Brooks: Moten, Hirschman Chase Similar Dream

BOULDER - Josh Moten and Nick Hirschman, a pair of Californians sharing a similar dream, never figured to be enrolling at Colorado in the same semester.

But on Monday, as the spring term began, what had been divergent paths intersected for the pair of aspiring quarterbacks .

Moten, a member of CU's 2009 recruiting class, expected to enroll last fall, but issues with his SAT score forced him to retake the test and delayed his enrollment.

Hirschman, a member of the 2010 recruiting class, is an early enrollee and will sign his national letter-of-intent on Feb. 3 with the remainder of his class.

Moten and Hirschman met for the first time on CU's campus. They were aware of one another as California high school players, but that awareness was as close as they came to a previous introduction.

Both can participate in spring drills - Moten a semester later than he anticipated, Hirschman a semester earlier than his fellow 2010 signees. And both look at the weeks preceding spring ball as a cram session, a period to immerse themselves in the playbook. If that goes well, they can think about posing a spring threat to incumbents Tyler Hansen, Cody Hawkins, Clark Evans and Seth Lobato.

The mere fact that Moten, of Carson, Calif., will crack the QB manual is a victory in itself. While other schools (particularly Washington) recruited him solely as an athlete, CU promised him a first-look at quarterback - and that promise still holds.

"It's really exciting to be given a shot to play quarterback in D-I football, the Big 12 . . . just awesome," he said. "I just want to be given a fair opportunity. I have no doubt in my mind that I'm going to be given a fair shot; I don't think they're going to set me up to fail.

"I'm really excited. If in fact, somebody beats me out, or somebody outplays me, then I have no problem. But they recruited me as an athlete; I'll do whatever I can to contribute. I just want to get on the field and play ball."

If Moten, a 6-footer who has added five pounds (he now weighs 195) over the past four months, switches positions he prefers to remain on offense as a slot receiver.

"I'm a playmaker; I want to do things with the ball," he said. "I just want the ball in my hands."

Hirschman does, too - but he wants to take it directly from the center. CU offered no positional stipulation during his courting; he was recruited as a quarterback and once he's up to speed in the offense, he's expected to compete at the position.

"I'm hoping to pick up the offense in the first couple of months I'm here, then compete in spring ball - and compete at a high level," said Hirschman, a 6-2, 212-pounder from Los Gatos, Calif.

"I'm excited to learn and do what I can. Our high school offense was pretty advanced, but I can be pretty positive that Colorado's is going to be a lot more complicated. Learning it is going to take a lot of hard work and effort, but I'm willing to do that."

Fast-paced doesn't begin to describe Hirschman's first week in Boulder. He flew in from California last Wednesday, then flew back Tuesday to speak that night at his high school's senior football banquet.

"It was a big part of my life for four years, and I thought I should be there," he said, noting his return flight for Colorado left at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.

"There's this little thing called school . . . but the coaches, the guys on the staff and the players have been great. It's been an easier transition than I thought it would be. "

Hirschman led his Los Gatos High School team to the Central Coast Section Division II championship, throwing a game-tying touchdown pass in overtime. He completed 68.4 percent of his passes as a senior for 2,887 yards and 34 touchdowns (three interceptions), and he rushed for 119 yards.

As a senior at Narbonne High School, Moten was more of a dual threat, passing for 2,734 yards and 26 TDs while rushing for 609 yards and seven scores. He started all 38 games of his high school career (sophomore through senior seasons) at quarterback.

And he doesn't believe his fall minus football diminished his abilities. Running and conditioning work, many days with his father, were part of his daily regimen at home while he waited to retake the SAT. Then, he waited again for the results.

Enrolling at another area school - Fresno State was a possibility - and not playing football crossed his mind, but only briefly.

"Yeah, I wanted to get right back in school, and I had been accepted to other schools without a scholarship," he said. "But football is my passion. I'm going to keep at it and make it at CU. I'm stoked to be here. CU is the school I fell in love with; this is a dream come true. I'm ready to play."

After the validity of his admission test score was questioned, forcing the re-take and his delayed enrollment, Moten wasn't sure what CU's stance would be. But the school and coach Dan Hawkins remained committed.

"I really appreciate Coach 'Hawk' for not letting go of me - holding on and believing in me," Moten said. "At first when I talked to him, I didn't think he was going to hold a scholarship for me because there were other guys (being recruited) out there who played good football.

"I was a little frightened at first. I thought, 'Oh, man, I hope he keeps my scholarship because that's the school I really want to go to.' He kept his word; he's a trustworthy guy. He's loyal, and I appreciate him doing that for me."

SUMLER LEAVING: Tailback Demetrius Sumler will not return for his senior season. Sumler met with Hawkins on Monday and informed the CU coach of his decision.

Hawkins called Sumler, of San Diego, "a great kid . . . we wish him luck in whatever he pursues."

Sumler told Athletic Media Relations Director Dave Plati he intends to graduate in May, then try and enroll in a graduate program whose school might need an experienced running back.

If Sumler graduates in May he can play another season at a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) school as a graduate student without having to sit out a transfer year.

Sumler leaves the CU football program with a career rushing total of 714 yards (199 carries) and nine touchdowns, and 333 receiving yards (45 catches) and one TD.

His number of carries steadily declined from 2007 to last season: 2007 - 100 rushes, 335 yards, four TDs. 2008 - 63 rushes, 251 yards, four TDs. 2009 - 36 rushes, 128 yards, one TD.

But running backs coach Darian Hagan often referred to Sumler's overall dependability, particularly in pass protection. Sumler is the second running back to leave the program since early November, following sophomore Darrell Scott.

Their exits leave the Buffs with only two scholarship tailbacks with game experience - Rodney "Speedy" Stewart and Brian Lockridge - and in need of fortifying the position in the 2010 recruiting class.

Also on the roster at tailback at the conclusion of the 2009 season were walk-on Quintin Hildreth; former walk-on Corey Nabors, who since been put on scholarship but has split time between tailback and receiver; and Trevor LaBarge. But since the end of the season, LaBarge has left the program.

In other developments:

Luke Walters, a former walk-on from Highlands Ranch, has been granted a sixth season of eligibility and will compete at tight end, a position that lost three seniors to graduation. Walters suffered leg injuries in 2005 and 2008 that curtailed his playing time;
Offensive lineman Sione Tau, sidelined by a university suspension in 2009, is back in school and scheduled to compete in spring drills. Coaches say his biggest current issue is getting back in playing shape;
Receiver Kendrick Celestine, who left the team two seasons ago for personal reasons, has reenrolled and expects to participate in spring practice.

Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU