PLAYERS TO WATCH
–WR Laviska Shenault Jr. was added to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List this week. The sophomore is averaging 151.7 yards per game to lead the nation. To put his season in perspective, Texas Tech’s Antoine Wesley, the next closest player to Shenault, is averaging 127.8 yard per contest. “I think they’ll try to find him but ‘Chev’ (offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini) has done a phenomenal job of moving him around,” MacIntyre said. “The good thing is ‘Viska’ understands football and is very bright, so he can move around to different spots.”
–QB Steven Montez ranks second in the Pac-12 in passing rating (173.6) behind Oregon’s Justin Herbert, while leading the conference in completion percentage (73.4). The junior has 855 yards and eight touchdowns with 455 of those yards and three of those scores going to Laviska Shenault Jr.
–DE Mustafa Johnson upped his season tackles-for-loss total to six with a pair of take-downs against New Hampshire two weeks ago. The sophomore defensive end has 14 tackles on the year, including 3.5 sacks in his debut season after transferring from Modesto Junior College.
–LB Nate Landman could be close to leading the Pac-12 in tackles had Colorado not taken its foot off the pedal against New Hampshire. Despite only four tackles against the Wildcats, the sophomore Landman is fourth in conference averaging 11.3 tackles per game and has been a general nuisance for opposing offenses.
SERIES HISTORY: UCLA leads Colorado 10-3. The last four contests between the two teams were settled by 10 or fewer points, including three by less than four points.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Every time you say prepare for two quarterbacks, I break into a cold sweat from the Arizona game a year ago.” — Buffs head coach Mike MacIntyre on surrendering an FBS record 327 rushing yards to quarterback Khalil Tate in 2017
