CU Buffs Q&A: Shane Cokes talks first sack in Boulder, tough task vs. UCF offense

BOULDER — Shane Cokes has been a leader on the Colorado defense since his first day on campus.

The Dartmouth transfer has been a consistent figure on the Buffaloes' defensive line and he was rewarded with his first sack at CU last week vs. Baylor.

While preparing for another stout offense on the road at Central Florida, here’s everything Cokes had to say when meeting with the media:

Q: UCF leads the nation in rushing yards. How do you slow down a potent rushing attack?

A: Simply, dominate (and) start off fast. That’s the biggest thing for us. It’s taken us a little bit to start off fast. Obviously, the first two games we started off slow in the first quarter and came back in the second half. I think in these past two weeks (against) Baylor and CSU, we’ve kinda done that. We started off (and) played a complete game. We know (UCF) is No. 1 in the nation, so we need to match up to that and play to that level. Be physical up front, be gap sound, be disciplined and play with the competition.

Q: How do you describe your first sack?

A: The sack felt good. Much needed, for sure. I think we’ve come a long way, but I think we have farther to go. Even on the field during the game, I told (my teammates), ‘It’s not my sack.’ Like, yeah, it’s mine on the stat sheet, but it’s everybody’s. When you rush, you rush together. We hunt as a pack. There’s not one person out there getting 15 sacks a game. It’s a whole 'D-line' putting pressure on the QB. I think we’ve improved a lot, but we have much farther to go. I know what this 'D-line' can do. I know how we can rush the passer. We just gotta rush together and put that on tape.

Q: How has the team dealt with enjoying what happened in a crazy win over Baylor?

A: Short-term memory, always. Win, lose, draw, no matter what. Obviously, (last) Saturday night was crazy. Probably the craziest game I’ve ever played in, for sure. But (we) enjoyed that Sunday, fixed our mistakes, watched the film and now, we’re getting ready for UCF because, hey, we gotta go 1-0 again this week. It’s a big game before the bye week.

Q: You’ve been wearing an ‘L’ on your jersey since last season. How important is that for you to be recognized as one of the leaders on this team?

A: It’s super important. Just how we come together, obviously (we had) transfers in the summer and just building that together, this being my second year here, (I’m) just taking that step (forward), even from last year, just being that leader and putting that foot forward, leading not only the d-line, but the defensive as a whole and being hard on everybody. (I’m) just showing what the standard is and what it looks like day in and day out and pushing everybody to keep up with that.

Q: How impressed have you been by the depth on the defensive line, especially after losing guys like Chidozie Nwankwo and Taurean Carter to injuries?

A: I think everybody in the room this year understands what the mindset is. It’s excellent every single day. That’s pushed by (defensive line coach Damione Lewis), that’s pushed by Coach (Warren) Sapp, by Coach (Vincent) Dancy and by me, Chidozie, no matter who it is. Whether it’s (Anquin Barnes) that has to play, whether it’s (Tawfiq Thomas), whether it’s Rayyan (Buell), everybody has to step up, everybody has to come to play every day, every week no matter who’s hurt and who’s not playing.

Q: Have you taken pride in linebackers LaVonta Bentley and Nikhai Hill-Green with their production?

A: It’s been great seeing those two play well and ball out every single game. It’s the whole defense, that’s kinda the message. It’s about being selfish, taking up the gap, taking those double teams on and being proud in that work for (the linebackers) to get those TFLs. At the end of the day, it matters how the defense as a whole does. It’s not about one person. Someone could have 20 sacks in the game and if you still lose, you’re a bad defense. What’s important is everybody playing well, playing together.

Q: What is it about Anquin “Big Quin” Barnes that everyone enjoys being around him?

A: Big Quin, he’s just a good dude. Great character, funny. Always good to be around, always high energy. Just knowing him and seeing already how much talent he has on the field and how much more he can grow and how better he can get, he’s got all that talent in the world and I just love seeing him grow and get better every single day.

Q: What’s it like playing for defensive coordinator Robert Livingston?

A: Coach Livingston’s great. What I love about him is, first of all, his love for us. The thing he always says is, ‘I’d rather not be anywhere else. I’d rather be here, every single game, no matter what the situation is, with this group, with this team, with this defense.’ Just making it really a family, I think that’s what’s different for us this year, just the energy (and) the love that we play with. I think that’s what’s really helped us be successful.

Q: You’re facing another mobile quarterback this week in UCF’s KJ Jefferson. What have you guys learned this season by playing several QBs that can hold their own running the football?

A: (Quarterback) draw and plays like that, but going up against KJ Jefferson this week, we know he likes to run. They ran on us the past (few) weeks through quarterback runs, so I think it’s just (about) putting an emphasis on that. We know it’s coming, they know they want to do it, so the point is to stop it. We know the challenge is (there), so we just gotta face it.

Players to Watch

Colorado: WR Will Sheppard, DL Chidozie Nwankwo

Sheppard was almost the hero last week, dropping a would-be touchdown on the paly immediately before LaJohntay Wester's Hail Mary catch to force overtime at the buzzer. The former all-SEC wideout looks primed for a breakout game any week and this could be it. On defense, the Buffs will be happy to get Nwankwo, the team's top defender, back ahead of a huge matchup against the nation's top rushing attack.

UCF: RB RJ Harvey, LB Deshawn Pace

While he doesn't do it all on his own, Harvey is the catalyst for UCF's potent ground game. There are plenty of elite running backs in the country, many of whom are in the Big 12, but Harvey deserves to have his name up mentioned in any conversation about the best in college football at his position. On the other side of the ball, Pace has shown why UCF was keen to add him from Cincinnati in the offseason. He's a versatile defender who does a little bit of everything for the Knights, including last game when he had 11 tackles vs. TCU.