Tag: Gary Harrell

Running backs coach Gary ‘Flea’ Harrell no longer on Colorado’s staff

Coach “Flea” is no longer with the Buffs

After news broke of NFL Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk emerging as a top candidate for Colorado football’s running backs coach position, it became official that Gary “Flea” Harrell is no longer with the Buffs.

Harrell joined Colorado’s staff in December 2022, following head coach Deion Sanders after three seasons with the Jackson State Tigers. Harrell’s time working with running backs has spanned over 20 years, including stints with the Alabama State Hornets, Florida Atlantic Owls, Howard Bison, Bowie State Bulldogs, Morgan State Bears, Florida A&M Rattlers and Texas Southern Tigers.

In his time at Jackson State, Harrell made a name for himself, coaching Sy’veon Wilkerson, who later transferred to Colorado, to a 1,000-yard rushing season.

With the Buffaloes, however, little success was found in the run game on a consistent basis. The emergences of freshman Micah Welch and sophomore Isaiah Augustave were notable in 2024 but with several notable departures on offense, the Buffaloes may be headed in a new schematic direction.

BuffZone’s Brian Howell was the first to report Faulk’s candidacy and Harrell’s confirmed departure.

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Colorado assistant Gary Harrell explains why Charlie Offerdahl holds starting job

Coach Flea spoke on why Charlie Offerdahl has earned Colorado’s starting running back job

There’s some young talent in the Colorado football’s running back room. Yet, former walk-on Charlie Offerdahl has maintained the Buffs’ starting spot.

The RB1 position hasn’t necessarily meant much, though, as injured Ohio State transfer Dallan Hayden has out-carried Offerdahl through two games. Hayden has received 14 of Colorado’s 25 total RB carries, running for 52 yards over Offerdahl’s 19 (on nine carries). Offerdahl has the only RB receptions, catching two passes for 13 yards against North Dakota State.

With Hayden hurt heading into Saturday’s game at Colorado State, Offerdahl once again holds the RB1 position. CU running backs coach Gary “Flea” Harrell revealed why in a recent interview:

“Charlie is a guy that, for me, is very dependable,” Harrell said. “Everything he’s coached to do, from the meeting room to the field, he going to do exactly what you tell him to do. We do grades. We grade each player in practice and games and he always grades out the highest.”

Harrell also described Offerdahl’s versatile abilities out of the backfield.

Heading into Saturday’s Rocky Mountain Showdown, Offerdahl should receive the bulk of whatever carries are handed out. The usage of sophomore Arkansas transfer Isaiah Augustave could be up too, and fans may even see a glimpse of true freshman Micah Welch.

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Colorado looking for running backs to excel in pass protection

Colorado’s running backs will play a big part in keeping Shedeur Sanders upright

When most people think of running backs being involved in the passing game, they usually think of Reggie Bush or Christian McCaffrey splitting out wide and catching the ball. But the Colorado Buffaloes’ running backs should try and emulate Terrell Davis’ pass-protection skills if they want to see the field.

Second-year CU running backs coach Gary “Flea” Harrell met with the media on Monday and spoke about the competition at his position group and how his players must learn to play with superstar quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

Here’s what coach Flea had to say when asked about how his running backs will factor into Colorado’s passing game:

“Protection,” Harrell said. “If you can’t protect with the O-line and fit in where you need to fit in, if you’re blowing assignments and your guy is sacking our most valuable player, you won’t be in the game. So that’s where it starts. We’re runners. We’re gonna be able to run the football (and) we’re gonna know our assignments. But protection and ball security are the top two things. So to your question, you got to pass protect, understand the protection and (know) where you fit in with the O-line.”

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Coach Flea gives update on competition at running back

Coach Flea gave an update on how Colorado’s RBs room is shaking out

Colorado’s roster looks way different than it did at the end of the 2022 season. The running back room has two returnees in Anthony Hankerson and Charlie Offerdahl but also brought in Kentucky transfer Kavosiey Smoke and Houston transfer Alton McCaskill IV, not to mention incoming freshman Dylan Edwards and former Jackson State lead back Sy’veon Wilkerson.

The position is deep early on, and running backs coach Gary “Flea” Harrell admitted it will be a slit workload (h/t Jake Schwanitz of DNVR Buffs). Coach Flea went on to mention that McCaskill is the lead guy right now, which isn’t surprising after seeing how well he played at Houston before suffering an injury. Smoke, Edwards and Hankerson are also right behind, Harrell said.

With quarterback Shedeur Sanders and a flurry of other new weapons on offense, the running back room is as loaded as ever in Boulder, which is a tremendous sign for head coach Deion Sanders and offensive coordinator Sean Lewis.

McCaskill might be on top, but the Buffs could very easily use three or even five backs in this high-octane offense.

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Darian Hagan active in helping new-look CU Buffs staff

Now in a new role, Darian Hagan remains a crucial part of Colorado’s program

Although he’s no longer Colorado’s primary running backs coach, Darian Hagan remains active in helping the program under Deion Sanders.

Hagan, who took part in his 300th game at CU last fall, is now an executive director for community engagement and outreach and a football ambassador for the Buffs. His role as an ambassador has even included taking recruits on tours of team facilities.

New Colorado RB coach Gary “Flea” Harrell was asked about Hagan’s impact and said the he has been crucial during a major transitional period for the program (h/t Brian Howell of BuffZone).

“I think he does a good job as far as understanding the Colorado culture,” Harrell said. “He knows what it takes to win and he don’t deviate from that. He don’t accept anything less than that. So, I learn a lot from him as far as understanding what goes on here. He’s well tied in, so I want to always want to make sure he’s connected to pour that into the individuals and then we’re just continuing to grow as a staff in the running back room.”

Looking ahead to next season, Harrell and Hagan have a solid group of running backs in Deion Smith, Anthony Hankerson, Victor Venn, Dylan Edwards, walk-on Charlie Offerdahl and Kentucky transfer commit Kavosiey Smoke.

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Takeaways from Colorado football’s offensive coaches’ press conference

What were your takeaways from CU’s offensive coaches’ press conference?

On Thursday, the Colorado Buffaloes’ offensive coaching staff met with the media to discuss a wide range of topics, from the personnel at CU to all things Deion Sanders.

Offensive coordinator Sean Lewis was first up at the podium, followed by running backs coach Gary “Flea” Harrell, offensive line coach Bill O’Boyle, wide receivers coach Brett Bartolone and finally, tight ends coach Tim Brewster. In those five names alone, the Buffaloes have scored three former head coaches in what has become quite the staff for Coach Prime.

Expectations have been through the roof with what this staff has done through recruiting, and here is everything you need to know from the press conference:

Colorado football: Offensive coaches speak on new-look Buffs

There was a lot to like from what Colorado’s offensive assistants had to say

With spring football set to start in less than a month, Colorado’s five on-field offensive assistant coaches spoke to the media on Thursday to discuss their first few months in Boulder.

Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Sean Lewis took the podium first, followed by wide receivers coach Brett Bartolone, running backs coach Gary “Flea” Harrell, O-line coach Bill O’Boyle and tight ends coach Tim Brewster. Each talked about their decision to join Deion Sanders in Boulder, coaching philosophies and the plan moving forward for their respective unit.

Together, Coach Prime’s offensive staff certainly didn’t lack energy.

Below are my favorite quotes from each assistant: