A tight end turned tackle, a guard moving to fullback, the hurry-up approach and taking nearly every snap from the shotgun formation are not the only changes in the Colorado offense this spring.

Another subtle overlooked difference is the move of last season's leading receiver from the outside of most formations to the slot position.

Sophomore Scotty McKnight is the inside man these days working crossing routes and the middle of the defense while bigger, faster players such as Josh Smith, Patrick Williams and Markques Simas run routes on the perimeter.

McKnight likes his new role even though he remains perfectly capable of playing on the outside and will likely see occasional duty there. He also is enjoying this spring much more than last year when he suffered a broken ankle on the first day of drills.

"Altogether things have really slowed down for me this spring," McKnight said. "I've really limited the mental mistakes."

McKnight led the Buffs with 43 catches for 488 yards in 2007. He also caught four touchdown passes to lead all receivers. He averaged 11.3 yard per catch and hopes to increase that significantly in 2008 by increasing the yards he gains after the catch.

He will also be asked to be much more physical in blocking because he often will be battling linebackers. But running routes in the middle of the defense might be something for which and under-sized and under-estimated talent such as McKnight is perfectly suited.

"Going over the middle gives you the opportunity to find holes and openings in the defense," he said.

Brace still not himself

Junior-to-be Jason Brace is still spending plenty of time as an interior defensive lineman but he is starting to get some repetitions at defensive end, where he played in high school.

Right now Brace is better suited to be a defensive end. He weighs only 245 pounds after losing 20 pounds this winter while battling a severe case of the flu.

"I think I feel more comfortable at defensive end," Brace said.

He hopes the flu was the final bit of bad luck he will experience for awhile. Brace missed most of last season after suffering a concussion early in the season. He missed the final two games of his true freshman season because of a concussion as well. Once he was cleared to play following his concussion, he suffered a high-ankle sprain.

Getting a leg up

Will Pericak, a tight end recruit from Boulder High School, has attended nearly every practice session this spring and he believes it's paying off.

"I'm starting to pick things up," he said. "I'm learning the plays and what I'm supposed to do at my position."

The Buffs are thin at tight end this spring and might need one or more of their three tight end recruits to make an immediate impact in the fall. However, depending on how much the team uses its new no-huddle, shotgun offense, conventional tight ends who begin plays in a three-point stance might not be in high demand.

Coach Dan Hawkins said any time he sees Pericak or any other recruit on the sidelines at spring practice, it's a good thing.

"I think the more they expose themselves to how we do things and what the tempo is that helps a lot," Hawkins said.

Notable

The Buffs will scrimmage for the second time this spring Saturday morning at 10 a.m. Hawkins said they will try to make it as much like a game as possible with the No. 1 offensive going against the No. 2 defense most of the time and the No. 2 offensive facing the No. 1 defense. ... Thursday was the 10th of 15 allowable practice sessions this spring. The Buffs will practice three times next week in advance of the spring game April 19 at Folsom Field.