Boulder – Hugh Charles’ inconsistency has re-opened the competition for workhorse back this week, running backs coach Darian Hagan said as CU returned to practice on Tuesday.
“I would say last week we really consciously tried to get him more carries,” Hagan said. “He did some good things, and then he did some things that I didn’t like. So I told him this week, competition is open. The best guy is going to play. We’re 0-5. We can’t just keep trying to play one person, or our home-run threat when they’re not hitting home runs. So it’s open; today those three guys were going at it.”
Charles started last week at Missouri and ran for 87 yards on 13 carries.
Colorado’s starter at running back changes each week depending on the game plan, which dictates who is on the field for the first play. But getting the bulk of the game’s carries is different.
According to Hagan, each candidate – Charles, Mell Holliday and Byron Ellis – started practice week strong. Holliday has 82 yards on 25 carries this season; Ellis has 61 yards on 22 carries.
“It’s tough right now,” Hagen said. “I would say all of them are even. Hugh did some good things. Mell did some awesome things. Byron got a chance to do some things. I would say it’s even right now.”
Hagan said the competition will “go to Saturday.”
Eager to go if called
According to coach Dan Hawkins, the status of injured players Ryan Walters and Walter Boye-Doe is uncertain for Saturday’s game against Baylor.
Walters, a sophomore safety, suffered a neck stinger at Missouri. He is day to day, but said Tuesday he’ll be ready to play if the medical staff gives him the green light.
Boye-Doe, who suffered a shin contusion, was a lot more optimistic. Asked if he’d be ready, he said, “Yeah.”
“It’s good,” Boye-Doe said. “It’s just a big bone bruise and a couple of busted vessels.”
Staying positive
Think Colorado’s losing is getting players down? Think again.
“A few of them made the comment the other day: ‘We feel like we’re a top-10 team, and we’re 0-5,’ Hawkins said Tuesday. That’s good. You want them to kind of go ‘Gee whiz, the expectation is to be in the top 10, and we’re good enough to be in the top 10, but we can’t have those little things get in our way.”‘
Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
