BOULDER — Looking over Colorado’s depth chart brings up an obvious question. Do the Buffaloes have enough depth at tailback?
Listed behind junior starter Rodney Stewart and junior backup Brian Lockridge are walk-ons, redshirt-freshman Quentin Hildreth and senior Corey Nabors.
The departures of Darrell Scott and Demetrius Sumler in the last 10 months left CU with zero experience at that key position behind Stewart and Lockridge. Nabors has been a standout special-teams performer for three seasons but has no career carries.
Stewart will get the bulk of the work, running backs coach Darian Hagan said. Although unimposing at 5-feet-6 and 175 pounds, Stewart ranks among the strongest players on the team with a 400-pound bench press. He has led the Buffs in rushing the past two seasons with 622 yards as a freshman and 804 in 2009.
Lockridge (5-7, 185) drew only 12 carries in 2009. He has been used more in spot duty as a change-of-pace back than as a featured ball carrier.
“I think we’ll be OK,” Hagan said of the depth. “But we have to keep No. 5 (Stewart) healthy, and he’s been banged up the last two years (leg fracture in 2008, hamstring pull in 2009). I’m knocking on wood that nothing happens to him.”
Hagan said there was an omission on the initial depth chart at tailback. Not only was true freshman Justin Torres (6-0, 215) left off the depth chart, he should be on the same line as Hildreth, Hagan said.
“They’re in a dead heat for third,” Hagan said. “But Torres might be used more because he could be good in short-yardage (situations).”
Torres’ role in the game plan for the Sept. 4 opener against Colorado State may not be determined until sometime next week, Hagan said. But, the coach added, Torres has shown physically and mentally that he can handle about any challenge presented to him.
“Justin will definitely have a role,” Hagan said. “We don’t know what it will be. But whatever we install for him, he will be good at it.”
In any case, Hagan said there is “a big dropoff” after Stewart and Lockridge on the depth chart “because of experience and because of my comfort level with them,” he said.
There is a good chance, Hagan said, that the other three true freshman tailbacks — Cordary Allen (6-1, 230), Tony Jones (5-7, 180) and Trea’ Jones (5-10, 190) — could be redshirted. Of course a rash of injuries could force one or more into action.
Coach Dan Hawkins is confident his team has sufficient depth at tailback.
“All those guys are coming around,” he said. “I think they will be a nice posse, I really do.”
Nobody could blame Hawkins for joining Hagan in keeping his fingers crossed, however.
Footnotes.
CU may be tapering off a bit (and trying to avoid injury) with the season opener a week away. The final August scrimmage will be conducted this afternoon and is scheduled for just two hours. The previous two scrimmages lasted three hours. Today’s scrimmage is closed to the public and the media. . . . Upcoming Buff Club events include the 22nd annual Boulder Chamber CU Kick-Off on Thursday at Balch Field House on campus and the Denver Buff Club Rally on Friday at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Details available at .
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
