Linebacker Douglas Rippy didn’t play much during his first three years at Colorado, but he felt reborn under a new coaching staff in 2011 and was playing at a level worthy of the four-star ranking he earned as a high school recruit.
But his season ended in October during a game at Washington, when he suffered a torn ACL. At the time, Rippy was the Buffs’ best defensive player, leading the team with 62 tackles.Coaches were using him creatively in blitz packages, and he had three sacks to his credit.
Despite playing in only two-plus Pac-12 games, the league’s coaches thought highly of what they saw from him either in person or on film, selecting him honorable mention all-conference. Rippy did not participate in spring football but, by late May, he said he was nearing 100 percent.
“I think I’m going to be even better just from watching more film and finally understanding our defense and what we’re trying to do — and understanding offensive formations and what they’re trying to do,” Rippy said.
“It will help me play a lot faster because I’m a tall, athletic linebacker and that kind of helped me a lot. But now that I’m going to be smarter about the game, it will help me a lot more.”
Colorado coach Jon Embree said there was nothing more important for his defense in 2012 than getting Rippy back on the field and playing at or above the level he was at last season.
“I’m going to be relying a lot on him,” Embree said.
“I think he is, obviously, not just a defensive leader, but he’s a team leader. He really is. I think it says a lot that he was voted by the coaches as honorable mention All-Pac-12 and only played in, really, three games in the conference.”
Rippy said having football taken away from him for the first time was a difficult blow that had him reeling for weeks. He said he always respected the game and understood the risks, but having to sit and watch his teammates struggle mightily without him taught him just how important the sport is to him.
“It was really difficult,” Rippy said.
“I’m really passionate about the game. … When you get hurt, mentally you’re fine for the first couple of days and when it finally hits you that you can’t play, it’s hard.”