Boulder – In his early years at Colorado, Lawrence Vickers envisioned his role going much the way he performed Saturday against New Mexico State.
Running for power. Catching the ball out of the backfield.
And scoring touchdowns.
At his most effective, he is doing all of those things. But fans shouldn’t get ahead of themselves. CU coach Gary Barnett likes a hot back, and Vickers was smoking with 77 yards rushing and receiving and three touchdowns in the Buffaloes’ 39-0 rout, so he got the ball. But Barnett also wants Vickers to be more fullback than “V-back.”
“For us to be the team we want to be, we need Lawrence to be a fullback,” Barnett said.
And Vickers knows when the NFL comes calling, the only “V” that will matter to the league will be in his last name.
Fullback is where the money is. It is for that reason Vickers, the always-entertaining CU senior fullback, is suppressing the “V.” Not eliminating it, but putting it on the back burner. Though in the past he clamored to be known as a fullback and tailback, and was one of the minds that named CU’s “V- back” position, times have changed. The Buffs need him to be a fullback, the next level has scouted him as a fullback, and Vickers is just fine with it.
“I’m great with fullback,” the 6-foot-2, 235-pounder said. “I would rather me be a great fullback than an average tailback.”
In early draft estimates, Vickers generally is considered a top five or top 10 prospect at fullback. The Big 12 has two other premier fullbacks in Oklahoma State’s Shawn Willis and Oklahoma’s J.D. Runnels.
Last season, Vickers carried the ball a lot more than he figures to this year, 60 times for 248 yards (4.1 per carry) and two touchdowns. He also caught 27 passes for 274 yards, and that might be where he is most utilized this season.
But while he may have wanted the ball more in the past, he says he’s content in a fullback role.
“I don’t worry about getting the ball,” Vickers said. “I know Coach wants to get the ball into playmakers’ hands, and we have playmakers on the team. If I’m called upon to do it, then I’ll do it. Sometimes you get settled in with your role. I know my role is to be a dominant blocker.”
But even if he’s mostly over it, he always will have a soft spot for V-back.
“I still like it,” Vickers said. “Once I get to the next level I think I’ll get a few chances with the ball in my hands. But when you think of fullbacks, you think of dominant blockers. I can get to that point where people think I’m a dominant blocker.”
Footnotes
Guard Brian Daniels (rib) is expected back at practice this week, possibly Tuesday. He is scheduled to be ready for CU’s Sept. 24 game at Miami. … Linebacker Brian Iwuh (knee) is still a week or so from returning.
Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-820-5455 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
