Boulder – On another glorious spring day after a long winter in the weight room, Colorado senior tailback Hugh Charles reflected on the lack of surprises in spring football.
“The difference this spring is we know what’s coming,” Charles said. “We know what Coach (Dan) Hawkins is going to ask of us. We know in our heads what he’s going to say before he has to say it. He’s pretty predictable, but every once in while he’ll come up with something new.”
It didn’t take long. A practice ended with a scene out of any local yoga class. About 75 players were lying on their backs in the relatively balmy twilight, casting off thoughts of last season’s negativity as Hawkins urged them to visualize becoming better players.
There were no “om’s,” just “Go, Buffs.”
Charles, the one productive constant in the offense that struggled without much of a passing threat in 2006, doesn’t have to visualize to become a better player. He sees the competition on the field now from redshirt freshman Demetrius Sumler, sophomore Kevin Moyd and fellow senior Byron Ellis.
Charles hears the message from position coach Darian Hagan and knows highly touted junior college transfer P.T. Gates wasn’t added to stand on the sideline this fall. Hawkins said on signing day, “I’m not trying to exceed expectations, but he’s a Reggie Bush-type guy.”
Charles started seven games last season, leading CU with 779 yards for a 5.6-yard average. His 4.3-second quickness in the 40 also has him listed as the top kickoff return candidate. As a sophomore, he started 12 games, with 842 yards and a 4.8 yards per carry.
“It’s all about competition,” Charles said.
As for Gates, he said: “They recruit people better than they have now. It’s not surprising when they hype someone. I don’t take it to heart. I do what have to do. I’ve been here long enough, I’ve had the experience.”
Sumler has been the spring revelation for the first week. He caught a 30-yard pass in Saturday’s scrimmage. Charles is a compact 5-foot-8, 190-pound speed merchant. Sumler is 5-11, 210 pounds. He is punishing as a receiver, with plenty of speed burst as a running back.
Sumler knows what Gates brings. They have been rivals since youth league in San Diego.
“I know he’s going to come in here and make plays,” Gates said. “So we have a little more edge being here, but there’s going to be some more competition when he gets here. I look forward to it.”
Hagan has stepped up the pressure on his top returnee.
“I want more out of Hugh,” Hagan said. “The last couple of years he’s been doing enough. I want him to do more than enough.”
But he likes the work ethic in all of his ball carriers.
“(Demetrius) is a hardworking dude who wants to be good,” Hagan said. “He’s getting better every day. … Hugh is finally adhering to the challenge I put to him, and that was to be a more aggressive runner.”
The Buffs’ scrimmage this afternoon before leaving on spring break.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
