Don’t forget about Ray Polk.
Colorado coaches must have said that a half-dozen times Wednesday during signing day interviews in Boulder. Almost lost in the hoopla over the signing of Parade All-American Darrell Scott was the addition of another highly touted tailback.
Polk, 6-feet-1 and 200 pounds, was ranked by as the 11th-best running back in the nation after rushing for 1,098 yards and 12 touchdowns last fall for Phoenix’s Brophy Prep.
“I think right now, our fans are a little unappreciative of what Ray brings to the table, because of Darrell Scott,” Hagan said. “Ray doesn’t take a back seat to anyone. He’s big, he’s fast. He is going to play a long time in the NFL.”
Polk chose CU over Arizona State after also receiving offers from Michigan, Washington and Nebraska.
“Ray Polk is one of the best running backs I’ve seen,” CSTV recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said. “He has vision, balance and very good speed. He has the whole package.”
CU coach Dan Hawkins said he told Polk early in the recruiting process that the Buffaloes also wanted Scott. Polk never wavered.
“The only difference (with Scott coming aboard) is that there is more competition and we can push each other more,” Polk said. “That’s exciting to me, to have somebody to compete with. I welcome him into the program.”
Polk’s father, Raymond, played cornerback at Oklahoma Statecq and was drafted in the 12th roundcq of the 1985 NFL draft by the Raiders.Hawkins envisions Scott and Polk sharing carries.
“I know it always seems popular to be the back that carries it 35 times a game,” Hawkins said. “But it’s too hard on your body and it’s too hard on your career.”
Cabral promoted
Hawkins surprised 20-year linebackers coach Brian Cabral at Thursday’s recruiting luncheon in Denver by naming him associated head coach. Cabral has worked for four CU regimes: Bill McCartney’s, Rick Neuheisel’s, Gary Barnett’s and now Hawkins’.
“Brian Cabral has possibly had more influence over the success of Colorado football than anyone in our history,” Hawkins said.
New hunting grounds
Colorado hasn’t grabbed an impact player from Ohio since cornerback-returner Ben Kelly signed with Rick Neuheisel. But the Buffs like the potential of the pair nabbed from the Buckeye State on Wednesday: linebacker Doug Rippy of Trotwood-Madison High School near Dayton and tailback-returner Rodney Stewart of Columbus Brookhaven.
Hagan was instrumental in recruiting both. “Our fans are going to be proud that we went out to Ohio and recruited them,” Hagan said. “I think Stewart is going to start in our return game immediately. Doug is really going to make some things happen at the linebacker position.”
ranks Rippy (6-2, 220) at No. 31 among Ohio’s top 50 seniors. He originally committed to Nebraska. Stewart, just 5-feet-8 and 185 pounds, was recruited mostly by teams of the Mid-American Conference and did not make the Ohio top-50. But Hagan believes Stewart’s 10.7 speed makes him a steal.
“The one change in strategy we saw for Colorado this year was going more into the Midwest,” recruiting analyst Jeremy Crabtree said.
Late signees?
Colorado still has two scholarships to give. If Hawkins doesn’t bank them for 2009, a possibility to join this year’s class might be Keni Kaufusi, a 6-2, 275-pound defensive tackle from Salt Lake City Cottonwood.
Kaufusi, a high school teammate of Colorado linebacker signee Lynn Katoa, took an unofficial visit to CU last weekend but is not yet qualified academically. Hawkins said he likes holding a couple of open scholarships after signing day because players get overlooked and late bloomers always emerge.
A late signee for Hawkins at Boise State, Daryn Colledge, is a starting guard for the Green Bay Packers.
Footnote
Hawkins confirmed that Scott has not yet attained the necessary college boards score. “But he’s close, and has only taken the test once,” Hawkins said. “I don’t have any worries that Darrell will get there. ” Hawkins wasn’t kidding when he said his team can never have enough tight ends. The Buffs added three, including 6-3, 235-pound Will Pericak (pronounced pre-check), who also played linebacker at Boulder High. Hawkins said his only regret in this recruiting class was that it did not include more offensive or defensive linemen. CU football signee Bryce Givens, the four-star offensive lineman from Mullen, ought to become acquainted with redshirting sophomore Casey Crawford of the CU men’s basketball team because they could share childhood experiences. Both are sons of former Major League pitchers. Steve Crawford pitched primarily with the Kansas City Royals. Brian Givens was a starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewerscq from 1995-96. Three of Rippy’s Trotwood-Madison High School teammates signed with Michigan.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
