? Colorado wide receiver Josh Smith and tight end Ryan Wallace are transferring from coach Dan Hawkins? football program.
Smith has asked for a release from his scholarship so he can transfer to another school to pursue a music major not offered in Boulder. Wallace is looking to transfer to a program closer to home in Bowling Green, Ky.
Hawkins confirmed the departures through sports information director Dave Plati on Saturday. Smith informed Hawkins that he wanted to return to California where he believed he could best further his music career and still play football. Wallace was homesick all year and simply wanted to transfer closer to his family. Both will leave in good academic standing, so there are no APR issues with either.
Smith and Wallace did not respond to messages.
The athletic department has planned several announcements concerning the football program for Monday. The updates will include the status of Hawkins? efforts to fill his coaching staff in the wake of Mark Helfrich?s departure to Oregon and player personnel changes, including Smith and Wallace.
The announcement could also include news of an agreement between CU and Colorado State on a 10-year extension of the series beyond 2010, most, if not all, of which would be played at Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver.
Football coaches have done their best to talk Smith out of a transfer, but he appears to have made up his mind late this week.
Two schools that offer the music major Smith is interested in are Arizona State and Southern Cal. Both are possible destinations for the product of Moorpark, Calif. Smith began making rap demos and CDs during high school and has continued to pursue his love of music in college.
He spent time last year in the Phoenix area recording tracks with Arizona State quarterback Samson Szakacsy. Smith grew up in Tallahassee, Fla., with two older brothers involved in the music business there, and he began rapping at a young age because of their influence.
The transfers are a serious blow to an offense that has been among the worst in the Big 12 Conference the past three years under Hawkins, but was anticipating significant improvement this fall. The loss of Smith also further compounds serious depth problems at the wide receiver position and robs the team of, perhaps, its most explosive player.
Smith finished his sophomore season last fall with 1,987 all-purpose yards. He set school records with 1,568 return yards and 50 kickoff returns, including one for a touchdown sparking the Buffs to a season-opening victory over CSU.
He also gained 387 yards receiving and 32 rushing. He caught 23 passes for 451 yards as a true freshman in 2007.
It is unclear how Smith?s departure might affect the future of his nephew, CU tailback Darrell Scott, who signed with the Buffs in 2008 as the nation?s top tailback recruit. Scott came to Boulder, at least in part, because of the opportunity to play with his uncle.
After a freshman season marred by injuries, Scott looked solid and much more prepared in spring practices in April. Scott did not respond to several messages left for him, but CU officials said the running back tried to encourage Smith to stay in Boulder, and that Smith?s decision would not have an effect on Scott.
Wallace is the third member of the nationally ranked 2008 recruiting class to leave the program. The former three-star recruit came to Boulder from Kentucky and was said to be homesick at times last year.
Wallace and former five-star recruit Lynn Katoa helped elevate the 2008 recruiting class to a top-15 ranking by Rivals.com and a top-30 ranking by Scout.com. Neither played last season. Wallace redshirted and Katoa was academically ineligible.
Wide receiver Chance Blackmon decided to transfer in April in order to be closer to his family in Texas.
Smith has asked for a release from his scholarship so he can transfer to another school to pursue a music major not offered in Boulder. Wallace is looking to transfer to a program closer to home in Bowling Green, Ky.
Hawkins confirmed the departures through sports information director Dave Plati on Saturday. Smith informed Hawkins that he wanted to return to California where he believed he could best further his music career and still play football. Wallace was homesick all year and simply wanted to transfer closer to his family. Both will leave in good academic standing, so there are no APR issues with either.
Smith and Wallace did not respond to messages.
The athletic department has planned several announcements concerning the football program for Monday. The updates will include the status of Hawkins? efforts to fill his coaching staff in the wake of Mark Helfrich?s departure to Oregon and player personnel changes, including Smith and Wallace.
The announcement could also include news of an agreement between CU and Colorado State on a 10-year extension of the series beyond 2010, most, if not all, of which would be played at Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver.
Football coaches have done their best to talk Smith out of a transfer, but he appears to have made up his mind late this week.
Two schools that offer the music major Smith is interested in are Arizona State and Southern Cal. Both are possible destinations for the product of Moorpark, Calif. Smith began making rap demos and CDs during high school and has continued to pursue his love of music in college.
He spent time last year in the Phoenix area recording tracks with Arizona State quarterback Samson Szakacsy. Smith grew up in Tallahassee, Fla., with two older brothers involved in the music business there, and he began rapping at a young age because of their influence.
The transfers are a serious blow to an offense that has been among the worst in the Big 12 Conference the past three years under Hawkins, but was anticipating significant improvement this fall. The loss of Smith also further compounds serious depth problems at the wide receiver position and robs the team of, perhaps, its most explosive player.
Smith finished his sophomore season last fall with 1,987 all-purpose yards. He set school records with 1,568 return yards and 50 kickoff returns, including one for a touchdown sparking the Buffs to a season-opening victory over CSU.
He also gained 387 yards receiving and 32 rushing. He caught 23 passes for 451 yards as a true freshman in 2007.
It is unclear how Smith?s departure might affect the future of his nephew, CU tailback Darrell Scott, who signed with the Buffs in 2008 as the nation?s top tailback recruit. Scott came to Boulder, at least in part, because of the opportunity to play with his uncle.
After a freshman season marred by injuries, Scott looked solid and much more prepared in spring practices in April. Scott did not respond to several messages left for him, but CU officials said the running back tried to encourage Smith to stay in Boulder, and that Smith?s decision would not have an effect on Scott.
Wallace is the third member of the nationally ranked 2008 recruiting class to leave the program. The former three-star recruit came to Boulder from Kentucky and was said to be homesick at times last year.
Wallace and former five-star recruit Lynn Katoa helped elevate the 2008 recruiting class to a top-15 ranking by Rivals.com and a top-30 ranking by Scout.com. Neither played last season. Wallace redshirted and Katoa was academically ineligible.
Wide receiver Chance Blackmon decided to transfer in April in order to be closer to his family in Texas.
