SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. - Ryan Collado came to the Gophers football team from Cincinnati in 2007, thinking he would have more time to acclimate. He'd probably redshirt as a freshman, he thought.
Things didn't work out that way. Collado, a cornerback, was thrown into the mix during coach Tim Brewster's first season. On a defense that struggled all season long, Collado struggled, too.
As a sophomore, he did more sitting behind Traye Simmons on the depth chart. This year, though, Collado has continued to improve and see more playing time. Playing extended minutes against Iowa in the regular-season finale, he had two sacks and a total of three tackles for loss. Most of those plays came out of the nickel defense, when Collado plays in the slot.
The Gophers have had that package for a while. But defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove implemented an aggressive plan and Collado responded with his best college game. Now it appears Collado is set for more extended minutes against Iowa State in Thursday's Insight Bowl, even though he probably won't start.
"It was a crazy freshman year," Collado said after Tuesday's practice. "I got thrown into it. But I took it as a learning experience. Last year Traye came in and I was on the bench a little more. But I kept learning. I guess this is the season when I normally would be playing more anyway."
Next season, with Marcus Sherels and Simmons gone, he has another goal: to be back as a starting cornerback.
Extension talk
Brewster is glad the issue of whether or not his contract will be extended has been put to rest. Athletic director Joel Maturi said this week that talks have already begun and should progress after the bowl game.
"I think it's a very positive step," Brewster said. "It was something I felt was going to happen. It has happened. It's a good thing for our program, for the university. Continuity is a good thing."
When did Brewster believe the contract would be finalized?
"[The negotiations] are in a good place," he said. "We'll get it done. It's a non-issue. Let's move forward."
Tow-Arnett to play
Brewster had predicted it, and now it will happen. Less than three months after suffering what many thought would be a season-ending injury, senior center Jeff Tow-Arnett will be back on the field.
It is a testament to Tow- Arnett's recuperative power. He came back from complicated surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right leg a year ago. Then, at the end of the Wisconsin game Oct. 3, Tow-Arnett had a small bone in his lower right leg broken just above the ankle.
"What makes college football so great are stories like his," quarterback Adam Weber said.
