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Sumler making case to carry ball
Buff sophomore not deterred by Polk, Scott
Demetrius Sumler understands hype and the realities of college football. It's why he's not worried.
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The Colorado sophomore running back already has embraced the fact that his coaches recruited three players in the past year who will arrive in Boulder this summer with an aim to take his job.
He understands two of the three are among the best high school tailbacks in the nation. He would be disappointed if at least one didn't earn playing time next season.
But he knows it's going to be more difficult than just showing up, and he's not about to simply step aside. He expects to be the starter when the Buffs line up on Labor Day weekend against Colorado State at Invesco Field.
"Going into camp and into the season, I expect to work hard and get even better and go into that first game as the starter," Sumler said.
Sumler was once a pretty decent recruit himself. In fact, two years ago when CU recruited him out of the San Diego area, he was the one toting hype like a new best friend.
People believed the leading rusher in prep history in the San Diego area would come to Boulder and challenge veterans such as Hugh Charles and Byron Ellis.
Didn't happen. He redshirted instead.Of course, Sumler wasn't the No. 1 tailback recruit in the country. He will have to beat out a freshman in training camp who carries that hype. Sumler and Darrell Scott, a five-star recruit from Ventura, Calif., figure to be the featured ball carriers for the Buffs next fall.
The list doesn't end there. The Buffs also landed Ray Polk (rated the No. 11-best running back in the nation by Rivals) and Rodney Stewart (a first-team all-state running back out of Ohio).
"I think I'm miles ahead right now," Sumler said. "I'm picking up the pass blocking. That was my biggest hurdle I had to get over and I'm doing a lot better with that. I've got a lot of room to grow, but I think I'm a lot better this year."
Sumler performed well over the past five weeks in spring practices, giving every indication Scott will have to bring his best to camp to win the job.
Sumler ran 33 times for 139 yards and two touchdowns in three primary spring scrimmages. He also caught eight passes for 113 yards and a touchdown.
Regardless of how Scott performs, Sumler figures to see quite a bit of playing time. He is the most experienced tailback on the roster and running backs coach Darian Hagan said he is the clear choice to be on the field in the passing game.
The Buffs switched up their offensive approach this spring operating primarily from the shotgun, but still running the ball frequently. Hagan said the new approach should simplify the learning process for the freshmen.
"I think it's going to be an easy transition for them," he said. "We didn't change the offense. The only thing we did was change our style. You know, we're shotgun, no-huddle. Everything else is still the same. Same plays. I think it will be easy for those guys. They come from high schools that were primarily one-back. They understand the outside-zone scheme, and I think it's going to be easy for them."
Less hitting
Dan Hawkins is always willing to explore different ways of doing things and he's rarely skittish when it comes to sharing his ideas with the media.
Last summer he mentioned his desire to one day hold at least part of training camp off campus, possibly in the mountains.
When spring practices ended Saturday, Hawkins celebrated the fact the Buffs got through five weeks of work and 15 sessions without suffering a major injury.
In future springs as Hawkins continues to build his roster, there might be less opportunity for injuries in the spring.
"I'll be honest with you, I kind of long for the days -- and hopefully I can keep saying it and you guys will keep me around here -- if we have enough veteran guys, we can do enough of spring ball without any pads on," Hawkins said. "You can just come out here and work on your technique and get better without banging each other up.
"I think it just depends on how mature your team is and how much experience you have coming back. But if you can practice fast and not hurt each other, that's a plus."
Scary thought
During the Big 12 coaches spring teleconference on Monday, coach Dan Hawkins was asked if it is possible the Big 12 is so good that the Buffs could be much improved without it registering in the final standings and win-loss totals.
Hawkins began his answer with an uncomfortable laugh signaling the questioner might have hit on a possibility the third-year CU coach has considered.
"It's definitely a dogfight, but that's certainly what makes it fun," Hawkins said. "That's why I don't think you can assume that your record is going to continue to improve when you've got to scratch and claw every week. I don't know that any of that is a given."
Hawkins was then asked if he believes the Big 12 is the best conference in the nation in 2008, with 10 starting quarterbacks returning, a handful of legitimate Heisman Trophy candidates.
"It's definitely very good," he said. "It's definitely got great coaches and great tradition and a lot of teams that are used to winning national championships. I don't think the Big 12 has to take a backseat to anybody."
Quotable
Hawkins on how he feels about the new rule prohibiting head coaches from leaving campus for recruiting purposes during the spring evaluation period: "I'm not much of a golfer. So that kind of hurts me."
Notable
The one area in which Hawkins said he believes the program made significant strides this spring was with the pass rush. The defense has been more creative in finding ways to pressure the quarterback and Hawkins said that is, in part, because it is Year Three of his system being in place. ... CU still has not publicly named captains. All spring Hawkins has said the issue will settle itself when the time is right.
Posted by extrapoint on April 22, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I sure hope Hawk is correct in his assessment of the pass rush. What OU did to Daniel in the title game last year cant be overemphasized.
Posted by CABuffalo on April 22, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I respect Sumler, and I think he is a decent player, but I have a hard time seeing him as the playmaker we need in the backfield. I don't recall him busting any long runs, and a 4 yd average in college isn't all that great. I hope he gets quality PT, but as long as Scott puts forth the necessary effort, I see him getting the bulk of PT.
Posted by Ralphie2 on April 22, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I actually think Sumler is going to be a very solid all-around back. I'm most worried about our corners. How on earth have we not made it a TOP priority to bring in some top DBs?
GO BUFFS!
Posted by extrapoint on April 22, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
CB's are the toughest position to evaluate coming out of high school. High School coaches almost always put their top speed/skill players on offense. Some do play both ways and are easy to identify but a lot of them have to be projected as corners from the QB and even the RB spots out of high School. Most good WRs remain as such and CBs are sometimes gleaned from the WRs with bad or average hands. Hence the "athelete" designation.
You can bet any pure 4 or 5 star CBs in high school can pick any school they want. When we start winning more we will have a better shot at them.
Posted by tallisall on April 22, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's going to be tough to run with the passing game being the way it is. Too one dimensional.
Posted by MDBuff on April 22, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tall, What are you talking about?
Posted by tallisall on April 22, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Buffs only show a short passing game 95% of the time.
They were last in the big 12 in 3rd down conversions last season because of this weakness.
Short passing game = More players up close to the ball making it harder to run.
Posted by Buff_bronc_fan on April 22, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't wait until Sumler is buried on the depth chart... And I don't mean anything personal by that, the kid seems to by a stand up, hard working, young man by all indications-- He's just not all that fast, or talented at RB. He doesn't make people miss, and he goes down far too easily for his size. Perhaps he can be a good third down blocking back, but I really hope we have someone else toting the rock come September. Wouldn't be surprised to see Scott and Polk #1 and #2 on the depth chart.
Posted by bouldabuff on April 22, 2008 at 12:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sumler will be great in short yardage situations and will get a lot of PT on passing downs. He won't lead the team in yardage but he will have the most TD's.
Tall - you don't think the no-huddle, spread offense will be able to stretch the field? I think the offense will be just fine this year. The Buffs have a massive O-line, versatile receivers, a handful of quality options out of the backfield, a couple solid QB's, and an overlooked (until this spring) tight end.
Posted by Ralphie2 on April 22, 2008 at 12:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I also am worried about not being able to throw the ball over the middle because of our short QB.
Posted by tallisall on April 22, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You may be right Bouldabuff, I was basing what I think may hinder the running game from what I saw last season. It is a whole new season so we'll see.
Posted by Ldjbuff on April 22, 2008 at 2:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's not discount Sumler to easily,I would to see D-scott and Polk get some playing time but pass blocking isn't easy when a 300pd linemen or 250 lb is charging at you. Sumler reminds me alot of Cortlen Johnson from the 98-01 season as far as style not the fastest guy or elusive but did what was asked when healthy. The DB's will be helped by having a healthty D-line and more add pressure the game should some signs but we still need everybody in play. Being able to go from a base 4-3 to 3-4 is a add plus to enable the best players on the field.
Posted by BEL on April 23, 2008 at 8:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If you are an astute observer and paid close attention during Saturday scrimmages and the Spring Game, you should have noticed one very important thing. Cody's arm strength has improved tremendously from last year. Contrary to most critics, I thought that his arm strength last year was adequate. But, this year it is substantially more than adequate. Cody can make all the throws. His long throws in the Spring Game were all right on the money. It is not uncommon for some QBs, who had been written off as being weak-armed, to suddenly blossom and display a much stronger arm as time goes on. With the combination of his accuracy and new found arm strength, Cody is the man -- at least for now. CU is going to surprise a lot of people this year with its ability to go deep. And, people will simply shake their heads and marvel at how a supposedly "weak-armed" QB can make such throws.
Posted by GoBuffs07 on April 23, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
he is preping us for another 6 win season. Great.
Posted by tallisall on April 23, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hawkins said. "That's why I don't think you can assume that your record is going to continue to improve when you've got to scratch and claw every week. I don't know that any of that is a given."
Exactly...
Posted by CABuffalo on April 23, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wrong GoBuffs....8 wins! Sorry to bring light to your doomsday outlook; I know some of you can't survive without the constant dark clouds hovering over your gloomy lives, but seriously...
Posted by bouldabuff on April 23, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think this is a 9-win team. The Buffs are going to suprise a lot of people this year. Kansas and Missouri are not going to live up to their lofty expectations, Nebraska stinks, Iowa State is soft, and K-State has too many JUCO players. I think the Buffs will have a very good shot at winning the north.
Posted by halluxvalgus on April 23, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
no mention of Maiava transferring yet? That's weird. Well, he is. There. I mentioned it
Posted by tallisall on April 23, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't know about all that bouldabuff, every team you mentioned beat CU last season except Nebraska and their new head coach is probably the best defensive Coach in the nation. (which was their weakness last season).
Missouri blew CU clean off the field as did Kansas State.
It'll be a dog fight to win any of these games.
Posted by archalon on April 23, 2008 at 1:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maiava leaving sucks - he says its not playing time, but family reasons. Though he will transfer as an o-lineman (?) - hard to read that one.
Best of luck to him, wherever he goes.
Posted by tallisall on April 23, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
He's not going to publicly bad mouth Hawkins because that may make it difficult to be accepted elsewhere.
Posted by CABuffalo on April 23, 2008 at 3:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is it so hard to believe what the kid said himself? He already admitted he would rather play O-Line, but stated that the main reason is family issues. Why does there ALWAYS have to be a conspiracy theory? Is it really that hard to believe that a kid values his family and that a family might actually be experiencing difficult times? Geeeeesh....
Posted by extrapoint on April 23, 2008 at 3:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
why should he have to bad mouth Hawkins? Tallisall will most assuredly pick up the slack.
There ya go buddy. You can make a little money by charging these troubled players a small fee to vent through your user name.
Have those ladies in the Scottsdale bridge club taken most of that severance package already?
Posted by halluxvalgus on April 23, 2008 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If he transfers anywhere but Hawai'i, I am apt to believe that the position switch had significantly more to do with it than he let on.
I found the move curious from day 1. He was CU's best interior lineman. Why move him to a position that wasn't lacking depth and is rarely used? Especially now with the embarrassment of riches they have at running back? Would Sumler at fullback be so bad? Lockridge? I think not.
Posted by bouldabuff on April 23, 2008 at 4:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Kai is extremely talented, however he is undersized at guard. So he could either play four years as an undersized guard and have no shot at an NFL career or he could drop some weight, utilize his foot speed and make the move to fullback -- where he would actually have a shot at playing at the next level. I saw the position move as being very unselfish of Coach Hawk. Not to mention the fact that we have a stable full of young talented o-lineman.
Posted by halluxvalgus on April 23, 2008 at 5:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
listen, I'm a big Hawkins supporter as well, but that is a load of garbage. Maiava himself said that the position switch had a little to do with his decision. And he's not transferring as a fullback.
Posted by mntbyker on April 23, 2008 at 9:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Neb blog sites must really be boring, or Tall isn't accepted there; it's probably not being able to get much attention from his own. Or, maybe, he just really loves us. :)
Posted by RWE on April 23, 2008 at 9:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Post has some interesting notes on the situation...http://www.denverpost.com...
Posted by RWE on April 23, 2008 at 9:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let me try that again. The web site is doing some odd concatenation.
http://www.denverpost.com/colleges/ci...
Posted by extrapoint on April 24, 2008 at 7:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The additional quotes in the post are more evidence it was the position switch.....maybe in combo with the academics and alchohol thing as I imagine his lack of PT may have been due to disciplinary measures.
Regardless, I am sad to see him go and wish him the best of luck wherever he lands.
Posted by houston_buff on April 24, 2008 at 8:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First time "concatenation" has been used on this site...
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