2016 In Review: Lindsay Provided 'Feature Back' Answer For Buffs

As the No. 10 Colorado Buffaloes continue preparations for their Dec. 29 Valero Alamo Bowl meeting with No. 12 Oklahoma State, we take a position-by-position look at the team that produced a historic turnaround season.

Today, we look at the running backs:

WHAT WE KNEW IN AUGUST: In the three previous years of the Mike MacIntyre era in Boulder, the Buffs had more or less used a running back-by-committee approach. From 2013 through 2015, no CU running back had averaged more than 11 carries per game for the season and no back had averaged more than 51 yards rushing per game.

Thus, the question in camp was whether new running backs coach Darian Hagan would settle on a "feature" back, or whether the Buffs would continue with the committee approach.

As camp progressed, junior Phillip Lindsay steadily worked his way into the starting role, but fellow juniors Donovan Lee and Michael Adkins II got plenty of reps, as did sophomore Kyle Evans, a former walk-on who was awarded a scholarship in August. Thus, the question of "committee" or "feature back" still didn't have a definitive answer.

WHAT WE SAW THIS SEASON: It didn't take long for the situation to resolve itself. Lindsay burst from the gate with a solid 20-carry, 95-yard, two-touchdown performance in the season-opening 44-7 win over Colorado State, and while Evans and Lee also got some carries in the opener, it was becoming clear that the Buffs' committee had become a group of one.

Adding to the equation was the evolution of quarterback Sefo Liufau as a regular running threat. The Buffs tweaked their offense to utilize Liufau's ability as a power runner, and it gave the Buffs an added dimension in their rushing attack.

One week after the opener, Lindsay didn't get a lot of work — seven carries, 30 yards and two touchdowns in a 56-7 rout of Idaho State — but that proved to be the last game of the regular season that he had single-digit carries.

In Week 7, Lindsay unleashed his best performance as a Buff, rushing 26 times for 219 yards and three touchdowns, including a 75-yard touchdown jaunt on the first play of the second half — CU's longest play from scrimmage for the season. He was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week, and he followed that performance up with three more 100-yard games down the stretch: 131 yards against Stanford, 119 yards and three touchdowns against Arizona and 144 yards and two touchdowns on a career-high 31 carries against Washington State.

By the end of the regular season, Lindsay had 1,189 rushing yards, third-most in the Pac-12. He became CU's first 1,000-yard rusher since Rodney Stewart ran for 1,318 in 2010, and his 230 carries were the most by a Buff since Stewart's 290 in 2010. He finished averaging almost 18 carries and 91.5 yards per game.

But Lindsay's rushing numbers were just part of his overall production. Lindsay also finished with 47 catches — third-most on the team — for 390 yards and a touchdown. His 11 receptions (for 76 yards) vs. UCLA were the most ever by a Buffs running back, and he finished with 17 touchdowns overall for 102 points — the first Buff to surpass the 100-point mark since Chris Brown scored 108 in 2002.

Liufau finished as CU's second-leading rusher with 496 yards on 152 carries while Evans emerged as the No. 2 running back, rushing for 346 yards on 84 carries.

WHAT WE CAN EXPECT IN 2017: With Lindsay returning for his senior season, there seems to be little doubt about who will enter next fall as CU's No. 1 back.

But there will also be plenty of depth. Evans, Adkins and Lee will also return, as will highly touted freshman Beau Bisharat, who ran for 45 yards on 15 carries in his first year.

It's difficult to fathom Lindsay doing anything but becoming more of a factor in the offense next fall. In his first year under Hagan, he made dramatic strides, both as an open-field runner and in between the tackles. He improved his speed and strength in the offseason, factors that greatly improved his yards per carry average as well as his durability, and also helped him improve his pass blocking.

Meanwhile, as offensive co-coordinators Brian Lindgren and Darrin Chiaverini continue to tweak the offense, it will be interesting to see what adjustments they make to make the running back position even more productive.

The Buffs will also likely have a running back or two in their recruiting class, which will only increase the competition in fall camp.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu