Former Shasta High School offensive lineman Kary Kutsch is head of the herd in Colorado

Colorado offensive lineman Kary Kutsch is hard to spot because of the black and gold jerseys that form a moving wall at the line of scrimmage.

Kutsch donning number 58 is taking on multiple defenders during a November game against UCLA at Folsom Stadium. The Buffaloes have the ball 1st and goal from the 2-yard line after getting an interception on the Bruins opening offensive possession. 

Kutsch's 6-foot-3, 315-pound frame can move defenders with ease. He creates a massive hole for sophomore running back Jarek Broussard, who scores the game’s first touchdown. 

Colorado would go on to win 48-42 on Nov. 7 and help first-year coach Karl Dorrell taste victory against UCLA — a program Dorrell coached from 2003-2007.

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The last two years have presented plenty of adjustments for Kutsch who graduated Shasta High School in 2016.

Since transferring to the University of Colorado from Butte College, Kutsch has had two different head coaches and learned to play multiple positions on the offensive line.

After he went off to college, never did Kutsch think he'd find himself back at home in Redding, having to take college courses from a computer and using old weight rooms to build his strength. But the coronavirus pandemic changed his 2020 season.

"In the offseason (the coaching staff) sent us home because there was no point in being there," Kutsch said. "Then when we came back there was still a lot of restrictions. At one point we were just doing one-on-one workouts with our strength coaches." 

Yet, no matter how different things have been, Kutsch has proven he can get better on his own. He stayed in condition by running trails and continued to lift weights after gyms in Colorado closed because of COVID-19.

"I think I've always worked hard, and football has always been there since I was little," Kutsch said. "If I want to do something that's important to me, I have to work hard at it. I feel like I've earned my spot here."

Shasta High School football coach JC Hunsaker remembers the work ethic Kutsch brought to the field before his success in Colorado.

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"If I could describe Kutsch in one word, that would be 'finisher'," Hunsaker said. "From the start of the snap to end of the snap, he was doing whatever he could to finish off whoever it was. He was one of those rare guys that has the mindset to never quit." 

The protection has been solid with Kutsch.. This season, Colorado's offensive line ranks 16th in the nation, according to advanced analytics website Football Outsiders. Colorado’s offense is averaging 478 total yards per game in the first two matchups.

"The first four to five months everything was over Zoom," Kutsch said. "We had to learn the playbook and technique over Zoom and at least for me it's hard to visualize real speed over the things they were talking about."

Through the shifting changes, Colorado is undefeated (2-0) and players were hoping to face USC (3-0) on Saturday. The game was canceled after multiple USC players tested positive for the coronavirus. It was among 14 games across the country that were canceled or postponed this week.

The game was rescheduled, and Colorado is expected to play San Diego State (3-2) at home at 3 p.m. Saturday.

But that's 2020, and Kutsch has learned to handle playing in unusual environments and shifting schedules on the fly.

"It's a little different because you notice how quiet it is," Kutsch said. "But once you start playing, you're so focused on what you're doing that you don't really notice whether there's fans or not.”

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Kutsch has shown that he has a future in the NFL. Kutsch has not only passed the eye test with his strength and speed but more importantly has played in each of Colorado’s last 26 games. He has started on the offensive line in 14 consecutive games since his junior year.

"I don't think anyone can stop Kary," Hunsaker said. "Not the Kary I've seen. I would love to see his name called and become a fan of whatever team he goes to whether that's on draft day or free agency. I feel that possibility can be a reality."

Kutsch's focus is on the present as he gears up for the Aztecs this week.

"The NFL is definitely the goal but right now I'm just trying to do the best that I can in college," Kutsch said.