Football | 8/25/2016 4:26:00 PM
Greeley, Colo. – It's one thing to have to fill the void of losing your top tackler, but a completely different beast altogether to replace the top two tacklers from 2015 that just so happened to play the same position. Even though it may be a daunting task, Safeties Coach
Woody Blevins is up to the challenge.
The Bears lost both
Taylor Risner and
Trevor Douglass to graduation in the offseason, leaving two spots for the taking at strong and free safety, and some pretty large shoes to fill.
Risner led UNC in tackles in 2015 with 109 and was just the third player in the program's D1 history to record over 100 tackles in a season. He earned third team All-Big Sky honors and finished 29th in all of the FCS in total tackles.
Douglass wasn't far behind, ending 2015 with 83 stops. He finished first on the team in forced fumbles with two, including one return for 58 yards and a TD. To top it off, Douglass was an Honorable Mention All-Big Sky member.
"I don't think you can replace a
Taylor Risner or a
Trevor Douglass," Blevins said. "We just have to keep moving forward – this position has seen success over the last couple of years and if we keep putting in the effort we'll get the results. We just have to be disciplined in everything we do."
Though Blevins' unit is new, they don't lack experience.
Senior
Tyler Bloyer enters his fifth season wearing the blue and gold. Bloyer saw consistent reps at safety last year in the two-deep and recorded his first career interception against Houston Baptist, stealing a touchdown from the Huskies in the process. He finished his junior season with 39 tackles and three PBUs.
Besides working his way into a starting role, Bloyer was also given a full scholarship by head coach
Earnest Collins Jr. in the offseason, after joining the roster as a preferred walk-on back in 2012.
"It's just a great story for me to use to show other kids that are facing a similar situation," Bloyer said. "If you really want something and can put the work in – it's not going to be easy, but if you work for it you'll get the reward at the end. I've put a lot into this program whether it's been on the field or in the classroom, and it's pretty awesome to say that I'm now on full scholarship."
Northern Colorado doubled up on experience with the addition of
Stone Kane during spring ball. Iowa Western CC transfer filled a void at safety for the Bears. In two seasons with the Reivers Kane played 21 games and was good for 67 tackles, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
Kane's work ethic and intelligence on the field were qualities that attracted safeties coach,
Woody Blevins to the transfer.
"He's unbelievably smart. We all know he's athletic and he's strong, but he's smart and that's the best technique you can have," Blevins described. "When you get somebody that plays hard like Stone, which means he wants to play, and is a stand-up human being, that's a home run."
Blevins has a pair of up and comers in
Sherand Boyd Jr. and
Keifer Glau, and returns senior
Kaelen Russell from injury.
Despite being second-year players, Blevins is impressed by their knowledge of the game and the toughness and physicality each of them brings to practice each day.
Boyd and Glau had their names registered on the early two-deep heading into game week and it is likely they will be in a role similar to Bloyer's in 2015.
Even though it seems like a tough position to refill, the successors and Blevins are up to the challenge.
"Something I told them all to prepare for is to play by committee. This is going to a team effort for the safeties," he added. "We have a bunch of weapons and tools, so why not use them."
Northern Colorado will transition into a 4:00 p.m. practice time on Fridays throughout the season. The final scrimmage of fall camp will be on Saturday, August 27 at 9:30 a.m.
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Season tickets for 2016 are officially on sale and begin as low as $60. In addition to a number of individual price points, UNC is once again offering the Family Pack for just $150, featuring two adult and two child tickets with each additional child ticket for larger families being prorated. With five home games on the schedule, that's just $7.50 per tickets and this year the Family Section has been upgraded to Mid-Field Reserved seating (
purchase tickets by clicking here)! Make sure to ask about premium seating options, including the South Terrace and High Plains which both include food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and valet parking! For more information on the premium seating, please contact
Jason Malay at 970-351-4409 or by email at
jason.malay@unco.edu. Also, make sure to join us at the Bears Fan Fest prior to every game. The Bears Fan Fest includes free handouts from UNC sponsors and the UNC Alumni Association, a beer garden, a live DJ and bounce houses, face painting and other activities for children (
purchase at tailgating spot by clicking here).