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Like many teams around the nation this spring, the Colorado Buffaloes and head coach Jon Embree will be replacing many key offensive cogs. But unlike most head coaches, Embree is also dealing with a few injuries that will severely cripple his team's offense as it takes the field for its Spring Game. The headline there involves wide receiver Paul Richardson, who was slated to be the Buffaloes leading returning wide receiver and likely the team's best overall player. Richardson tore his ACL this week, and will miss the entire 2012 season.
The Buffaloes will also be without quarterback Nick Hirschman, who was expected to battle for the team's starting quarterback job. Instead, the spotlight will be almost completely on Texas Longhorns transfer Connor Wood, who sat out the 2011 season but now likely has the inside track to be the starter, despite Hirschman having more experience. One battle will be waged, though, between running backs Tony Jones and Josh Ford, who will be looking to replace departed starting back Rodney Stewart.
Jones was the team's second leading rusher last year, but in 78 carries he ran for two yards per carry less than Ford did in 22 carries. With the Buffaloes offense more or less unknown, Embree will be depending on those two returning contributors.
Game date/time: Saturday, April 14, 5 p.m. MT
Location: Folsom Field, Boulder, Colo.
Streaming: BuffsTV
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