The Colorado football team doesn't feel like it has completely lost Jordon Dizon to the NFL.

According to coaches, a little bit of No. 44 rubbed off on Jeff Smart and is still showing up on the practice field as the Buffs prepare for the 2008 season.

So what did Smart learn playing inside linebacker last season next to the Butkus Award runner-up?

"I don't know where to start with that," Smart said. "Jordon has great instincts and is always around the ball, obviously with his 160 tackles or whatever he had last year. His toughness, his smarts, his leadership. He wasn't always yelling at everyone, but when something needed to be said he would say it and people would listen to him. I can just go on all day about what I learned from him."

Dizon, now a member of the Detroit Lions, was clearly CU's best defensive player and the team leader as a senior. Now Smart, a former walk-on out of Boulder High School, is suddenly the old veteran in the middle of the defense, even though he's only a redshirt sophomore.

Despite the return of Michael Sipili from a suspension and a much deeper group for linebackers coach Brian Cabral to work with inside, Smart is the leader of the unit.

"Last year coach Cabral basically played with three inside linebackers," CU head coach Dan Hawkins said. "We traveled three guys and played with two and hoped like heck we didn't have to go too far into the depth chart."

Dizon led the Buffs with 160 tackles. Smart was third on the team behind safety Daniel Dykes (83) with 80 tackles and was on the field for 677 snaps.

"Anytime you spend that much time next to a guy in practice and meetings you kind of start figuring out what he did and what you need to do," Hawkins said when asked about Dizon's influence on Smart. "They have similar styles. They're kind of similar size and similar speed. Both of them are very smart football players."

No pun intended.

"Jordon was obviously a phenomenal player, but we really lacked the depth and experience. We only had a couple guys that played, and Jordan really made up for that with his outstanding play," Smart said. "I probably have the most experience out of the inside guys now, so I definitely try to show the young guys things that I've learned from being out there. I know the defense pretty well, so I try to help them out in that area and in general. I know coach really looks to me to lead the linebackers."

Ignoring the pain

It's not a surprise that talented sophomore Jalil Brown is in the mix for a starting cornerback spot. That he's competing at a high level in practice with a fractured hand makes the effort more impressive to the coaches.

"It just speaks to the kind of character that he has," Hawkins said. "He's never said boo about it."

Brown, who is wearing a cast on the injured hand, is currently listed behind junior Cha'pelle Brown on the depth chart at right cornerback.

Plan B(ackup)

For the first time since Joel Klatt was breaking the huddle, CU will start the season with an experienced quarterback capable of running the offense the way the head coach wants it run.

But what if Cody Hawkins gets injured? None of the three candidates for the No. 2 spot -- Nick Nelson, Matt Ballenger and Kyle Black -- have separated themselves from the pack yet.

"In many cases the backup hasn't had a lot of snaps. He's the backup," Dan Hawkins said when asked about the lack of experience behind Cody. "So they've got to be ready to go. We give them a lot of reps in practice and try to keep their mental edge on. And if you need them you go to the bullpen and they come in and throw strikes."

Special freshman

Patrick Mahnke's ability to play special teams, especially his penchant for blocking kicks, will likely get him on the field as a true freshman.

Last year at Mountain Vista High School in Parker, the 6-foot-1 Mahnke was in on 100 tackles, made eight sacks, forced three fumbles, recovered eight fumbles and blocked four kicks (three punts, one field goal).

"I think he'll play," Dan Hawkins said after Wednesday's practice. "Some guys I think just have a little more knack than others. That was the great thing about him in high school, there were a lot of ways he made plays."