The 19-year-old has waited — patiently.
He’s faded in some people’s memories, but not in others.
On Saturday, sophomore quarterback Tyler Hansen will get the chance to ensure he won’t be forgotten by anyone.
Colorado Buffaloes football coaches said Hansen, who was originally ticketed to redshirt this year, will make his first start of the season at 5 p.m. Saturday against the 17th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks at Folsom Field.
“I want to do whatever I can to win,” Hansen said. “If that means throwing for 50 yards and rushing for 300, then I’ll do it. I want to get a victory and get a couple of numbers in that win column.”
Hansen said he “definitely” has something to prove against KU, but he realizes it will take more than a game to make believers out of some.
“I thought I had a good camp, and I thought I was ready to start,” Hansen said. “They went with [Cody] Hawkins, and I was okay with that. But I definitely want to prove that I should’ve been the guy from the get-go.”
Hansen exhausted his redshirt last weekend against the Texas Longhorns when he was inserted into the game early in the fourth quarter of a 38-14 loss.
Hawkins threw two interceptions, one of which was returned 92 yards for a touchdown, and CU coaches quickly began tossing around the idea of giving the nod to the sophomore from Murrieta, Calif.
“We were kind of talking about it and saying, ‘Well, what are the things we need to do?’ It was a big decision,” CU offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau said. “It’s not just, ‘Oh, pull the guy and put the other guy in.’ We were trying to preserve Tyler’s redshirt, so we kind of talked about it. [Head coach Dan] Hawkins had some input, and he felt it was right to do. So we did it.”
Hansen went 3-of-5 for 17 yards against the Longhorns.
Kiesau said it’s still possible Cody Hawkins will also take snaps this weekend. It will be a matter of how effective — or ineffective — Hansen is.
“Tyler’s going to start the game, Tyler’s going to play the game,” Kiesau said. “You never know if Cody’s going to get in or not. If Tyler gets in and starts rolling and stays hot, then we’ll roll with Tyler.”
Hansen, a 6-foot-1, 205-pounder, is two inches taller and 15 pounds heavier than Cody Hawkins. Despite his larger frame, Kiesau said that Hansen has a “knack” for tucking the ball and scrambling when plays break down.
Hansen’s added dimension of mobility can give opposing defenses fits, said junior wide receiver Scotty McKnight.
“He’s very accurate, he’s got a big arm and he can run around a little bit,” McKnight said. “I’m excited for him, as his friend and as his teammate, to get this opportunity.”
Hansen, who was supposed to redshirt last season as well, didn’t play in CU’s first six games in 2008. He appeared in Game 7 against the Kansas State Wildcats when he and McKnight hooked up for a touchdown midway through the second quarter. The touchdown proved to be the game-winner as the Buffs held off KSU 14-13.
“Tyler and I are going to make some plays together,” McKnight said. “We showed that last year.”
Hansen completed 34-of-65 passes for 280 yards and a touchdown in five games last season. His scrambling ability was evident as he also rushed for 261 yards.
The past doesn’t matter to Hansen, though. Now, it’s all about 2009 and showing where he feels he belongs — behind center.
“I have to prove myself against Kansas State, Missouri, all of those teams,” Hansen said. “It’s going to take a few games, but I’m excited for it and I’m up for it.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Alex K.W. Schultz at Alexander.schultz@colorado.edu.
