| There is a lot riding in Friday’s Colorado-Nebraska meeting in
Boulder. The winner gets a ticket to the Big 12 championship game Dec. 1 to represent the
Big 12 North. Should Nebraska be victorious, the Cornhuskers would head to Texas for the
title game 12-0, needing one more win to play for the national title. But for Colorado
senior TE Daniel Graham, this grudge match is about to get personal.
Graham, the team leader in receptions with 46 for 619 yards (13.5 avg.), said
Friday’s meeting with Nebraska is a chance to prove he is the best at what he does.
"It’s a good matchup between me and Tracey (Nebraska TE Tracey
Wistrom)," said Graham, who has four receiving touchdowns this season. "It
motivates you because I think a lot of people would say we are the best tight ends right
now. You want to get the better end of it."
In the last five meetings, all Nebraska wins, the Buffaloes haven’t been able to
get the better end of it — losing by no more than five points each time. While
another classic might be expected, the roles played by Graham and Wistrom could be
minimal. Nebraska leads the nation in rushing with 311 rushing yards per game and the
Buffaloes average 213 rushing yards.
In Nebraska’s last win, QB Eric Crouch attempted seven passes — total. Only
one of which was intended for Wistrom.
"I wouldn’t mind getting the ball a little more often, but we’re winning
football games," said Wistrom, who has 19 receptions and two touchdowns. "As
long as we keep winning, if we throw seven times, it doesn’t matter to me."
Wistrom averages 15.3 yards per catch because, frankly, opponents don’t expect
Crouch to throw the ball. Why would they? In Nebraska’s triple-option offense —
one of which is not the pass — Crouch has rushed for 1,000 yards and 16 touchdowns.
In two appearances in this rivalry, Crouch has 248 rushing yards and averages more than
six yards per carry.
"I’m sure I’d have a few more catches in (a different offense),"
Wistrom said. "I’ve thought about that, but I couldn’t be happier where I
am. We’re in the hunt for a national championship and not many teams can say
that."
Even if it does mean run-blocking 60 times a game, Wistrom wants to be a Cornhusker. He
followed one of his older brothers, Grant, to NU and arrived in Lincoln tipping the scales
at 195 pounds, less than some NFL receivers. By the time Tracey made his first start for
coach Frank Solich, he was up to 205 and learning to "play small."
"I always felt confident as a receiver, catching the football," Wistrom said.
"My run-blocking is something I’ve always needed to work on. I was 205 trying to
block guys that outweighed me by 70 pounds or more. If I stepped with the wrong foot,
didn’t have a low pad level or took a bad angle, I was going to get beat and probably
put on my back.
"I took pride in being a smart football player with good technique. That has taken
me a long way. It’s all starting to come together right now. I’m putting on the
weight and I still have good technique."
Wistrom said he weighs about 240 right now, but might need 10 or 15 extra pounds to
compete at the next level. Weight has never been an issue for Graham, who knew he wanted
to play tight end since he was a fullback in high school. The 6-2, 248 pounder runs a 4.7
40-yard dash, and admits to having some issues about foot speed.
"When I first got here, we started lining up to run some sprints," Graham
said. "I was looking around, and I had all linemen around me and thought I was in the
wrong place. By the time some of our (defensive) linemen had run 40 yards, I was at about
30 or 35."
Graham’s coach at Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver, Colo., was Oliver Lucas,
a former Division-I coach who helped Graham prepare for the ins and outs of the college
game.
"I was always pretty good at catching the football," Graham said. "But
he improved my blocking 100 percent. I didn’t like blocking too much. Then when I got
to Colorado, everybody was bigger, stronger, faster."
Graham should have plenty of opportunities to make plays Friday, given Nebraska’s
defensive scheme. Solich demands man coverage from his corners and "SAM" or
outside linebacker. It is that SAM position that will cover Graham one-on-one.
"He’s going to get that matchup," Wistrom said. "I don’t see
that very much. I don’t feel there are a lot of linebackers capable of covering a
good route-running TE. I haven’t seen it since I’ve been here, but if I did, I
think I could have a pretty good day against it."
The eldest Wistrom brother, Chance, played football at Central Missouri State and
coaches high school football in Missouri. The middle brother in the family, Grant, has
four sacks for the St. Louis Rams, who own the best record in the NFL. Come June, the
Wistrom brothers could be teammates — or opponents.
"I always let (Grant) know you have to be intelligent to play offense,"
Wistrom said. "When we were younger, Grant wasn’t the most coordinated player in
the world. I could do some things against him, but if he ever got ahold of me, it was
over."
My guess is, that still applies.
Tom Graham, Daniel’s father, started at middle linebacker for Denver in his prime,
but Graham grew up wanting to be Shannon Sharpe.
"Just that work ethic," Graham said. "If I want to be the best, I have
to have that type of work ethic. My main goal (in college) was to be an All-American.
I’m just going to try to accomplish my goals one at a time."
The NFL is next.
Tale of the tape: Graham vs. Wistrom
Daniel Graham
Colorado TE
6-2, 248; 40-yard dash: 4.73
Scouts say: Will be a weapon in the NFL … He has very good hands and good speed
… Lacks the extra gear … Can block, but not a strength …
PFW rank among TEs: 1st
Tracey Wistrom
Nebraska TE
6-4, 240; 40-yard dash: 4.77
Scouts say: Great worker … Big target, has some NFL skills already … Not
fast, but speed is deceptive … Can beat linebackers … A solid athlete with solid
hands …
PFW rank among TEs: 5th
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