a half. These are things he has to endure day after day.

“I’m looking forward to the competition. It will help us be a better offensive player.

The depth at quarterback is also exciting for Dorrell.

CU only had three scholarship quarterbacks in 2020. The Buffs also had three last year, but Shrout’s injury left them with only two healthy scholarship quarterbacks: Lewis and then-true freshman Drew Carter.

Now there are five, including Carter, Houston transfer Maddox Kopp and true rookie Owen McCown, giving the Buffs options if Lewis and Shrout fight or get injured.

“The development of the quarterback position was also very critical, I think, so that we have more competition and more applicants for that position,” Dorrell said. “It’s good to have more numbers there and more competition in that space, which will also make this position play better.”

Position: Quarterbacks

Returners (Statistics 2021)

• Drew Carter, So., 6-ft-3, 195 lbs (5-for-12, 35 yards; 3 rush att., down 1 yard)
• Brendon Lewis, Sun., 6-2, 215 (12 starts; 149-for-257, 1,540 yards, 10 TD, 3 INT; 98 att., 188 yards, 2 TD)
• JT Shrout, Jr., 6-3, 220 (2021 injured)
• James Mott III, Sun., 6-0, 200 (Walk-On)

additions

• Maddox Kopp, R-Fri., 6-5, 220 (transfer from Houston)
• Owen McCown, Fri., 6-2, 175
• Colton Allen, Fri., 6-3, 195 (walk-in)
• George “Pres” Juarez, Fri., 6-3, 200 (walk-in)

losses