Depth, versatility in secondary on display early in CU Buffs fall camp

BOULDER — Robert Livingston best described the first few days of training camp for every team across the country.

“It’s all rainbows and butterflies (and) we haven’t lost a game yet,” the first-year Colorado defensive coordinator said. “But the players, the staff, it’s a phenomenal building to come to work in everyday.”

For Livingston, it’s hard not to feel that way.

Although he’s got a tough task in helping fix a defense that was bottom five in the country in yards per game last season, all Livingston is seeing right now is the talent the Buffaloes added in the offseason to supplement the quality players already in the building.

The first-time coordinator, who came to Boulder from the Cincinnati Bengals, is keeping things simple for his team as they work toward the season opener against North Dakota State in four weeks.

“We’ll go 10 days in camp then we’ll kinda look at what they can do well,” Livingston said Wednesday. “It’s our job as coaches to put these guys in positions to be successful.”

Quite the sharp contrast from last season when this group of players was simultaneously trying to learn how to play with one another while also learning a complex and extensive playbook.

The players are big fans so far.

“He makes it pretty simple,” said cornerback Preston Hodge, a Liberty transfer.

Added fellow cornerback, Oklahoma State transfer DJ McKinney: “It’s really just preparing us for the next level, running an NFL-style defense. We’re just really getting a head start.”

Having the likes of Hodge and McKinney is another reason why Livingston, who comes from a background as a secondary coach, is pleased with what he’s seen in the first week of fall camp at CU.

Both provide starting experience from their previous stops and fill a void that’s been missing alongside Travis Hunter at the cornerback position.

With Hodge in particular, who has played both at the inside corner/nickel position, it allows Livingston to move players around and find matchups that best suit everyone on the defense — a core philosophy of his.

“When you have three corners you can move around, hopefully as coaches you look a lot smarter,” Livingston said.

But it’s more than just versatility in the secondary that’s stood out to Livingston so far.

“I think we’re deep,” Livingston said. “There are guys here that are backups that could be starters (at) other places. I think there’s great leadership. Early in camp, that’s what you want to see. We talk about being a player-driven team, (I want them to) show me (that).”

Behind the trio of Hodge, Hunter and McKinney at cornerback, there's Auburn transfer Colton Hood, Furman transfer Ivan Yates and promising sophomore Carter Stoutmire. That's not even mentioning the starting safety duo of Shilo Sanders and Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig and the veterans behind them.

One other thing this Buffs defense is showing Livingston? The fact that the first game of the season is right around the corner isn’t as daunting as it may sound.

“I think they’re chomping at the bit,” Livingston said. “I know when I look in the eyeballs of the guys that we have that they, kind of, still feel last year. Last year is done, it is what it is, but they wanna prove who they can be. I’ve seen it from the time I got here.”