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Spring football: Running backs and a big new fullback

Posted March 12, 2008

I have to admit I sort of feel bad for the current cast of running backs on the Colorado football roster.With all the hubbub over the signing of five-star recruit Darrell Scott and four-star Ray Polk last month, it seems like everyone is just assuming these guys are going to sheepishly man their spots on the bench once all the new talent shows up this summer.

Trust me, you're going to see sophomores Demetrius Sumler and Brian Lockridge on the field a lot next fall and junior Kevin Moyd ought to get at least a little more playing time as well. Moyd and walk-on Cory Nabors will definitely factor in on special teams.

I'm sort of expecting the experienced guys to be relied on more in the early going. As the season wears on, I would expect Scott or Polk or both to move into more playing time. It takes a little time to learn everything. But it would take something special for either one of them to be used for pass protection on third downs.

Coach Dan Hawkins raved last season about former running back Byron Ellis' ability in those situations. Ellis was a senior.He was a smart guy who was studying to be a doctor, but it took him three years to master the skill. So it's pretty likely a more experienced back such as Sumler, Lockridge or Moyd earns the third-down role. It could also fall to a fullback like Maurice Cantrell, Jake Behrens or converted lineman Kai Maiava (more on him a little later).

This spring we'll find out how insulted these tailbacks are at the notion they're just manning the position until reinforcements show up. With Hugh Charles and Ellis gone --- both of whom played all four years in the program --- this is their opportunity to impress coaches and prove they're ready to battle hard for playing time once the competition does improve.

At the very least, CU fans should be encouraged that the depth in the backfield should be pretty good in Boulder for the foreseeable future. All these guys still have at least two years to play.

Charles and Ellis combined to catch 36 passes last season. It will be interesting to see who among the current group emerges as the receiving threat. Sumler caught six balls in 2007. He is the only one in the tailback group with a reception to his credit. When I've talked with Lockridge in the past, he has mentioned being more consistent as a receiver as a goal.

Sumler sort of claimed a short-yardage role in his redshirt freshman season, but I know he sees himself as a more complete player. He definitely was in high school when he became the all-time leading rusher in the San Diego area. He wasn't used exclusively in short-yardage situations though last season. He did finish second to Charles in carries with 100 for 335 yards. He also scored four touchdowns in his first season of any real playing time.

Running backs coach Darian Hagan wanted him to run hard on a consistent basis instead of just some of the time.We'll see this spring if Sumler has turned that corner.I'd expect him to be better and even more comfortable in the sytem now.

Lockridge is a guy who is a threat to score from anywhere on the field and he showed that several times last season. He's also never going to have coaches complaining about him taking plays off. The guy just operates at a different level than everyone else. You really have to see it to understand, but he literally runs everywhere he goes on the practice field. He played in eight games and ran for 213 yards on 38 carries, a pretty nice 5.6 yards per touch.

Dan Hawkins was a fullback when he played, but he hasn't used the position a ton so far in his time in Boulder. But that's kind of the trend around the college game. Cantrell and Behrens both have made strides. Behrens even got a few carries and a catch last season. They will be challenged in spring by Maiava, who is attempting to make the switch from guard.

Coaches love Maiava's determined nature and his passion for blocking. It's what allowed him to come from nearly signing with New Mexico State to switching to CU at the last minute a year ago and then becoming a freshman All-American as named by The Sporting News. The thing is, they just wish he was a few inches taller than 6-foot-1, as he is generously listed.

Coaches want to line up bigger bodies against the 300-pound defensive tackles they see in the Big 12 and some nonconference games. And Maiava moves pretty well, so they thought he might just be a natural fullback. Maybe one who plays at about 265-275 pounds.

This spring Maiava will be asked to get a good understanding of footwork and other fundamentals of fullback position. Blocking will be the least of his concerns and he might actually have an advantage because he will know what to expect from the line in front of him on most plays. He wore No. 51 last year. No word on what number he will use now.

It will be fascinating to watch him develop there. It might be a move we look back on in a year and think was genius. Maybe not. Worst case is he moves back to the line, where he was pretty good.