BOULDER — Four years ago, Fisher Clements was a walk-on tight end playing for coach Ed McCaffrey at Northern Colorado.

On Thursday night (6 p.m. ESPN), he’ll take the field at Bobby Dodd Stadium as a valuable piece of Colorado’s offense against Georgia Tech.

The Denver Gazette discussed with the fifth-year senior his decision to join the Buffaloes for his final season of college football after four years in Greeley, where he appeared in 27 career games.

Q: What was it like in the recruiting process in the transfer portal when CU first reached out?

A: I didn’t have an agent or anything. All of December, I was just doing my own campaigning in whatever way I could to just get an opportunity wherever. I took a couple of visits and then Colorado followed back up with me and I felt prioritized. Once I got here, it was amazing. The night of the visit, I was sitting in my hotel room and I was just praying, but in my heart, I knew I wanted to go (here). I’m so thankful I did. I love it here.

Q: As someone from Hattiesburg, Miss., what originally led you to UNC Greeley?

A: When I was in high school, I was in Idaho. Being in Idaho, you’re around a bunch of Big Sky teams like Idaho State, Idaho, whatnot. I knew kinda in my head that I wanted to play in that conference. I didn’t really have many college opportunities. I actually walked on at UNC. It was coach Ed McCaffrey and I kinda just believed in the vision he had set. After my first season, he was let go and I bought into what coach (Ed) Lamb (was saying) and eventually I graduated and wanted to see what else was out there and tried to take a jump up.

Q: Describe the tourney at UNC, going from being a walk-on under one head coach to then playing for a new coach after your first season.

A: I enjoyed my time there and I’m thankful for it because I really feel like it shaped me into the man and player I am now. Especially being a walk-on, I just feel like I have that mindset and mentality of just knowing that if there’s something you want, you gotta work for it. I was fortunate enough, I worked really hard my first semester, got on scholarship after the fall and I just feel like even being on scholarship then (at UNC) and now, carrying that same mentality and that work ethic is really important.

Q: What are your goals for the season in offensive coordinator Brennan Marion’s system that often utilizes multiple tight ends?

A: Whatever my role is on this team, I’m just taking it and mastering it and doing it to the best of my ability and expanding it in whatever way is necessary. I just feel like being completely bought in and working as hard as I can and trusting that God has it worked out is kind of the mindset for the year.

Q: What is it like playing for tight ends coach Josh Niblett, who has a long track record of success in the high school ranks?

A: It’s amazing. I love coach (Niblett). I feel like, in a lot of ways, on the field and off the field, he’s helped me grow as a person and a player. I feel like it’s going to help me forever, but in this moment, I just try to soak up as much as I can from him because I feel like everything he says, I could write it down. 

Q: All of the guys in the tight end room are coming from a lower level of some kind. What impact does that have?

A: Coach Niblett has preached it to us, but (it’s about) just being a better version of yourself every day, on the field and off the field. We all kinda embody that just with our similar backgrounds. We’re all hard workers. We move as one. I’m fortunate to be in a room like that where hard work is valued and guys all push each other and want to be better.

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King’s Players to Watch

Colorado: WR Danny Scudero, DT Santana Hopper

The Buffs are going to need to hit on some explosive downfield passing plays to offset a Georgia Tech defense that is likely going to rely on its front seven to try and control the line of scrimmage. There’s no better option on the CU roster than Scudero, a San Jose State transfer who was a Biletnikoff Award finalist last season. Defensively, the Buffs will have their hands cut out for them against a physical Yellow Jackets rushing attack led by Michigan transfer Justice Haynes and CU’s best impact playmaker on the defensive line is Hopper, a Tulane transfer.

Georgia Tech: QB Alberto Mendoza, LB Kyle Efford

The younger brother of No. 1 overall NFL draft pick and last year’s Heisman Trophy winner, Fernando Mendoza, Alberto gets his first shot as a college starter at Georgia Tech and although he will likely be handing the football off more than throwing it, it’s hard to imagine his team winning without him making a few big plays over the course of the night. On defense, the Yellow Jackets have plenty of new faces, but Efford, the team’s leading tackler in 2025, is back and ready to lead that unit again.