Andre Akpan: It’s Now Or Never

That said, he's quickly turning into a question mark instead of a big potential guy, simply because he hasn't been able to play his way onto the first team through four seasons.

In 2012, Oscar Pareja used just about everyone, Akpan included, at random intervals. So, minutes didn't come very often for him as he was rarely the hot hand to play like Kamani Hill was. It didn't help that Casey and Cummings were still drawing the majority of the minutes during the off-and-on periods of health they showed.

Oscar Pareja is well aware of this fact, and he said as much while talking with the Denver Post.

"Andre knows it has to be this year. Or he won’t be here next year." That was Pareja's quote when asked about Akpan's development, and if it sounds like an ultimatum, it's probably a deserved one.

Can he get on the field and prove his worth this year? Fortunately for Andre, the signs look good in his favor. Last season, despite him not getting much more playing time than he got in any other season, was probably his best season yet, with three well-taken goals on the record and some solid minutes logged as a center forward, as well. Add in some great performances with the reserve team and he'll have an argument to get on the field this season.

Like I said at the start of this, I'm a big fan of Andre Akpan. I'll be rooting for him to succeed, because I have the sneaking suspicion that there will be big success somewhere in his career. If that somewhere isn't in Colorado, it's going to be a darn shame.