Since coming to Colorado as a transfer in January, Damian Henderson II has had to adjust a bit to colder weather.
He is, after all, a California native who isn’t used to snow and freezing temperatures.
“I’m still trying to get used to it; I’m still wearing clothes like I’m back home with the sun and all that, so now I’ve gotta fix up my wear,” the Colorado Buffaloes running back said.
Of course, he did previously play for two seasons (2023-24) at Colorado State, so the weather isn’t totally new. But he certainly didn’t keep any of the winter wear from his time with the Rams.
“Not at all. Everything from Fort Collins is thrown away,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t even know why we’re speaking on Fort Collins. We ain’t gonna talk about that.”
Following his two seasons at CSU and last year at Sacramento State, Henderson is turning the page and focusing on his time with the Buffaloes.
A 6-foot-2, 205-pound junior, Henderson played sparingly in his two seasons at CSU, but had a big role at Sac State last year. He was second on the team in rushing, with 91 carries for 565 yards and five touchdowns.
His head coach at Sac State was Brennan Marion, who left the Hornets in December to become the Buffaloes’ offensive coordinator. Henderson – as well as fellow running back Jaquail Smith – chose to follow Marion.
“I saw that (move by Marion) and I was like, ‘Oh, I got a chance,’” Henderson said. “I showed him I could actually play. Basically he gave me the opportunity to come here and show the world that I can play on this level.”
Marion is the architect of the Go-Go offense and Henderson is eager to continue working in that scheme.
“The Go-Go did a lot for me,” he said. “The Go-Go helped me get here today. I feel like the Go-Go offense is a very good offense for running backs and receivers. Itap a well-rounded offense and everybody’s gonna eat.”
In addition to Henderson and Smith, the Buffs have Alabama transfer Richard Young and returners DeKalon Taylor and Micah Welch in the running back room. Henderson said he and Smith have been resources for others on offense as they learn the Go-Go.
“I’m glad the guys have come to me without being scared and being like, ‘Hey Damian, you ran this before, how is it? What do you see? How would you run the ball?’” he said. “Since I’ve been in the offense, itap just me going over the plays. I already know them.”
Leading the way
In the running back room, Taylor is the lone senior, and he’s apparently taking on a leadership role.
“He’s already a leader for us,” running backs coach Johnnie Mack said. “And he’s just a student of the game. That guy loves football, man. I have to tell him to go home, because he’ll stay up here all day.”
Taylor rushed for 83 yards and caught 10 passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns last season before missing the last eight games with an injury.
“DT is a humble person and he’s hardworking,” Young said. “He brings the juice every day. He pushes me to be great.”
Working together
Usually when a new coach comes in, he replaces someone who has moved on. That wasn’t the case for Chris Marve, however.
Hired as the linebackers coach – and since promoted to defensive coordinator – Marve is working with Andre Hart, who was the Buffs’ linebackers coach the past three years and is now in an assistant role.
“First of all, coach Hart is a phenomenal human being,” Marve said. “Good football coach. And all he’s done has been to accept me with open arms, be as helpful as he possibly could have been. Letap be honest about it — that takes a tremendous amount of humility to do what he’s done, so I have a tremendous amount of respect for him as a man.
“What we’ve done is work in tandem as it relates to coaching and our responsibilities for the defense, and I’m excited to be here with him.”
