BOULDER — Great Scott!
Or, no less than Very Good Scott.
The fifth time he was presented with the football in his first scrimmage in his first camp with the Buffalo herd Monday afternoon, all freshman tailback Darrell Scott did was run 39 yards.
Scott free!
On the basis of one inside handoff, on the back lot in Boulder, on Aug. 11, Scott cannot be declared the conference’s next Adrian Peterson, Johnny Rodgers, Barry Sanders or Rashaan Salaam, but The Kid is flat-out, Flatirons impressive.
Even though, the coach said, Scott had a twinged groin, and even though, the player said, he “had the jitters.”
Now, we kind of know why more than 70 schools playing Division I-A football, not intramurals, salivated and offered Scott a scholarship.
There are a few other reasons the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Scott was considered the nation’s No. 1 running back recruit.
He’s smart — a 3.0 grade-point average.
He’s savvy. Spend a few minutes with the 19-year-old university student-athlete, and you’ll realize he gets it. Scott is eloquent, humble, funny, sharp and personable. After a wearing two-hour practice, he talked to CU quarterback Cody Hawkins, then the media and, finally, several young boys — and enjoyed himself. He’s not wide-eyed or tongue-tied.
He’s special. Scott twice ran for five touchdowns in a high school game — and once ran for six touchdowns and two two-point conversions.
He’s already been selected the rookie most likely to succeed in the Big 12 this season.
“I’ve found that college football moves a lot faster than high school. I was too hesitant today. I’ve got a lot to learn, but I’m willing,” Scott said after rushing 14 times — “eight straight,” he announced with glee and anguish — for 86 yards in the no-nonsense, 130-play intrasquad scrimmage on a crock-pot day in Boulder.
Scott may not be great yet, but he believes “it’s great that we’ve got eight running backs with great qualities. I’m a power back/slasher, but that No. 43 has incredible speed.”
That No. 43 would be that other freshman tailback with an “S” on his jersey — Rodney Stewart, who is 5-6 and weighs 170 pounds. He was all-Ohio. His nickname is “Speedy.” It could be “Road- runner.” It could be “Shorty.”
In his third season, Buffs coach Dan Hawkins has speed and skill players and strength of depth and competition. And he has Scott & Stewart & Smith — Josh Smith, playmaker wide receiver, who helped bring Scott to town. Although only a 20-year-old sophomore, Smith is Scott’s uncle. Colorado has the uncle-nephew and the father-son (Dan and Cody) combinations. Does Darrell have another brother named Darrell?
When the scrimmage was over, Hawkins smiled, but said: “I’m never quite close enough to being satisfied. We did some good things, but we can do them better.”
The Buffaloes will have to do them way better. I brought up the Buffs’ schedule, as if Hawkins needed reminding. They could be twice as good as last season (6-7 with a bowl loss to Alabama) and not win as many games.
Half of CU’s 12 games will not be in Boulder. The Buffs open in Denver on Aug. 31 against Colorado State and have a stretch with four of six on the road against the likes (and hates) of Florida State, Kansas, Missouri and Texas A&M. They play four teams that won 10 or more games in 2007. They have West Virginia and Texas at home, and the Huskerfest in Lincoln on Thanksgiving weekend. Who made this schedule — the Marquis de Sod?
Coach Hawkins shrugged, then turned to QB Hawkins and ordered, “Call your younger brother.”
Then the elder Hawkins said, “We’re bigger, stronger, faster,” as if he were quoting the Olympic motto.
Which brings us to more of the Buffs’ S-Troop: Buena Vista’s Nate Solder, a mountain of a man at 6-8, 300 pounds — a converted tight end who will start at left tackle; cornerback Jimmy Smith, a lanky (6-2) cornerback who is raw, but can play; linebacker Jeff “Get” Smart; starting center Daniel Sanders; Demetrius Sumler, who is listed as the first-string tailback (but must share time); and defensive end Lagrone Shields at 6-3, 250.
Hawkins looks taller now than his advertised 5-11 — Hawkins the QB, not the coach — and more comfortable in the no-huddle, hurry- up, shotgun-oriented, quasi- spread, Hawk-formation offense. But when his statistics Monday were stated as “4 for 23,” my reaction was: “I thought he completed a lot more than 4-of-23 passes.” Oh, that was four rushes for 23 yards.
The star of the show, though, was Darrell “Could Be Great” Scott. Early in the scrimmage he was sent in to block, which would be like asking Michelangelo to hold the hammer and chisel or Michael Jordan to rebound and do dishes.
Then, Scott got the ball and, bam, he was gone, untouched before being pulled down by “I don’t know who.” Cornerback Smith.
No wonder when Rick Neuheisel was hired by UCLA, the ex-CU coach promptly visited Scott to beg him to accept a scholarship and, probably, a rafting trip. But Scott chose the Buffs over the Bruins.
See, I told you Darrell Scott was smart, savvy and special.
Woody Paige: 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com
