Kansas City, Mo. ? Coming off its second straight losing season with a 6-7 record, Colorado is looking to revamp its football program this fall. And freshman running back Darrell Scott just might be the man to do it.
Scott, touted by many as the nation’s premier running back, was named the Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Year in a preseason poll of league media and figures to be a key ingredient in the Buffs’ offense this season.
“You love to have those guys that, when they block, it’s exactly right, and they take it to the house,” Colorado coach Dan Hawkins said at Big 12 Media Days last week. “And he’s a guy that even when he doesn’t block it right, he takes it to the house.”
But the Buffs will be looking to Scott to contribute as more than just a running back.
“He can do everything,” Hawkins said. “He’s a great punter.”
Added Daniel Sanders, senior center for Colorado: “He’s gonna help out some way, whether that’s him playing or making older guys work harder to keep their spots.”
Scott’s talent is not a question for Hawkins, but he said there were still things his freshman needed to learn.
“There’s a lot of great players and great athletes in a lot of sports that never amounted to anything,” Hawkins said. “My biggest talkings and dealings with Darrell have more to do with understanding a quality balance of life and what it takes to be successful.”
From the perspective of senior safety Ryan Walters, Scott is right on track.
“There’s a lot of pressure on him as far as all the hoopla and hype about him as a high school athlete,” Walters said. “He knows he’s got to come in and compete, and I think he’ll do just that. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, and he’ll take the role well and get the respect of everybody on this team.”
With the aid of Scott, the Buffs are hoping to make up for their seven losses last year as they face a tougher schedule, including a home matchup against Texas and away games at Kansas and Missouri.
“I wouldn’t be happy with the same record,” Walters said. “That’s not an improvement to me. I’m here to win. We’re here to win. I think there’s a lot of games we could’ve and should’ve won (last season). We didn’t because of little things, so we’ve got to fix that and just be smarter players.”
