Buffs Camp Position Preview: Running Backs Young But Talented

BOULDER — A position group that was unquestionably the least experienced and arguably the biggest question mark heading fall camp this year could very well become a position of strength for the Colorado Buffaloes.

What isn't up for debate is that CU's running backs have had an impressive first 15 practices of camp. Despite having just one player with any college experience at the position, assistant coach Darian Hagan's group has been a steady, productive bunch since Day One.

"They've made a lot of progress," Hagan said after Saturday's scrimmage. "They've had some good days and bad days, but the last four days have been really solid for all of them. Very few mental errors, very, very good high energy. They're playing with good pad level, good emotions, playing hard. I like this group."

Hagan has five scholarship players in the running backs room, but only one — sophomore Alex Fontenot — has ever carried the ball in a Division I game. After Fontenot, whose experience last year consisted of just 11 rushing attempts for 43 yards, the group includes redshirt freshmen Deion Smith and Jarek Broussard, and true freshmen Jaren Mangham and Joe Davis.

But while young, it is a talented group. Each of the backs has had at least "flashes" during camp, showing the ability to break big plays, pick up tough yards inside and help in pass protection.

Perhaps most importantly, they have shown enough to believe the Buffs can live up to the directive issued by head coach Mel Tucker. Since the day he took the job at Colorado, Tucker has stressed that "we will run the ball on our terms."

Hagan believes he has a group that can keep its end of the bargain.

"The guys are really, really talented," Hagan said. "They all bring something different to the game. What we really want to see now is consistency."

Thus far in camp, Fontenot might be the leader in that regard.

"He hasn't played a lot of football, but he's matured beyond his years in the last six months," Hagan said. "He's gotten really, really good at handling blitzes, understanding what the defense is trying to do, things like that. He understands pad level. He understands that you have to go strike a guy and not let him strike you. He's doing a lot of good things."

Mangham has also been impressive in scrimmages and team drills, showing good speed around the edge and excellent power inside. "He's a smart guy, but he's still young," Hagan said. "We have to get him more consistent."

Smith also had an excellent first scrimmage and has shown a big-play knack. Broussard has displayed the ability to find running room in tight spaces and Davis has had his moments as well after a slow start.

"They've all had their flashes," Hagan said. "They have all showed they can do some really good things.

Since he took over the duties as CU's running backs coach in 2016, Hagan has had a nice streak — three straight seasons with a 1,000-yard back (Phillip Lindsay in 2016 and '17, Travon McMillian in 2018). That's a streak that might come to an end this year if the Buffs decide to go with more of a rotation than a "feature back" attack.

It is something Hagan said is still a possibility, but he has also seen some separation at the position over the last week.

"I think it's starting to declare itself," Hagan said. "As you get closer to the game (CU opens the season Aug. 30 in Denver against Colorado State), if you get guys making more than three mistakes in practice, they can't play. You can give them a package and hope they can control that, but you can't trust them to be 'the guy' for a whole game. We'll have a couple we can completely trust. But right now we don't five."

Odds are, the Buffs will take a look at at least a couple of backs in the opener, then see if anyone develops a "hot hand."

"When you have a number of guys that can play, you take a look at them and see what they do in a game," he said. "Then when one person gets hot, you ride that horse."

WHO'S BACK: Junior Chase Sanders; Sophomore Alex Fontenot; Redshirt freshmen Deion Smith, Jarek Broussard.

WHO'S NEW: True freshmen Jaren Mangham, Joe Davis.

WHAT'S IN STORE: It's been awhile since the Buffs went into the season without a clear idea of who would be getting the bulk of the work in the backfield, but this is a spot that may take a game or two to sort itself out. There is, however, one thing not up for negotiation: the Buffs plan to make the run game a staple of their offense. Tucker has left no doubt that he wants a balanced attack that can dictate the pace of the game on the ground, and that philosophy has been a big priority since camp began. It doesn't mean the Buffs will be a ground-and-pound team, but it does mean they plan on making opponents respect the run game in order to open up the pass attack.

STAT TO REMEMBER: Colorado's struggles to produce a consistent run game a year ago put the passing game in harm's way too many times. The Buffs averaged just 3.8 yards per carry, a number that drops precipitously when a handful of big plays are subtracted from the overall total. That led to far too many third-and-long situations when opponents could simply tee off on CU's quarterback. We've written these numbers before, but they bear repeating: Colorado was in third-and-5 or longer 134 times last season and successfully converted just 37 of those tries (27.6 percent). That includes 59 third-down tries of 10 yards or longer with just 11 conversions.

The Buffs have to turn those third downs into manageable distances, and it begins with a steady, consistent run game.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu