The lone position on the Colorado Buffaloes that Coach Prime hasn’t yet overhauled with an infusion of young talent is tight end. That might be because Michael Harrison, a carry-over from the Karl Dorrell era, is primed for a breakout.
Harrison started his collegiate career back in 2020, as a wide receiver, and saw some work on special teams, but with the glut of talent the Buffs have added at receiver, Harrison opted to switch positions to tight end. Since making that switch, he’s apparently blossomed.
In a recent interview with Mile High Sports Radio, Coach Brewster gushed about what he has already seen from Michael Harrison operating at his new position.
“6-3, 225 [pounds], 4.5-ish [40-yard dash], got crazy ball skills. He’s got an element of toughness,” Brewster quickly rattled off. “I really feel good about our ability to come together & make this guy one of the top TEs in the Pac-12 next season. I really believe that.”
Coach Brewster’s detailing of what he’s already spotted in Harrison’s game is tremendously exciting, but it will be hard to know how substantial it is until we get to September, as we haven’t ever really gotten to see Harrison before.
He didn’t appear in a single game during his true freshman season, was purely a special teamer in year two, and caught just two passes totaling 12 yards in 2022. CU fans have never even really had the opportunity to catch a glimpse of what Harrison has to offer.
However, if it’s anything close to what Brewster is describing, it would come as a tremendous boon to the Colorado Buffaloes.
Tight end hasn’t received the same recruiting attention from the Buffs as their positions, and as a result, it remains the glaring weak point on the roster, barring a surprise breakout. If Harrison can take a leap in his development and all of a sudden become one of the conference’s ‘top tight ends’, CU will find themselves without any glaring weaknesses on offense.